Editing Karl Gordon Henize

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Short description|American astronomer and astronaut (1926–1993)}}
{{Infobox astronaut
|name          = Karl Henize
|image         = Henize.jpg
|birth_name    = Karl Gordon Henize
|birth_date    = {{birth date|1926|10|17}}
|birth_place   = [[Cincinnati]], [[Ohio]], U.S.
|death_date    = {{death date and age|1993|10|5|1926|10|17}} 
|death_place   = [[Mount Everest]], [[Nepal]]
|education     = [[University of Virginia]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Master of Arts|MA]])<br>[[University of Michigan]] ([[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]])
|type          = [[NASA astronaut]]
|rank          = [[Lieutenant commander (United States)|Lieutenant Commander]], [[United States Naval Reserve|USNR]]
|time          = 7d 22h 45min
|selection     = [[NASA Astronaut Group 6|NASA Group 6 (1967)]]
|mission       = [[STS-51-F]]
|insignia      = [[File:Sts-51-f-patch.png|40px]]
|retirement    = April 1986
|module = {{Infobox scientist
|embed = yes
|field = [[Astronomy]]
|thesis_title = The Michigan-Mount Wilson Survey of the Southern Sky for Hα-Emission Stars and Nebulae
|thesis_url = http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/4123782
|thesis_year = 1954}}
}}
'''Karl Gordon Henize''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|h|ɛ|n|aɪ|z}};<ref name="JPL4">[http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/releases/2004/80.cfm JPL-80 "NASA Creates Portrait of Life and Death in the Universe"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921162444/http://jpl.nasa.gov/releases/2004/80.cfm |date=September 21, 2008 }}, 2004 News Releases, NASA [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]], Pasadena, California (US), March 8, 2004</ref> October 17, 1926 &ndash; October 5, 1993) was an American [[astronomer]], [[space scientist]], NASA [[astronaut]], and professor at [[Northwestern University]]. He was stationed at several observatories around the world, including [[McCormick Observatory]], [[Lamont–Hussey Observatory]] (South Africa), [[Mount Wilson Observatory]], [[Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory]] and [[Mount Stromlo Observatory]] (Australia). He was a member of the astronaut support crew for [[Apollo 15]] and [[Skylab 2]], [[Skylab 3|3]], and [[Skylab 4|4]]. As a [[mission specialist]] on the [[Spacelab|Spacelab-2]] mission ([[STS-51-F]]), he flew on [[Space Shuttle]] ''[[Space Shuttle Challenger|Challenger]]'' in July/August 1985. He was awarded the [[NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal]] in 1974.

He died in 1993, during a [[Mount Everest]] expedition while testing equipment for NASA.

==Early life and education==
Karl Henize was born in [[Cincinnati, Ohio]], on October 17, 1926.{{sfn|Shayler|Burgess|2007|p=513}} He grew up on a small dairy farm outside Cincinnati, and his boyhood heroes were [[Buck Rogers]] and Sir [[Edmund Hillary]], the first man to reach the summit of Mount Everest.<ref name=JPL4/> Henize was fascinated with space at a young age. Since space travel had not happened yet during his childhood, he became interested in astronomy. Henize built his own telescopes and read every book on astronomy in his school's library. He joined the [[Boy Scouts of America|Boy Scouts]], and his only merit badge was in astronomy.<ref name=tce>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30893141/the_cincinnati_enquirer/|title=Cincinnati's Astronaut|last1=Benningfield|first1=Damond|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|date=July 12, 1985|page=B-1|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

His hobbies included home [[computers]], [[stamp collecting]], [[mathematics]], and [[astronomy]], and he also enjoyed [[racquetball]], [[baseball]], skin [[Underwater diving|diving]], and [[mountain climbing]].

Henize attended elementary school in [[Plainville, Ohio|Plainville]] and [[Mariemont, Ohio]]. The school was small, three or four rooms, and did not contain a library.<ref name=tce /> He also attended high school in Mariemont, where he played baseball and was on the tumbling team.<ref name=tce /> Due to the war, Karl elected to not finish high school, instead entering the [[V-12 Navy College Training Program]], which first took him to [[Denison University]] in Granville, Ohio, and then to the [[University of Virginia]]. World War II ended before he received his Naval Commission, so he became a member of the [[U.S. Naval Reserve]], reaching the rank of [[lieutenant commander]] and retained a draft status of A1 until being required to give that up when he became an astronaut in 1967. While at the [[University of Virginia]], he received a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in [[mathematics]] in 1947,{{sfn|Shayler|Burgess|2007|p=513}} and a [[Master of Arts]] degree in [[astronomy]] in 1948,{{sfn|Shayler|Burgess|2007|p=513}} while also carrying out research at [[McCormick Observatory]]. He was awarded a [[Doctor of Philosophy]] in astronomy in 1954 by the [[University of Michigan]].{{sfn|Shayler|Burgess|2007|p=513}}<ref name=wapo />

Henize married Caroline {{nee|Weber}} in Ann Arbor, and they had four children: Kurt, Marcia, Skye, and Vance.<ref name=tce2>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30891763/the_cincinnati_enquirer/|title=Cincinnati's Astronaut|last1=Benningfield|first1=Damond|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|date=July 12, 1985|page=B-4|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

==Experience==

Henize was an observer for the University of Michigan Observatory from 1948 to 1951, stationed at the [[Lamont–Hussey Observatory]] in [[Bloemfontein]], [[Union of South Africa]]. While there, he conducted an objective-prism spectroscopic survey of the southern sky for stars and nebulae showing emission lines of [[hydrogen]].

In 1954 he became a Carnegie post-doctoral fellow at the [[Mount Wilson Observatory]] in [[Pasadena, California]], and conducted spectroscopic and photometric studies of emission-line stars and nebulae. From 1956 to 1959, he served as a senior [[astronomer]] at the [[Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory]]. He was in charge of photographic [[satellite tracking station]]s for the satellite tracking program and responsible for the establishment and operation of a global network of 12 stations for photographic tracking of artificial Earth satellites.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://siarchives.si.edu/collections/siris_arc_216832|title=Record Unit 263, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Satellite Tracking Program, Satellite Tracking Station Records, 1953–1968|publisher=Smithsonian Institution Archives|access-date=July 27, 2019}}</ref>

Henize was appointed [[associate professor]] in [[Northwestern University]]'s Department of [[Astronomy]] in 1959 and was awarded a professorship in 1964. In addition to teaching, he conducted research on planetary [[nebulae]], [[peculiar emission-line star]]s, [[S-type star]]s, and [[T-association]]s. During 1961 and 1962, he was a guest observer at [[Mount Stromlo Observatory]] in [[Canberra]], [[Australia]], where he used instruments ranging from the Uppsala 20/26-inch schmidt to the 74-inch parabolic reflector.

[[File:Postflight discussion of S-13 experiment (S66-45615).jpg|thumb|Henize, then an employee at Dearborn Observatory, discussing the Ultraviolet Astronomical Camera Experiment with the Gemini 11 astronauts (1966)]]
Henize also engaged in studies of [[ultraviolet]] optical systems and astronomical programs suited to the crewed space flight program. He became principal investigator of [[experiment S-013]] which obtained [[ultraviolet stellar spectra]] during the [[Project Gemini|Gemini]] 10, 11, and 12 flights.{{sfn|Shayler|Burgess|2007|p=513}} He also became principal investigator of experiment S-019 in which a 6-inch aperture objective-prism spectrograph was used on [[Skylab]] to obtain ultraviolet spectra of faint stars.

From 1974 to 1978 Henize chaired the [[NASA Facility Definition Team]] for [[STARLAB]], a proposed 1-meter UV telescope for [[Spacelab]]. From 1978 to 1980 he chaired the NASA Working Group for the [[Spacelab Wide-Angle Telescope]]. Since 1979 he had been the chairman of the International Astronomical Union Working Group for Space Schmidt Surveys and was one of the leaders in proposing the use of a 1-meter (3&nbsp;ft) all-reflecting Schmidt telescope to carry out a deep full-sky survey in far-ultraviolet wavelengths.

He authored or co-authored 70 [[scientific publications]] dealing with astronomy research.<ref name=nasabio1>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/henize_karl.pdf|title=Biographical Data|access-date=March 12, 2021|publisher=NASA |date=March 2007}}</ref>

==NASA experience==
[[File:STS-51-F crew.jpg|thumb|left|The crew assigned to the STS-51F mission (1985)]]
Henize applied for the first scientist-astronaut group, but was denied because the age limit was 35 and he was 37. In 1967, NASA abolished the age limit, and Henize was selected as a scientist-astronaut by NASA in August.<ref name=tce2 /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30779535/muncie_evening_press/|title=New Citizens to be Astros|newspaper=Muncie Evening Press|location=Muncie, Indiana|date=August 3, 1967|page=19|via=Newspapers.com|agency=UPI}}</ref> Astronauts that did not already know how to fly had to complete a 53-week jet pilot training program at [[Vance Air Force Base]], Oklahoma.<ref name=tce2 /> They also completed initial education there. He was a member of the astronaut support crew and CAPCOM for the [[Apollo 15]] mission.{{sfn|Shayler|Burgess|2007|p=513}} The entire support crew consisted of scientist-astronauts, as the prime crew of the mission thought they would need more help with the science aspects of the mission rather than the piloting.{{sfn|Worden|French|2011|loc=2433}}<!-- Chapter 7, paragraph "We didn't need pilots" --> He was also a member of the astronaut support crew for the [[Skylab 2]], [[Skylab 3|3]], and [[Skylab 4|4]] missions.{{sfn|Brooks|Grimwood|Swenson|2009|p=380}} He was mission specialist for the ASSESS-2 spacelab simulation mission in 1977. He logged 2,300 hours flying time in [[jet aircraft]].<ref name=nasabio1 />

[[File:STS 51-F launch (18278548690).jpg|thumb|upright|Liftoff on July 29, 1985, sending Henize into Earth orbit]]
Henize was a mission specialist on the [[Spacelab|Spacelab-2]] mission ([[STS-51-F]]) which launched from [[Kennedy Space Center]], Florida, on July 29, 1985. He was accompanied by Col. [[C. Gordon Fullerton|Gordon Fullerton]] (spacecraft commander), Col. [[Roy D. Bridges]] (pilot), fellow mission specialists Dr. [[Anthony W. England]] and Dr. [[F. Story Musgrave]], as well as two payload specialists, Dr. [[Loren Acton]] and Dr. [[John-David Bartoe]].

This mission was the first pallet-only Spacelab mission and the first mission to operate the Spacelab [[Instrument Pointing System]] (IPS). It carried 13 major experiments, of which seven were in the field of astronomy and solar physics, three were for studies of the Earth's [[ionosphere]], two were life science experiments, and one studied the properties of [[superfluid helium]]. Henize's responsibilities included testing and operating the IPS, operating the [[Remote Manipulator System]] (RMS), maintaining the Spacelab systems, and operating several of the experiments.

After 126 orbits of the Earth, STS 51-F ''[[Shuttle Challenger|Challenger]]'' landed at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on August 6, 1985. With the completion of this flight Henize logged 190 hours in space.{{sfn|Shayler|Burgess|2007|p=508}}

In 1986, he retired as an astronaut and accepted a position as senior scientist in the Space Sciences Branch. He studied space debris and hazards to the space station.<ref name=wapo />

In the 1998 miniseries ''[[From the Earth to the Moon (miniseries)|From the Earth to the Moon]]'', Henize was played by [[Marc Macaulay]].

==Death==

Henize, on leave from NASA at the time, went on a hiking expedition to Mount Everest with British research group High Adventure BVI.<ref name=wapo>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1993/10/09/former-astronaut-karl-henize-dies/2bd5e84d-c902-4e06-b399-bbc7589eb4a5/ |title=Former Astronaut Karl Henize Dies |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=April 23, 2019}}</ref> Henize intended to test the Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter (TEPC) at different altitudes: {{convert|17,000|ft}}, {{convert|19,000|ft}}, and {{convert|21,000|ft}}. The TEPC would reveal how people's bodies would be affected, including the way bodily tissues behaved, when struck by radiation, which was important for the planning of long duration space missions.<ref>{{cite book |first=Tom |last=Read |author-link=Nish Bruce |title=Freefall |page=224 |publisher=[[Little Brown]] |year=1998 |isbn=0-316-64303-3}}</ref> The data would be shared with NASA and BVI.<ref name=nasarel />

Henize acclimatized at [[Kathmandu, Nepal]], followed by acclimatization at expedition base camp in China. Henize, with three members of High Adventure BVI, began the hike on October 4, 1993. Henize reported breathing problems on their way to advanced base camp; they were at {{convert|22,000|ft}}. Treatments with oxygen failed, and they returned to base camp. On October 5, Henize died in his sleep. The cause of death was determined to be [[high altitude pulmonary edema]] (HAPE).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-karl-henize-1512511.html |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |title=Obituary: Karl Henize |last=Bond |first=Peter |date=October 23, 1993}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Tom |last=Read |title=Freefall |pages=224–35 |publisher=Little Brown |year=1998 |isbn=0-316-64303-3}}</ref> Henize, aged 66, was buried near the [[Changtse|Changtse Glacier]].{{sfn|Shayler|Burgess|2007|p=521}}  He was survived by his wife, Caroline, and four children.<ref name=nasarel>{{cite web |publisher=[[NASA]] |archive-date=April 20, 2005 |date=October 8, 1993 |title=Press Release: Former Astronaut Karl Henize dies on Mt. Everest Expedition |last=Carr |first=Jeffrey |id=93-077 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050420201954/https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/releases/1993_1995/93-077.html |url=https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/releases/1993_1995/93-077.html}}</ref>

==Organizations==
Henize was a member of the [[American Astronomical Society]]; the [[Royal Astronomical Society]]; the [[Astronomical Society of the Pacific]]; the [[International Astronomical Union]]; and [[Phi Beta Kappa]].<ref name=nasabio>{{cite web|url=https://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/henize.html|title=Karl G. Henize (Ph.D.). NASA Astronaut (Deceased)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112049/https://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/henize.html|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref>

==Special honors==
He was presented the [[Robert Gordon Memorial Award]] for 1968, and was a  recipient of [[NASA Group Achievement Award]]s in 1971, 1974, 1975, 1978. He was also awarded the [[NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal]] in 1974.<ref name=nasabio />

==Writings==
[[File:Henize 206 (PIA05517).jpg|thumb|[[Henize 206]], cataloged by Henize]]
In 1956, Henize published the ''Catalogues of Hα-Emission Stars and Nebulae in the Magellanic Clouds''.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1956ApJS....2..315H|title=Catalogues of Hα-EMISSION Stars and Nebulae in the Magellanic Clouds|journal=[[Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series]]|volume=2|page=315|year=1956|bibcode=1956ApJS....2..315H|last1=Henize|first1=Karl G.|doi=10.1086/190025}}</ref>  The paper references many objects which bear his name, such as  the [[Superbubble]] Henize 70<ref>{{Cite APOD |date=November 30, 1999 |title= Henize 70: A SuperBubble In The LMC |access-date=}}</ref> and the [[planetary nebula]] Henize 3–401.<ref>{{Cite APOD |date=July 31, 2002 |title= Henize 3-401: An Elongated Planetary Nebula |access-date=}}</ref>  He discovered over 2,000 stars. In total, he published 75 papers.<ref name=wapo />

==See also==
*[[List of people who died climbing Mount Everest]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|2}}

==References==
*{{cite book |last1=Brooks |first1=Courtney G. |last2=Grimwood |first2=James M. |last3=Swenson |first3=Loyd S. Jr. |others=Foreword by [[Samuel C. Phillips]] |title=Chariots for Apollo: A History of Manned Lunar Spacecraft |url=https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4205.pdf |access-date=August 1, 2013 |series=The NASA History Series |year=2009 |orig-date=1979 |publisher=Scientific and Technical Information Branch, NASA |location=Washington, DC |isbn=978-0-486-46756-6 |oclc=227923959 |lccn=79001042 |id=NASA SP-4205 }}
*{{cite book|title=NASA's Scientist Astronauts|last1=Shayler|first1=David J.|last2=Burgess|first2=Colin|publisher=Praxis Publishing|lccn=2006930295|isbn=978-0-387-21897-7|year=2007}}
*{{cite book |last1=Worden |first1=Al |author-link1=Alfred Worden |last2=French |first2=Francis |author-link2=Francis French (author) |title=Falling to Earth: An Apollo 15 Astronaut's Journey |year=2011 |publisher=Smithsonian Books |location=Washington, D.C. |isbn=978-1-58834-309-3 |lccn=2011003440 }}

==External links==
*[http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/henize_karl.htm Spacefacts biography of Karl G. Henize]
*[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE5DB1E3DF933A25753C1A965958260 ''New York Times'' obituary]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20121005021403/http://astronautix.com/astros/henize.htm Astronautix biography]

{{NASA Astronaut Group 6}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Henize, Karl Gordon}}
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:1993 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American astronomers]]
[[Category:Scientists from Cincinnati]]
[[Category:University of Virginia alumni]]
[[Category:University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts alumni]]
[[Category:Mountaineering deaths on Mount Everest]]
[[Category:Deaths from pulmonary edema]]
[[Category:NASA civilian astronauts]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle program astronauts]]