Cho Gyeong-chul
Encyclopedia
Cho Gyeong-chul was a South Korean astronomer
.
He was born in Sonchon
, Pyongannam-do. He finished his middle and high school courses at Pyongyang
and was then admitted to Yonhui University
. During the Korean War
he served in the South Korean army, and in 1952 he was a professor at the South Korean military academy. In 1954 he graduated in physics from Yonhui University.
After graduating, he went to the United States
to study further. He studied politics at Tusculum College
, however he later changed his major to astronomy at University of Michigan
and finally received his doctorate in astronomy from the University of Pennsylvania
.
After obtaining his doctorate, he worked for several corporations, observatories and university in the 1960s, most notably at the United States Naval Observatory
and NASA
. He went back to South Korea in 1968, where he worked as a professor at Yonsei University, and opened a new department of astronomy and space. He also became chairman of the Korean Astronomical Society (KAS) and Korean Amateur Astronomical Society. In 1969, he interpreted the Apollo 11
moon landing broadcast on American Forces Korean Network. While he was interpreting, he became so excited that he fell out of his chair. This situation was broadcast widely in Korea, and after that he received the nickname "아폴로 박사."("Apollo baksa", which means "Dr. Apollo")
Later in life, he developed heart disease
, and was hospitalized in Severance Hospital
with high fever on March 2, 2010. He later suffered a heart attack
and lost consciousness. He died on March 6, 2010.
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
.
He was born in Sonchon
Sonchon
Sonchon is a kun, or county, on the coast of the Yellow Sea in west-central North Pyongan province, North Korea. To the north it borders Chonma, to the east Kusong and Kwaksan, and to the west Tongrim; to the south, it borders nothing but the sea...
, Pyongannam-do. He finished his middle and high school courses at Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
and was then admitted to Yonhui University
Yonsei University
Yonsei University is a Christian private research university, located in Seoul, South Korea. Established in 1885, it is one of the oldest universities in South Korea, the top private comprehensive universities in South Korea, and is widely regarded as one of the top three comprehensive...
. During the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
he served in the South Korean army, and in 1952 he was a professor at the South Korean military academy. In 1954 he graduated in physics from Yonhui University.
After graduating, he went to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to study further. He studied politics at Tusculum College
Tusculum College
Tusculum College is a coeducational private college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church , with its main campus in Tusculum, Tennessee, United States, a suburb of Greeneville...
, however he later changed his major to astronomy at University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
and finally received his doctorate in astronomy from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
.
After obtaining his doctorate, he worked for several corporations, observatories and university in the 1960s, most notably at the United States Naval Observatory
United States Naval Observatory
The United States Naval Observatory is one of the oldest scientific agencies in the United States, with a primary mission to produce Positioning, Navigation, and Timing for the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Department of Defense...
and NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
. He went back to South Korea in 1968, where he worked as a professor at Yonsei University, and opened a new department of astronomy and space. He also became chairman of the Korean Astronomical Society (KAS) and Korean Amateur Astronomical Society. In 1969, he interpreted the Apollo 11
Apollo 11
In early 1969, Bill Anders accepted a job with the National Space Council effective in August 1969 and announced his retirement as an astronaut. At that point Ken Mattingly was moved from the support crew into parallel training with Anders as backup Command Module Pilot in case Apollo 11 was...
moon landing broadcast on American Forces Korean Network. While he was interpreting, he became so excited that he fell out of his chair. This situation was broadcast widely in Korea, and after that he received the nickname "아폴로 박사."("Apollo baksa", which means "Dr. Apollo")
Later in life, he developed heart disease
Heart disease
Heart disease, cardiac disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the heart. , it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, accounting for 25.4% of the total deaths in the United States.-Types:-Coronary heart disease:Coronary...
, and was hospitalized in Severance Hospital
Severance Hospital
The Severance Hospital of the Yonsei University Health System is a hospital located in Sinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, South Korea. It is the second biggest university hospital in Korea just behind Seoul National University Hospital. It has 3,700 beds, approximately 3,000,000 outpatients and 1,000,000...
with high fever on March 2, 2010. He later suffered a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
and lost consciousness. He died on March 6, 2010.