Joel S. Levine

Joel S. Levine
A headshot of Joel S. Levine at NASA
A NASA portrait of Levine
Born1942 (age 81–82)
Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Alma materBrooklyn College, New York University, University of Michigan
Known forOriginal research on: Mars, The Early Atmosphere and Evolution of the Atmosphere of Earth and Mars, Atmospheric Chemistry, Biomass Burning, and Global Climate Change.

Planning for the return of humans to the Moon, and for the planned Human Exploration of Mars Assisted the National Archives in the Preservation of the Charters of Freedom

Member of NASA's Chilean Trapped Miner Support Team
SpouseArlene S. Levine
Children1
Scientific career
InstitutionsNASA, College of William & Mary

Joel S. Levine (born 1942) is an American planetary scientist, author, and research professor in applied science at the College of William & Mary,[1] specializing in the atmospheres of the Moon, Earth, and Mars.[2] He has worked as a senior research scientist at NASA, developing scientific models of the evolution of the Earth's early atmosphere, as well as creating models of the Martian atmosphere for use during the Viking 1 and 2 Mars Orbiter and Lander Missions, and was principal investigator and chief scientist of the proposed ARES Mars Airplane Mission.[3] He also formed and led the "Charters of Freedom Research Team," a group of 12 NASA scientists who worked with the National Archive and Records Administration (NARA) to preserve the United States Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights when small white spots began appearing on the documents in 1988.[4][5] Levine's past work also includes assisting in the design of the rescue vehicle that saved 33 Chilean miners in the 2010 Copiapó mining accident,[6] as well as original research on the feasibility of the "nuclear winter" hypothesis,[7] and the effects of uncontrolled fires on global warming.[8][9]

Levine is married to Arlene Spielholz, a former NASA scientist who studied the psychological effects of astronauts spending long time periods in space,[10] and has a daughter and grandson.[11]

  1. ^ Arriaza, Rodrigo (February 19, 2019). "W&M professor, former NASA scientist talks about human mission to Mars". The Virginia Gazette. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  2. ^ Wilkerson, Sian (August 2, 2021). "William & Mary research professor, NASA Langley retiree publishes new book on lunar dust". The Virginia Gazette. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  3. ^ Tennant, Diane (July 1, 2006). "NASA Langley's proposed Mars plane moves closer to flight". The Virginian Pilot. Archived from the original on March 31, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  4. ^ Leary, Warren E. (February 7, 1999). "New Framers of the Declaration of Independence Act to Save It in Parchment (Published 1999)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 19, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  5. ^ Stefula, Denise M. "NASA Uses Mini Freezer and More to Solve Big Whodunit". NASA. Archived from the original on March 18, 2010. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  6. ^ Geberer, Raanan (August 8, 2012). "Brooklyn-born scientist helped make Mars landing a reality". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Archived from the original on March 31, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  7. ^ Revkin, Andrew C. (December 4, 1986). "Scientific Burn of Brush Ends When Copter Crashes at Site". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 31, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference :11 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Wicker, Tom (April 4, 1991). "FINAL STORY YET TO BE TOLD ON KUWAIT ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 31, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference :16 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference :24 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).