조경철 趙慶哲
Astronomer nicknamed "Dr. Apollo" for commenting on the Apollo 11 moon-landing broadcast; pen name Goseong
| Life | 1929 ~ 2010 |
| Era | 일제강점기~대한민국 |
| Clan | 배천 조씨 |
Life & career
Jo Gyeong-cheol (4 April 1929 - 6 March 2010) was a Korean astronomer of the Baekcheon (Baecheon) Jo clan with the pen name Goseong. Born in Seoncheon, North Pyongan Province, he graduated from Pyongyang Higher Common School and entered the mining engineering department of Kim Il Sung University but left without finishing. He fought in the Korean War, was commissioned in the army in 1950, distinguished himself at the Battle of Height 603 at Geumhwa and received the Hwarang Order of Military Merit with Gold Star, though he was wounded. After teaching physics at the Korea Military Academy he left the army as a captain in 1953 and graduated in physics from Yonhi College in 1954.
He studied in the United States and received a master's in astronomy in 1959 and a doctorate in 1962 from the University of Pennsylvania, then worked as an astronomer at the US Naval Observatory (1962-65), researcher at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (1965-67) and professor at the University of Maryland (1967-69). He returned in 1968 as the first scientist recruited from overseas by the government, and in 1969 served as interpreter and commentator for the Apollo 11 moon-landing broadcast; his chair famously tipped backward in his excitement as Armstrong landed, which made him known as "Dr. Apollo".
In Korea he was first secretary-general of the Korea Scientific and Technological Information Center (1969-72), professor of astronomy and meteorology at Yonsei (1969-79) and president of the Korean Astronomical Society (1971-74), then moved to Kyung Hee University in 1979 and was involved in founding its space science department in 1985. He was first president of the Korean Space Science Society in 1984 and president of the Korean Amateur Astronomical Society (1994-96). His books include Modern Astronomy (1989, Korea Publication Culture Grand Prize), The Great Universe and a translation of Newton's Principia, with the number of titles given as 173 or 177 depending on the source. He received the Order of Science and Technology, Changjo class, posthumously in 2010, and the Hwacheon Jo Gyeong-cheol Observatory opened on Mt. Gwangdeok in 2014. In politics he lost elections in 1978 and 1981 and later was active in the National Congress for New Politics and other parties.
War and Studies
He earned the Hwarang Order of Military Merit with Gold Star at the Battle of Height 603 during the Korean War and later taught physics at the Korea Military Academy. After graduating from Yonhi College he received a doctorate in astronomy (1962) from the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Apollo
He served as interpreter and commentator for the live Apollo 11 broadcast in 1969 and won popularity; the scene in which he tipped back in his chair in excitement earned him the nickname "Dr. Apollo".
Contributions to Korean Astronomy
As a civilian member of the National Observatory establishment committee in 1967 he helped draft the plan (the National Observatory launched in 1974), and he led the Korean Astronomical Society, the Korean Space Science Society and the Korean Amateur Astronomical Society, teaching at Yonsei and Kyung Hee.
Remembrance
He was posthumously awarded the Order of Science and Technology (Changjo class) in 2010, and the Hwacheon Jo Gyeong-cheol Observatory, exhibiting his belongings and books, opened on Mt. Gwangdeok, Gangwon-do, in 2014. He also worked at Kyung Hee University, where Jo Yeong-sik served as president.
Grave
The location of his grave could not be confirmed. He died of acute myocardial infarction at Severance Hospital in Sinchon, Seoul in 2010 and was given a five-day social funeral.
Descendants
His wife was the film actress Jeon Gye-hyeon and they had a son and a daughter.