James Burke (space engineer) explained

James Burke
Birth Name:James Donahue Burke
Birth Date:18 September 1925
Birth Place:Los Angeles County, California, U.S.
Field:Astrodynamics
Work Institutions:JPL
Known For:Ranger program, one of the pioneers of America's space program

James Donahue Burke (September 18, 1925 – August 19, 2023) was an American lunar settlement and exploration expert. He was known for being the first manager of the Ranger program,[1] and considered one of the pioneers of America's space program.

Early life and career

James Donahue Burke was born in Los Angeles County on September 18, 1925.[2] He grew up in Claremont, California and graduated from Webb High School in 1942.

In 1945, after graduating in mechanical engineering from California Institute of Technology, he became a U.S. naval aviator.[3] Burke returned to Caltech to receive his MSc in aeronautics, before working for JPL in 1949.

In his time at JPL, Burke was the Vega program director, developing the third stage of the general-purpose Vega launch vehicle, which was based on the Atlas rocket.

Following JPL's transfer from the U.S. Navy to NASA, and reorganization during early 1960, the Lunar and Planetary Program was created. Burke was named deputy of the Lunar Program under Clifford Cummings, before becoming the Ranger Spacecraft Project Manager as well.

Ranger program

See main article: Ranger program.

Burke was the first program manager of the Ranger program, a series of unmanned space missions by the United States in the 1960s whose objective was to obtain the first close-up images of the surface of the Moon. The Ranger spacecraft were designed to take images of the lunar surface, transmitting those images to Earth until the spacecraft were destroyed upon impact. Burke was in charge of spacecraft design, deep space tracking and control network, space flight operations and data reduction support systems, while the Space Science Division was in charge of the scientific experiments. Burke could combine the technological and theoretical to integrate mechanical and electrical features to achieve the difficult technical objectives. Along with his two associates, Burke had solved the major guidance problem, velocity control, associated with solid-propellant ballistic missiles. He was recognized as one of the laboratory's most perceptive research engineers, and advanced to become deputy to Cummings on the Vega Program.[4]

Technical challenges led to the failure of the first six flights.[5] Following the first five failures, H.M. Schurmeier became project manager.[6] The ranger program suffered an additional failure before Ranger 7 was successful.

Burke participated in many other lunar, planetary, and astrophysical projects. He was a member of the human-powered flight team that won the Kremer prize.[6]

Burke continued to work at JPL until his retirement in 2001.

Minor planet 4874 Burke, discovered by Eleanor Helin, was named after him when he retired from JPL.[7]

Outreach and education

Burke was a faculty member of the International Space University from 1989.[8]

Burke and his wife Caroline were advisers at the founding conference of the Space Generation Advisory Council during UNISPACE III in Vienna and participated in many Space Generation activities. Burke was an honorary board member of SGAC.[9]

Burke was involved with the Planetary Society from the beginning. He was the technical editor of newsletter, "The Planetary Report" for many years.[10]

Death

James Burke died on August 19, 2023, at the age of 97.[11] [12]

Selected publications

Burke had over 129 works in 165 publications[13] [14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lunar Impact: Lunar Impact: A History of Project Ranger, Part II. The New Ranger, Chapter Nineteen – The Ranger Legacy. NASA History. NASA. 14 July 2016.
  2. Web site: James Donahue Burke . California Birth Index, 1905–1995 . 12 November 2022.
  3. Web site: James Burke '42. Webb schools. 14 July 2016.
  4. Web site: Lunar Impact: A History of Project Ranger, Part I. The Original Ranger, Chapter Two – Organizing the Campaign. NASA History. NASA. 14 July 2016.
  5. Web site: Lunar Impact: A History of Project Ranger, Ranger's Lunar Objectives in Doubt . NASA History. NASA. 14 July 2016.
  6. Web site: Dr. James D. Burke. thespaceshow.com. 14 July 2016.
  7. Web site: ((4874) Burke = 1991 AW = 1928 BB = 1970 EC = 1987 EM . Minor Planet Center . September 30, 2019.
  8. Web site: ISU faculty . https://web.archive.org/web/20191207053651/http://www.isunet.edu/blog/staff/faculty/faculty/121 . 7 December 2019 . May 19, 2018 . International Space University . International Space University.
  9. Web site: Current Honorary Board Members . Space Generation Advisory Council . 22 March 2018.
  10. Web site: Jim Burke - Looking Back 35 Years . 2023-08-23 . The Planetary Society . en.
  11. News: Jim Burke . 22 August 2023 . NASA Watch . 21 August 2023.
  12. Web site: James (Jim) Donahue Burke, 1925–2023 . Lunar and Planetary Institute . 1 September 2023.
  13. Web site: James D Burke on WorldCat. . May 15, 2018.
  14. Web site: Publications of James Burke, Faculty Emeritus . https://web.archive.org/web/20191207142611/http://www.isunet.edu/burke . 7 December 2019 . 23 August 2023 . International Space University . International Space University.