Richard M. Goldstein, a pioneer in planetary exploration, passed away at the age of 97 at his home in La Cañada Flintridge, Calif. He was known for using ground-based radars to map planets, a technique that is now used to measure geographical changes on Earth, such as melting glaciers. His daughter, Rabbi Lisa L. Goldstein, confirmed his death.
In the early 1960s, Dr. Goldstein was a graduate student at the California Institute of Technology and working part-time at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He proposed a project to detect echoes from Venus using the newly developed Goldstone Solar System Radar. Despite skepticism from his adviser, Dr. Goldstein successfully detected signals from Venus, which laid the foundation for mapping the entire solar system.
Dr. Goldstein’s work had a significant impact on solar system research. His measurements of the distance to Venus enabled accurate navigation within the solar system, allowing spacecraft to navigate accurately. Charles Werner, a former senior engineer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, emphasized the importance of Dr. Goldstein’s contributions to the field.
Dr. Goldstein’s legacy lives on in the field of planetary exploration. His pioneering work with ground-based radars has paved the way for advancements in mapping planets and measuring geographical changes on Earth. He will be remembered for his groundbreaking contributions to science and exploration.
