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James W. Head

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description James W. Head Overview

James W. Head is an American planetary geologist and professor emeritus at Brown University whose research examines planetary evolution, volcanism, and tectonism. Earlier, at Bellcomm, he worked on NASA's Apollo program by helping evaluate lunar landing sites, train astronauts in field geology, and analyze returned samples; his later work has addressed the Moon, Mars, Venus, Mercury, and icy satellites.

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What did James W. Head do for the Apollo program?

Head helped select lunar landing sites, trained Apollo astronauts in field geology, supported mission operations, and analyzed returned samples. During Apollo 15 in 1971, he worked closely with astronauts David Scott and James Irwin.

Which Apollo mission is especially associated with James W. Head?

Apollo 15 is a major part of Head's career because it was designed as a geological expedition to the Moon. The mission returned about 170 pounds of lunar material for scientific study.

Where did James W. Head build his academic career?

Head joined Brown University's Department of Geological Sciences as an assistant professor in 1973 and later became a research professor. His Brown research applies volcanic and tectonic processes on Earth to the Moon, Mars, Venus, Mercury, and icy satellites.

What is comparative planetology in James Head's work?

Comparative planetology uses processes observed on Earth to interpret landscapes on other worlds. Head applied terrestrial studies of volcanism, glaciers, and tectonics to planetary surfaces, including the Moon and Mars.

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