Reuven Ramaty
Encyclopedia
Reuven Ramaty was a pioneer in the fields of solar physics
, gamma-ray astronomy
, nuclear astrophysics
, and cosmic rays. He was a HESSI Co-Investigator and one of the founding members of the HESSI team. His active involvement and enthusiastic support were critical for HESSI’s selection by NASA
as the sixth Small Explorer (SMEX) mission. Following the launch on 5 February 2002, HESSI was renamed in his honor. It became the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager
(RHESSI), the first space mission named after a NASA
scientist.
Solar physics
For the physics journal, see Solar Physics Solar physics is the study of our Sun. It is a branch of astrophysics that specializes in exploiting and explaining the detailed measurements that are possible only for our closest star...
, gamma-ray astronomy
Gamma-ray astronomy
Gamma-ray astronomy is the astronomical study of the cosmos with gamma rays. Gamma-rays are the most energetic form of "light" that travel across the universe, and gamma-rays thus have the smallest wavelength of any wave in the electromagnetic spectrum.Gamma-rays are created by celestial events...
, nuclear astrophysics
Nuclear astrophysics
Nuclear astrophysics is an interdisciplinary branch of physics involving close collaboration among researchers in various subfields of nuclear physics and astrophysics, with significant emphasis in areas such as stellar modeling, measurement and theoretical estimation of nuclear reaction rates,...
, and cosmic rays. He was a HESSI Co-Investigator and one of the founding members of the HESSI team. His active involvement and enthusiastic support were critical for HESSI’s selection by 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...
as the sixth Small Explorer (SMEX) mission. Following the launch on 5 February 2002, HESSI was renamed in his honor. It became the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager
Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager
Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager is the sixth mission in the line of NASA Small Explorer missions...
(RHESSI), the first space mission named after a 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...
scientist.