Biography:Gordon Swann
Gordon Swann | |
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 Gordon Swann in 1998 | |
| Born | September 21, 1931 Palisade, Colorado, US |
| Died | May 22, 2014 (aged 82) |
| Alma mater | University of Colorado |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions |
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| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1952–1956 |
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Gordon Alfred Swann (September 21, 1931 – May 22, 2014) was an American geologist. Born in Palisade, Colorado, he went to high school in Olathe, Colorado, and then served in the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1956.[1] He received his PhD from the University of Colorado in 1962, and studied the Precambrian geology of the Front Range of Colorado while working for U.S. Geological Survey.[1] He is notable for his work with NASA and the training of the astronauts of the Apollo program in field geology.[2]
Swann served as the Principal Investigator of the Apollo Lunar Geologic Experiment for Apollo 14[3] and Apollo 15.[4] A part of the Montes Apenninus (south of Mons Hadley) at the Apollo 15 landing site was informally called the Swann Range in his honor by the astronauts.[5]
Besides his work for NASA, Swann was an adjunct professor at the University of Northern Arizona.[1]
In his non-academic life Swann was a Master at the Flagstaff Masonic Lodge.[1]
Books and publications
- Geology of Northern Arizona with Notes on Archaeology and Paleoclimate. Geological Society of America. 1974. https://library.azgs.arizona.edu/item/GGIF-1552428231648-259.
- Swann, G. A. (1977). Geology of the Apollo 14 landing site in the Fra Mauro highlands. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. OCLC 1104157.
Recognition
- The asteroid 4082 Swann is named after him by the Minor Planet Center.[6]
- NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal[1]
- American Institute of Professional Geologists Excellence Award[1]
- Thirty Third Degree Scottish Rite Mason, plus two Albert Pike awards[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Gordon Swann Obituary". Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff, AZ). May 28, 2014. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/azdailysun/name/gordon-swann-obituary?id=16238854.
- ↑ Gordan Alfred Swann, USGS page on Swann, June 2014.
- ↑ Apollo 14 Preliminary Science Report, NASA Special Publication 272, 1971
- ↑ Apollo 15 Preliminary Science Report, NASA Special Publication 289, 1972
- ↑ Jones, Eric M.; Glover, Ken, eds. "Swann Range, Swann Mountain and Big Rock Mountain". NASA.gov. https://www.nasa.gov/history/alsj/a15/a15BigRockMtn.html.
- ↑ (4082) Swann = 1984 SW3, IAU Minor Planet Center
Further reading
- Spudis, Paul D. (June 3, 2014). "Gordon Swann, Geology Teacher to the Astronauts; Remembering a pioneer of lunar exploration". Smithsonian Magazine (Air & Space Magazine). https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/gordon-swann-geology-teacher-astronauts-180951646/.
- Spudis, Paul D. (July 19, 2014). "Apollo 15 and The Power of Inspiration". Smithsonian Magazine (Air & Space Magazine). https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/apollo-15-and-power-inspiration-180952095/.
Primary sources
- "To the Moon; Interview with Dr. Gordon Swann, geologist with the US Geological Survey (USGS) and Principal Investigator of Lunar Geology for Apollo [parts 1, 2, 3, & 4"]. Library of Congress and GBH. https://americanarchive.org/catalog?f%5Bspecial_collections%5D%5B%5D=to-the-moon&q=swann&sort=title+asc&utf8=%E2%9C%93&f%5Baccess_types%5D%5B%5D=online.
External links
- USGS Astrogeology Center – Gordon Alfred Swann
- {{Find a Grave}} template missing ID and not present in Wikidata.
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