CURRICULUM VITAE

 

Full Name:                    Yoji Kondo

Citizenship:                   U.S.A

Office Address:            NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt,

                                    MD 20771, U.S.A

 

Education:       

 

1965                Ph.D. in astronomy, University of Pennsylvania

1963                M.S. in astronomy, University of Pennsylvania

1961                Entered University of Pennsylvania

1958                B.A., Tokyo University of Foreign Studies

 

 

Professional Positions:

 

 

1995-2001                   Special Advisor to NASA Administrator Dan Goldin

1999-present                Co-Investigator, NASA Kepler Mission (to detect Earth-like planets)

1988-2001                   NASA Project Scientist, Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) Satellite

1978-present                Astrophysicist, Goddard Space Flight Center

1982-97                       NASA Project Scientist, International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) Satellite

1969-77                       Head, Astrophysics Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center

1968-77                       Astronomer, NASA Johnson Space Center

1965-68                       National Academy of Sciences - NRC Research Fellow, NASA Goddard                                            Space Flight Center

1965                            Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania

 

Concurrent Appointments:

 

1996-present                Professor, adjunct appointment, Catholic University of America

1995                            Visiting Professor, University of La Plata Senior

1994-1995                   Visiting Fellow, Institute of Space and Astronautically Science (ISAS), Japan

1989-present                Professor, adjunct, George Mason University

1978-88                       Professor in Astronomy & Astrophysics, adjunct, University of Pennsylvania

1983                            Visiting Professor, ISAS

1981-82                       Consultant to Director of Astrophysics Division NASA Headquarters

1972-77                       Professor in Physics & Astronomy, adjunct, University of Oklahoma

1974-77                       Professor in Physics, adjunct, University of Houston

1971-72                       Associate Professor in Physics & Astronomy, adjunct, University of                                          Oklahoma

1968-74                       Adjunct Graduate Faculty, University of Houston

 

Professional Societies:

 

Member, International Astronomical Union (IAU)

1994-97           President, IAU Division on Variable Stars

1991-94           President, IAU Commission 42 - Close Binary Stars

1988-91           Vice President, IAU Commission 42

1985-88           President, IAU Commission 44 - Astronomy from Space

1982-85           Vice President, IAU Commission 44

 

 

Member, American Astronomical Society (AAS)

1989-92           AAS Representative to U.S. National Academy of Sciences Committee for IAU

 

Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science

1989-92           Member, Nominating Committee for Section D - Astronomy

1991-92           Chairman, Nominating Committee for Section D

 

Member, Committee for Space Research (CaSPAR)

1985-94           IAU Representative to (COSPAR Commission E

 

Member, International Astronautically Federation

1994                IAU Representative to IAF

Publications Committee, Astronomical Society of the Pacific

1995-1997

 

Member, Science Fiction Writers of America

1988­

 

Journal Editorships:

 

1979-2000                   Editor, Comments on Astrophysics

1992-2000                   Consultant to Editor, Earth Space Research

1993-present                Editor, Astrophysics & Space Science

1995-1997                   Advisory Editor, Publ. Astron. Soc. Pacific

1974-1979                   Editor, Earth & Extraterrestrial Sciences

 

Awards and Honors:

 

2003                Isaac Asimov Memorial Award

1995                National Space Club Science Award

1990                NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement

1988                Federal Design Achievement Award - issued with the U.S. Presidential Award for                     Design Excellence presented to the IUE Project

1975                Certificate of Commendation, Johnson Space Center - the highest honorary award at                 J.S.C.

Seven other honorary awards from NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Johnson Space Center, and European Space Agency.

 

An asteroid has been named Yojikondo in 2000.

 

      Publications (a complete list is available):

      (I)   Articles in Refereed Journals                                                                 148 articles

(II)       Articles in Conference Proceedings                                                       85 articles

(III)      Other Articles                                                                                       39 articles

(IV)      Books - as editor                                                                                  14 volumes

(V)       Meeting Abstracts                                                                                90 papers

 

 

Selected List of Publications

 

Yoji Kondo

 

[A] Papers in Refereed Journals:

 

  1. G. E. McCluskey, Jr., and Y. Kondo, "On the Formation of a Neutron Star in a Close Binary System", Astrophysics and Space Science, 10, 464, 1971.

 

  1. Y. Kondo, "Ultraviolet Reflectivity of Jupiter Observed from a Rocket", Icarus, 14, 269,1971.

 

  1. Y.Kondo, S. B. Parson, K.G. Henize, J. D. Wray, G. F. Benedict, and G. E. McCluskey, "Skylab Ultraviolet Spectra: Emission Line from the beta Lyrae System", Astrophysical Journal, 208, 468, 1976.

 

  1. Y. Kondo, C. de Jager, R. Hoekstra, K. A. van der Hucht, T. Kamperman, H. J. G. L. M. Lamers, J. L. Modisette, and T. H. Morgan, "Baloon-borne Ultraviolet Stellar Spectrograph. I. Instrumentation and Observations", Astrophysical Journal, 230, 526, 1979.

 

  1. Y. Kondo, G. E. McCluskey, and S. B. Parsons, "Variable Optically-Thick Plasma in the Interacting Binaries R Arae and HD 207739", Astrophysical Journal, 295, 580, 1985.

 

  1. F. C. Bruhweiler, Y. Kondo, and E. M. Sion, "The Historical Record for Sirius: Evidence for A White Dwarf Thermonuclear Runaway?" Nature, 324, 235, 1986.

 

  1. Y. Kondo, G.E. McCluskey, J.M.8. Silvis, R.S. polidan, C.P.S. McCluskey, and J.A. Eaton, "Ultraviolet Light Curves of beta Lyrae: Compaison of OAO-A2, lUE and Voyager Observations", Ap. J., 421, 787 (1994).

 

  1. Kondo, Y., McCluskey, G.E., and Guinan, E.F., "Problems in Modeling Evolutionary Processes in Close Binaries", New Astronomy Review, 1, 46 (2002).

 

  1. Arias, M.L., Sahade, J., Henrichs, H. and Kondo, Y.,”Looking for Discrete UV Absorption Features in the EarlyType Binaries mu-1 Scorpii and AO Cassiopeiae", A&Ap., (2005) .

 

[B]  Books (as editor or author) :

 

  1. Y. Kondo and E. Boldt, "X-ray Binaries", Goddard Space Flight Center, October 1975, (NASA X-660-75-285), NASA SP-389, 1976.

 

  1. Y. Kondo, J. M. Meade, and R. D. Chapman, "Advances in Ultraviolet Astronomy: Four Years of IUE Research", NASA CP 2238, 1982

 

  1. J. M. Mead, R. D. Chapman, and Y. Kondo, "Future of Ultraviolet Astronomy Based on Six Years of IUE Research", NASA CP 2349, 1984.

 

  1. F. C. Bruhweiler, Y. Kondo, and B. D. Savage, "Local Interstellar Medium", NASA CP 2345, 1984.

 

  1. Y. Kondo, W. Wamsteker, A. Boggess, M. Grewing, C. de Jager, A. L. Lane, J. L. Linsky, and R. Wilson, "Exploring the Universe with t-he IUE Sat-ellite", D. Re-id-e-l Publishing Co., 1987.

 

  1. H. Drechsel, Y. Kondo, and J. Rahe, "Cataclysmic Variables", . D. Reidel Publishing Co., 1987.

 

  1. Y. Kondo, "Observatories in Earth Orbit and Beyond", Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1990.

 

  1. Y. Kondo, R. Sistero, and R. Polidan, "Evolutionary Processes in Interacting Binary Stars", Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1992.

 

  1. J. Sahade, G. E. McCluskey, Y. Kondo, "The Realm of Interacting Binary Stars", Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1992.

 

  1. Wamsteker, W., Longair, M., and Kondo, Y., "Frontiers of Space and Ground-based Astronomy", Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1994.

 

  1. Kafatos, M. And Kondo, Y., "Examining the Big Bang and Diffuse Background Radiations", Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1996.

 

  1. Kondo, Y., Sheffield, C. and Bruhweiler, F., "Space Access and Utilization Beyond 2000", American Astronautical Society (2001) .

 

  1. Kondo, Y., Bruhweiler, F., Moore, J., and Sheffield, C. "Interstellar Travel and Multi-Generation Space Ships" Apogee Press, 2003.

 

  1. Kondo, Y. "Was There Really A Big Bang?" (text in Japanese), Kodansha, 2000.

 

[C] Selected articles on the exploration of space:

 

1.      Kondo, Y., Guinan, E.F., and Chen, P. "The Moon as a Site for Astronomy: Technological Assessment and Scientific Evaluation", lAU W.G. meeting 'Astronomy from the Moon' (2003)

 

2.      Chen, P., Kondo, Y. and Guinan, E.G.”New Technology Robotic Telescope for Astronomy and lnterferometery", lAU W.G. meeting 'Astronomy from the Moon' (2003) .

 

3.      Y. Kondo & W. Gaubatz "Focusing the Visions and Goals for Space Exploration on Opening Space", Analog, XX, 000, (2004)

 

4.      Y. Kondo "Human and Robotic Space Exploration"         Space Times, p. 21, Aug.-Sep. 2004

 

Research in variable stars: this will be a main theme for the Kepler Mission guest observer program: Y. Kondo is a co-investi­gator for the Kepler Mission, which is scheduled to be launched in 2008 into an Earth-trailing orbit, and has been asked to oversee the guest observer program. Kondo has served as presi­dent of IAU (International Astronomical Union) Commission on Close Binary (Eclipsing Variable) Stars and also as president of IAU Division on Variable Stars, and has published over two hun­dred scientific papers in this and related fields. He is also editor of three books on interacting binary stars, "X-ray Bi­naries" (Editors: Y. Kondo and E. Boldt), "Evolutionary Processes in Interacting Binary Stars" (Editors: Y. Kondo, R.F. Sistero and R.S. Polidan), and "The Realm of Interacting Binary Stars" (Editors: J. Sahade, G.E. McCluskey and Y. Kondo).. He has also been responsible for the productive guest observer programs for the IUE (International Ultraviolet Explorer) satellite observato­ry for a decade and a half and for the EUVE (Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer) satellite for about a decade.

 

Public outreach on the manned and robotic exploration of space: This topic concerns the safe and economical access to space using SSTO/RLV (Single Stage to Orbit/Reusable Launch Vehicle) and the economical and other benefits from the availability of such capabilities in space: For example, solar power satellite (SPS) in geosYnchronous orbit, could be one of the practical answers to the diminishing fossil oil resources on the planet. An SPS with a solar energy collecting area of several square kilometers can transmit, using microwave, to the ground-based receiving antennae

(rectennae) generating about one gigawatt of electricity. [One gigawatt of electricity is a typical generating capacity of an atomic power plant; it is sufficient to provide the energy neces­sity for a fair-sized U.S. city.] Over the past few years, Kondo has written and published two articles in the Space Times,  "Opening Space for the 21st Century" (Y. Kondo and W. Gaubatz) and "Human and Robotic Space Exploration" (Kondo), the journal published by the American Astronautical Society, and another in the magazine Analog, "Focusing Visions and Goals for Opening Space" (Kondo and Gaubatz), all on the subject of the importance of safe and economical access to space and its benefits to the human race. Kondo is also editor of two books, both based on the AAAS sYmposia he organized and chaired, "Space Access and Utili­zation Beyond 2000" (editors Kondo, Sheffield and Bruhweiler) and "Interstellar Travel and Multi-Generation Space Ships" (Kondo, Bruhweiler, Moore and Sheffield) .

The costs of reaching low Earth orbit can be reduced by a factor of one hundred through the use of SSTO/RLV down to about $200 per kilogram, cf. article by D. Goldin in "Space Access and Utilization Beyond 2000". Reaching LEO is half the energy cost of getting anywhere in the solar system. He has also been a guest speaker at over a few dozen public conventions in recent years to talk about the importance of economical access to space. With a safe and economical access to LEO using SSTO/RLV, the human exploration of other bodies in the solar system can become a practical undertaking. Interplanetary space ships, which operate basically in vacuum, can be assembled economically in LEO. Once we are back on the Moon in force, magnetic catapults could also be installed on the Moon to send provisions, under high acceleration, to Mars and other distant solar system ob­jects.