Published July 18, 2024
| Published
Journal Article
Edward C. Stone obituary: physicist who guided Voyager probes to interstellar space
Abstract
Edward Stone was a pre-eminent space scientist with an exceptional record of leading space missions and building ground-based astronomical facilities. The public face of NASA’s Voyager missions for the launch of the two probes in 1977, he served as project scientist for 50 years. Stone introduced the world to the wonders of the gas-giant planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) in multiple press conferences, from Voyager 1’s encounter with Jupiter in 1979 to Voyager 2’s fly-by of Neptune in 1989. He also oversaw the probes entering interstellar space — the first in 2012 and the second in 2018. They continue to transmit data to Earth today.
Copyright and License
© 2024 Springer Nature Limited.
Conflict of Interest
The author declares no competing interests.
Additional details
- ISSN
- 1476-4687
- Caltech groups
- Space Radiation Laboratory