Desmond King-Hele
Encyclopedia
Desmond George King-Hele (born 3 Nov 1927 at Seaford in Sussex) is a British physicist
and author. In 1957, together with Doreen Gilmour, and as part of the Guided Weapons department of Royal Aircraft Establishment
, he wrote a report proposing the use of the Blue Streak missile
and Black Knight
as a satellite launcher. See also Blue Streak Satellite Launch Vehicle.
He was born in Seaford, Sussex, the son of Sidney G. and Bessie (née Sayer) King-Hele and was educated at Epsom College
and Trinity College, Cambridge
.
He joined the Royal Aircraft Establishment
, Farnborough in 1948 and stayed there until 1988, researching the earth's gravity field and upper atmosphere by analysis of satellite orbits. He was awarded the Eddington Medal
of the Royal Astronomical Society
in 1971 for his work on the geophysical application of the study of the orbit
s of artificial satellites. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in March 1966.
He married Marie Newman in 1954; they had two daughters.
He is the author of A Tapestry of Orbits, Observing Earth Satellites, Satellites and Scientific Research, Theory of Satellite Orbits in an Atmosphere, Shelley: His Thought and Work, Doctor of Revolution and Erasmus Darwin: A Life of Unequalled Achievement. He is also the author of two books of poetry.
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
and author. In 1957, together with Doreen Gilmour, and as part of the Guided Weapons department of Royal Aircraft Establishment
Royal Aircraft Establishment
The Royal Aircraft Establishment , was a British research establishment, known by several different names during its history, that eventually came under the aegis of the UK Ministry of Defence , before finally losing its identity in mergers with other institutions.The first site was at Farnborough...
, he wrote a report proposing the use of the Blue Streak missile
Blue Streak missile
The Blue Streak missile was a British medium range ballistic missile . The Operational Requirement for the missile was issued in 1955 and the design was complete by 1957...
and Black Knight
Black Knight (rocket)
Black Knight was a British launch vehicle to test and verify the design of a re-entry vehicle for the Blue Streak missile.The United Kingdom's first indigenous rocketry project, Black Knight was manufactured by Saunders-Roe on the Isle of Wight, had its engines tested at The Needles and was...
as a satellite launcher. See also Blue Streak Satellite Launch Vehicle.
He was born in Seaford, Sussex, the son of Sidney G. and Bessie (née Sayer) King-Hele and was educated at Epsom College
Epsom College
Epsom College is an independent co-educational public school in Epsom, Surrey, England, for pupils aged 13 to 18. Founded in 1853 to provide support for poor members of the medical profession such as pensioners and orphans , Epsom's long-standing association with medicine was estimated in 1980 as...
and Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
.
He joined the Royal Aircraft Establishment
Royal Aircraft Establishment
The Royal Aircraft Establishment , was a British research establishment, known by several different names during its history, that eventually came under the aegis of the UK Ministry of Defence , before finally losing its identity in mergers with other institutions.The first site was at Farnborough...
, Farnborough in 1948 and stayed there until 1988, researching the earth's gravity field and upper atmosphere by analysis of satellite orbits. He was awarded the Eddington Medal
Eddington Medal
The Eddington Medal, named after Sir Arthur Eddington, is awarded by the Royal Astronomical Society nominally once every two years for investigations of outstanding merit in theoretical astrophysics.- Recipients :* 1953 Georges Lemaître...
of the Royal Astronomical Society
Royal Astronomical Society
The Royal Astronomical Society is a learned society that began as the Astronomical Society of London in 1820 to support astronomical research . It became the Royal Astronomical Society in 1831 on receiving its Royal Charter from William IV...
in 1971 for his work on the geophysical application of the study of the orbit
Orbit
In physics, an orbit is the gravitationally curved path of an object around a point in space, for example the orbit of a planet around the center of a star system, such as the Solar System...
s of artificial satellites. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in March 1966.
He married Marie Newman in 1954; they had two daughters.
He is the author of A Tapestry of Orbits, Observing Earth Satellites, Satellites and Scientific Research, Theory of Satellite Orbits in an Atmosphere, Shelley: His Thought and Work, Doctor of Revolution and Erasmus Darwin: A Life of Unequalled Achievement. He is also the author of two books of poetry.
External links
- Text of the award speech
- Early plans for a Blue Streak-based satellite launcher
- Listen to an oral history interview with Desmond King-Hele - a life story interview recorded for An Oral History of British Science at the British Library