Jacques Émile Blamont (; 13 October 1926 – 13 April 2020) was a French
astrophysicist,
author and the founder scientific and technical director of
National Centre for Space Studies (CNES-Centre national d'études spatiales), known to have contributed to the development of
Veronique, the first rocket launched by France in 1957.
He was an elected fellow of the
French Academy of Technologies The National Academy of Technologies of France (''Académie des technologies'') is a learned society, founded in 2000, with an emphasis on technology, and the newest of French academies. In 2007 it acquired the status of ''établissement public'', w ...
and a professor emeritus of the
Pierre and Marie Curie University
Pierre and Marie Curie University (french: link=no, Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, UPMC), also known as Paris 6, was a public university, public research university in Paris, France, from 1971 to 2017. The university was located on the Jussi ...
(University of Paris VI).
Blamont was a recipient of several national honours such as
Commander of the Legion of Honour
The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...
, the third highest French civilian honour,
Grand Officer of the National Order of Merit, the second highest French civilian honour,
Commander of the Academic Palms,
Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit, the highest French civilian honour,
President's Silver Medal,
Soviet Order of Friendship of Peoples
The Order of Friendship of Peoples (russian: oрден Дружбы народов, translit=orden Druzhby narodov) was an order of the Soviet Union, and was awarded to persons (including non-citizens), organizations, enterprises, military unit ...
and
Padma Shri
Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, ...
, the fourth highest Indian civilian award.
Blamont died on 13 April 2020 in
Châtillon, Hauts-de-Seine
Châtillon () is a commune in the southwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.
The town was formerly named ''Châtillon-sous-Bagneux'', and a relic of this denomination remains in at least one road sign in Van ...
, aged 93.
Biography
Jacques Blamont was born in Paris in France on 13 October 1926
and did his studies at the
École Normale Supérieure
École may refer to:
* an elementary school in the French educational stages normally followed by secondary education establishments (collège and lycée)
* École (river), a tributary of the Seine flowing in région Île-de-France
* École, Savoi ...
where he came in contact with the
Nobel laureate
The Nobel Prizes ( sv, Nobelpriset, no, Nobelprisen) are awarded annually by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Swedish Academy, the Karolinska Institutet, and the Norwegian Nobel Committee to individuals and organizations who make out ...
,
Alfred Kastler
Alfred Kastler (; 3 May 1902 – 7 January 1984) was a French physicist, and Nobel Prize laureate.
Biography
Kastler was born in Guebwiller (Alsace, German Empire) and later attended the Lycée Bartholdi in Colmar, Alsace, and École Normale Sup ...
, who was serving the institution as a professorial chair.
He graduated from
École Normale Supérieure
École may refer to:
* an elementary school in the French educational stages normally followed by secondary education establishments (collège and lycée)
* École (river), a tributary of the Seine flowing in région Île-de-France
* École, Savoi ...
in 1948
and continued his studies at the
National Centre for Scientific Research
The French National Centre for Scientific Research (french: link=no, Centre national de la recherche scientifique, CNRS) is the French state research organisation and is the largest fundamental science agency in Europe.
In 2016, it employed 31,63 ...
(CNRS) as an associate of physical sciences.
In 1952, he reunited with Alfred Kastler in research on ''atomic coherence phenomenon'' and secured his doctoral degree (
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science ( la, links=no, Scientiae Doctor), usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D., or D.S., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries, "Doctor of Science" is the degree used f ...
) under his guidance in 1956.
Blamont continued at
CNRS
The French National Centre for Scientific Research (french: link=no, Centre national de la recherche scientifique, CNRS) is the French state research organisation and is the largest fundamental science agency in Europe.
In 2016, it employed 31,637 ...
for a year more as a research fellow
and joined the Aeronomy Service of the institution in 1957 where he became the deputy director in 1958.
In 1961, he was promoted as the director, a post he held till 1985.
He worked in many capacities during his stay with CNES, as a Scientific and Technical Director (1962-1972), as Top Scientific Advisor (1972-1982) and as an advisor to the President of CNES
from 1982.
During this period, he served the
Pierre and Marie Curie University
Pierre and Marie Curie University (french: link=no, Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, UPMC), also known as Paris 6, was a public university, public research university in Paris, France, from 1971 to 2017. The university was located on the Jussi ...
as a professor without chair from 1957 to 1961, as a full professor from 1962 to 1996 and as a professor emeritus from there on.
He also worked as a research director at
École Militaire
École may refer to:
* an elementary school in the French educational stages normally followed by secondary education establishments (collège and lycée)
* École (river), a tributary of the Seine flowing in région Île-de-France
* École, Savoi ...
(Joint Defence College).
He was made the first
Vikram Sarabhai
Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai (12 August 1919 – 30 December 1971) was an Indian physicist and astronomer who initiated space research and helped develop nuclear power in India. He was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 1966 and the Padma Vibhushan ...
professor at the
Physical Research Laboratory
The Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) is a National Research Institute for space and allied sciences, supported mainly by Department of Space, Government of India. This research laboratory has ongoing research programmes in astronomy and astrop ...
in 1977,
a visiting professor at the
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology (branded as Caltech or CIT)The university itself only spells its short form as "Caltech"; the institution considers other spellings such a"Cal Tech" and "CalTech" incorrect. The institute is also occasional ...
in 1985 and a distinguished visiting scientist at
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a federally funded research and development center and NASA field center in the City of La Cañada Flintridge, California, United States.
Founded in the 1930s by Caltech researchers, JPL is owned by NASA an ...
during 1980–2001.
He was a member of
International Academy of Astronautics
The International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) is an independent non-governmental organization established in Stockholm ( Sweden) on August 16, 1960, by Dr. Theodore von Kármán, and recognized by the United Nations in 1996.
The IAA has electe ...
(1969),
Indian National Science Academy
The Indian National Science Academy (INSA) is a national academy in New Delhi for Indian scientists in all branches of science and technology.
In August 2019, Dr. Chandrima Shaha was appointed as the president of Indian National Science Academ ...
(1978),
National Academy of Sciences, USA
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a United States nonprofit, non-governmental organization. NAS is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, along with the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and the Nati ...
(1980),
Air and Space Academy (1983),
Academia Europaea
The Academia Europaea is a pan-European Academy of Humanities, Letters, Law, and Sciences.
The Academia was founded in 1988 as a functioning Europe-wide Academy that encompasses all fields of scholarly inquiry. It acts as co-ordinator of Europea ...
(1989),
Academy of Technology (2000),
French Academy of Sciences
The French Academy of Sciences (French: ''Académie des sciences'') is a learned society, founded in 1666 by Louis XIV of France, Louis XIV at the suggestion of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, to encourage and protect the spirit of French Scientific me ...
and the
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society (APS), founded in 1743 in Philadelphia, is a scholarly organization that promotes knowledge in the sciences and humanities through research, professional meetings, publications, library resources, and communit ...
(2002).
He was also a member of the advisory council of the Planetary Society.
Legacy
![Helkivad ööpilved Kuresoo kohal](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/Helkivad_%C3%B6%C3%B6pilved_Kuresoo_kohal.jpg)
Blamont was one of the pioneers of French space programme
and his efforts were reported in the establishment of
CNES
The (CNES; French: ''Centre national d'études spatiales'') is the French government space agency (administratively, a "public administration with industrial and commercial purpose"). Its headquarters are located in central Paris and it is und ...
, the French Space Agency, in 1962.
He was known to have contributed to the launch of the first French rocket,
Véronique,
in 1957.
He was one of the founders of Service d’aéronomie du CNRS, (Aeronomy Service of
Centre national de la recherche scientifique
The French National Centre for Scientific Research (french: link=no, Centre national de la recherche scientifique, CNRS) is the French state research organisation and is the largest fundamental science
Basic research, also called pure research o ...
) and was its director from 1958 to 1985.
He participated, as a member of the steering groups,
in several global space missions such as the
Voyager and
Pioneer-Venus of
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research.
NASA was established in 1958, succeeding t ...
and
Vega mission of the
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...
to
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun. It is sometimes called Earth's "sister" or "twin" planet as it is almost as large and has a similar composition. As an interior planet to Earth, Venus (like Mercury) appears in Earth's sky never fa ...
and
Halley's Comet
Halley's Comet or Comet Halley, officially designated 1P/Halley, is a short-period comet visible from Earth every 75–79 years. Halley is the only known short-period comet that is regularly visible to the naked eye from Earth, and thus the o ...
and acted as the chief investigator of the
Phobos program
Phobos (Greek for "fear") most commonly refers to:
* Phobos (moon), a moon of Mars
* Phobos (mythology), the Greek god and personification of fear and panic
Phobos may also refer to:
Comics
* Phobos (Marvel Comics)
* Phobos (''W.I.T.C.H.''), a ...
of the
USSR
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nationa ...
.
He assisted
Vikram Sarabhai
Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai (12 August 1919 – 30 December 1971) was an Indian physicist and astronomer who initiated space research and helped develop nuclear power in India. He was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 1966 and the Padma Vibhushan ...
in the establishment of the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) which later grew to become the present day
Indian Space Research Organization
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO; ) is the national space agency of India, headquartered in Bengaluru. It operates under the Department of Space (DOS) which is directly overseen by the Prime Minister of India, while the Chairman ...
(ISRO)
and played a part in providing the payload for the first two Indian rocket launches in 1963 and 1964.
Blamont was credited with the discovery of
turbopause
The turbopause, also known as the homopause, marks the altitude in an atmosphere below which turbulent mixing dominates. Mathematically, it is defined as the point where the coefficient of Eddy diffusion is equal to the coefficient of molecular dif ...
in 1959, the
interstellar wind in 1970, the
hydrogen envelope of comets in 1971 and the polar
noctilucent cloud
Noctilucent clouds, or night shining clouds, are tenuous cloud-like phenomena in the upper atmosphere of Earth. When viewed from space, they are called polar mesospheric clouds (PMCs), detectable as a diffuse scattering layer of water ice cryst ...
s in 1973.
He was known to have made the measurement of the temperature of the neutral atmosphere from 100 to 500 km, the dynamic parameters of the
mesopause region, and
Einstein's general relativity
General relativity, also known as the general theory of relativity and Einstein's theory of gravity, is the geometric theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1915 and is the current description of gravitation in modern physics ...
redshift
In physics, a redshift is an increase in the wavelength, and corresponding decrease in the frequency and photon energy, of electromagnetic radiation (such as light). The opposite change, a decrease in wavelength and simultaneous increase in f ...
on the Sun for the first time.
He was the head of the group which introduced scientific ballooning and
Lidar
Lidar (, also LIDAR, or LiDAR; sometimes LADAR) is a method for determining ranges (variable distance) by targeting an object or a surface with a laser and measuring the time for the reflected light to return to the receiver. It can also be ...
technology for atmospheric probing in Europe.
The image compression device developed by Blamont
is in use with various space agencies for planetary missions around the Moon, Mars and
Titan.
He also contributed to the establishment of a launch range, in
Kourou, French Guiana
Kourou () is a commune in French Guiana, an overseas region and department of France in South America. Kourou is famous for being the location of the Guiana Space Centre, the main spaceport of France and the European Space Agency (ESA). It is ...
.
Blamont, besides writing several articles on science, authored four books,
viz. ''Vénus dévoilée, Voyage autour d'une planète'' (Venus Unveiled – 1987),
''Le Chiffre et le Songe, Histoire politique de la découverte'' (The Digit and the – 1993),
''Le Lion et le Moucheron, Histoire des Marranes de Toulouse'' (The Lion and the Midge – 2000)
and ''Introduction au Siècle des Menaces'' (Introduction to the Age of Menaces – 2004).
He also mentored 80 research scholars in their doctoral research.
Awards and recognition
Blamont received three of the highest French civilian honours,
Commander of the Legion of Honour
The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...
,
Grand Officer of the National Order of Merit and
Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit apart from the honour of the
Commander of the Order of Academic Palms and the Silver Medal from the
President of the French Republic
The president of France, officially the president of the French Republic (french: Président de la République française), is the executive head of state of France, and the commander-in-chief of the French Armed Forces. As the presidency is ...
in 1967.
He received the
Soviet Order of Friendship of Peoples
The Order of Friendship of Peoples (russian: oрден Дружбы народов, translit=orden Druzhby narodov) was an order of the Soviet Union, and was awarded to persons (including non-citizens), organizations, enterprises, military unit ...
from the erstwhile
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...
in 1989
and the
Government of India
The Government of India (ISO: ; often abbreviated as GoI), known as the Union Government or Central Government but often simply as the Centre, is the national government of the Republic of India, a federal democracy located in South Asia, c ...
awarded him the fourth highest Indian civilian award of
Padma Shri
Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, ...
in 2015.
He was a winner of NASA awards twice,
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research.
NASA was established in 1958, succeeding t ...
Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal in 1972
and
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research.
NASA was established in 1958, succeeding t ...
Distinguished Service Medal in 2000
and the
French Academy of Sciences
The French Academy of Sciences (French: ''Académie des sciences'') is a learned society, founded in 1666 by Louis XIV of France, Louis XIV at the suggestion of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, to encourage and protect the spirit of French Scientific me ...
honoured him two times, Leon Grelaud Prize in 1960 and
Prix Paul Doistau–Émile Blutet
The Prix Paul Doistau–Émile Blutet is a biennial prize awarded by the French Academy of Sciences in the fields of mathematics and physical sciences since 1954. Each recipient receives 3000 euros. The prize is also awarded quadrennially in bio ...
in 1967.
The
Academy of Sciences of the USSR
The Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union was the highest scientific institution of the Soviet Union from 1925 to 1991, uniting the country's leading scientists, subordinated directly to the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union (until 1946 ...
and the
Indian Space Research Organization
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO; ) is the national space agency of India, headquartered in Bengaluru. It operates under the Department of Space (DOS) which is directly overseen by the Prime Minister of India, while the Chairman ...
awarded him the
Yuri Gagarin
Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin; Gagarin's first name is sometimes transliterated as ''Yuriy'', ''Youri'', or ''Yury''. (9 March 1934 – 27 March 1968) was a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut who became the first human to journey into outer space. Tr ...
Medal in 1985
and the
Vikram Sarabhai
Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai (12 August 1919 – 30 December 1971) was an Indian physicist and astronomer who initiated space research and helped develop nuclear power in India. He was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 1966 and the Padma Vibhushan ...
Medal in 1994 respectively.
He won three awards from the
International Academy of Astronautics
The International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) is an independent non-governmental organization established in Stockholm ( Sweden) on August 16, 1960, by Dr. Theodore von Kármán, and recognized by the United Nations in 1996.
The IAA has electe ...
, Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Award in 1967, Guggenheim Medal in 1986 and Von Karman Award in 1989.
He was also a recipient of Rovel H. Prize from the Faculty of Paris in 1957, Aimé Cotton prize of the French Physical Society in 1960,
CNES
The (CNES; French: ''Centre national d'études spatiales'') is the French government space agency (administratively, a "public administration with industrial and commercial purpose"). Its headquarters are located in central Paris and it is und ...
Vermeil medal in 1967, Spie prize,
French Roberval Prize in 1993,
Gold Medal of the Guiana Space Center in 1995, George N. Goddard Award from the
International Society for Optical Engineering in 1997,
Committee on Space Research
The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) was established on October 3, 1958 by the International Council for Scientific Unions (ICSU). Among COSPAR's objectives are the promotion of scientific research in space on an international level, wi ...
(COSPAR) Space Science Award in 2004
and
Prix International d'Astronautique (International Astronautics Prize), formerly known as
Prix REP-Hirsch in 2019.
Award gallery
Padma Shri India IIIe Klasse.jpg, Padma Shri India
Chevalier légion d'honneur 2.png, Commander of the Legion of Honour
The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...
Mérite national officier FRANCE.jpg, Grand Officer of the National Order of Merit
Commandeur de l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques avers.jpg, Commander of the Academic Palms
Grand-Croix de l'Ordre National du Merite.jpg, Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit
Orden De La Amistad De Los Pueblos.png, Soviet Order of Friendship of Peoples
The Order of Friendship of Peoples (russian: oрден Дружбы народов, translit=orden Druzhby narodov) was an order of the Soviet Union, and was awarded to persons (including non-citizens), organizations, enterprises, military unit ...
See also
References
Further reading
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Blamont, Jacques
1926 births
2020 deaths
French astrophysicists
French science writers
Recipients of the Padma Shri in science & engineering
Recipients of the Order of Friendship of Peoples
Members of the French Academy of Sciences
Foreign Fellows of the Indian National Science Academy
Foreign associates of the National Academy of Sciences
20th-century French physicists
21st-century French physicists
20th-century French male writers
21st-century French male writers
20th-century French non-fiction writers
21st-century French non-fiction writers
French male non-fiction writers