Dr. Robert A. Hoffman

NASA/GSFC, Code 696
Greenbelt, MD 20771

Phone: (301) 286-7386
Fax: (301) 286-1648
Email: hoffman@pop600.gsfc.nasa.gov

PRESENT POSITION:

Astrophysicist, Electrodynamics Branch
Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

EDUCATION:

B.S., Physics, St. Mary's College, Minnesota, 1956
M.S., Physics, University of Minnesota, 1960
Ph.D., Physics, University of Minnesota, 1962

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Experimental investigations of magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling.

EXPERIENCE:

1964-present -- Astrophysicist, Goddard Space Flight Center
1976-1990 -- Asst. Branch Head, Electrodynamics Branch
1974-1976 -- Asst. Branch Head, Planetary Aeronomy Branch
1970-1974 -- Branch Head, Particle Physics Branch
1965-1970 -- Lecturer, part time, Dept. of Space Sciences and Applied Physics, Catholic University of America
1961-1964 -- NRC Research Associate, Goddard Space Flight Center
Project Science:
1965-1970 -- Assistant Project Scientist, S3
1970-1975 -- Project Scientist, S3 (Explorer 45)
1974-1976 -- Study Scientist, Electrodynamics Explorer
1976-1976 -- Study Scientist, Dynamics Explorer
1976-1992 -- Project Scientist, Dynamics Explorer
1988-1990 -- Project Scientist, Pegsat
1995-present -- Project Scientist, Polar
Flight Teams:
Co-experimenter, Ion Chamber and Geiger Counter - Explorer 6
Co-experimenter, Ion Chamber and Geiger Counter - Pioneer 5
Principal Investigator, Thin Film Scintillator, OGO-2
Principal Investigator, Auroral Particles Experiment, OGO-4
Investigator, Channel Multiplier Instrument, S3 (Explorer 45)
Principal Investigator, Low Energy Electron Experiment, AE-C
Principal Investigator, Low Energy Electron Experiment, AE-D
Principal Investigator, Dynamics Explorer
Principal Investigator, Churchill Rocket Campaign
Principal Investigator, CRRES
Service:
1974-1975 -- Study scientist, Shuttle Subsatellites Facility Definition Team, Shuttle Tethered Satellite
1988-1990 -- Mission Operations Working Group, Magnetosphere/Ionosphere, NASA HQ
1989-1991 -- Space Physics Subcommittee, NASA HQ
1998-present -- Sun-Earth Connections Advisory Subcommittee
1969-present -- 14 design, flight readiness, operations, test, and failure reviews
1992-1994 -- Performance Evaluation Board for Hughes STX Corp. contract
1994-1995 -- Acting Head, Magnetospheres Branch, NASA Headquarters

HONORS:

1972 -- Goddard Exceptional Performance Award
1973 -- NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement
1983 -- NASA Exceptional Service Medal
Four Group Achievement Awards
Six Goddard Special Act, Achievement or Service awards

PATENT:

1974 -- Telemetry Processor (S3 Ground Software System)

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

  1. Hoffman, R. A., Polar - From the top down, Adv. Space Res., 20, No. 4/5, 569-573, 1997.
  2. Escoubet, C. P., J. M. Bosqued, R. A. Hoffman, A. Berthelier, and P. C. Anderson, Opposite ion dispersions observed quasi-simultaneously in the polar cusp by the DE-2 and Auroeol-3 satellites, Geophys. Res. Lett., 24, 2487-2490, 1997.
  3. Hesse, Michael, Joachim Birn and Robert A. Hoffman, On the mapping of ionospheric convection into the magnetosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 102, 9543-9551, 1997.
  4. Hoffman, R. A., and M. Hesse, Global Geospace Science (GGS0 program and the Polar satellite, Proc. Third International Conference on Substorms (ICS-3), ESA SP-389, 721-724, 1996.
  5. Taguchi, S., and R. A. Hoffman, Control parameters for polar ionospheric convection patterns during northward interplanetary magnetic field, Geophys. Res. Lett, 23, 637-640, 1996.
  6. Escoubet, C. P., M. F. Smith, S. F. Fung and R. A. Hoffman, Electron structures in the cusp/cleft region observed by DE 2 satellite, J. Geophys. Res., 100, 1597-1610, 1995.
  7. Taguchi, S., and R. A. Hoffman, Bx control of polar cap potential for northward interplanetary magnetic field, J. Geophys. Res., 100, 19,313-19,320, 1995.
  8. Taguchi, S., and R. A. Hoffman, Bx control of polar cap potential for northward interplanetary magnetic field, J. Geophys. Res., 100, 19,313-19,320, 1995.
  9. Weimer, D. R., J. D. Craven, L. A. Frank, W. B. Hanson, N. C. Maynard, R. A. Hoffman and J. A. Slavin, Satellite measurements through the center of a substorm surge, J. Geophys. Res., 99, 23,639-23,649, 343-350, 1994.
  10. Hoffman, R. A., R. Fujii, P. C. Anderson, N. C. Maynard and M. Sugiura, Electrodynamic parameters in the nighttime sector during auroral substorms and comparison with models, Proc. of the International Substorm Conference-2, ed. Kan, Craven and Akasofu, Gophysical Institute, University of Alaska, 1994.
  11. Hoffman, R. A., R. Fujii and M. Sugiura, Characteristics of the field-aligned current system in the nighttime sector during auroral substorms, J. Geophys. Res., 99, 21,303-21,325, 1994

Last Modified: 12 May 1999

Curator: Jennifer Kalb, Raytheon STX
Email: Jennifer.H.Kalb@gsfc.nasa.gov

Responsible NASA Representative: Dr. James A. Slavin
Email: jim.slavin@gsfc.nasa.gov