Frank B. McDonald | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | May 28, 1925 |
| Died | August 31, 2012 (aged 87) |
| Nationality | American |
| Citizenship | American |
| Alma mater | Duke University University of Minnesota |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physics, Astrophysics |
| Institutions | University of Iowa Goddard Space Flight Center University of Maryland |
| Doctoral advisor | Edward P. Ney |
| Notable students | Bonnard J. Teegarden |
Frank Bethune McDonald (May 28, 1925 – August 31, 2012) was an American astrophysicist who helped design scientific instruments for research flights into space. He was a key force behind several initiatives and programs of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, for which he served as chief scientist.[1]
During his career, he was project scientist on nine NASA missions and principal investigator on 15 space experiments. He wrote more than 300 scientific publications. In 1986, he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences.