Alta Walker (April 28, 1942 – August 1, 2015) also known as A.S. Walker was an American geologist for the National Air and Space Museum,[1] the US Geological Survey, and Department of the Interior,[2] where she mapped the moons of Jupiter as well as the dark side of Earth’s Moon. Walker participated in a National Academy of Sciences scientific study group in 1980 in China. Her research on desertification was featured in American Scientist with her article, “Deserts of China.”
A.S. Walker | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 28, 1942 |
| Died | August 1, 2015 |
| Other names | Alta Sharon Walker |
| Alma mater | Syracuse University University of Minnesota Rice University |
| Occupation(s) | Geologist, geochemist |
According to her obituary, she was one of the first female Americans to be an astronaut candidate.[2]
Walker authored several books on deserts, geology and resources between 1981 and 2000<,[3] was a contributing writer of the book Geomorphology from Space and co-authored Rocks and War: Geology and the Civil War Campaign of Second Manassas with her partner E-An Zen.
Early life and education
editWalker was from Ogdensburg, New York and her parents were William and Kathleen Walker and she graduated from Ogdensburg Free Academy in 1960.[2] She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in English from Syracuse University, a Master of Arts in Earth Science from the University of Minnesota and a Doctor of Philosophy in Geochemistry from Rice University. Her doctoral dissertation was titled "Inert Gas Investigations of Five Apollo 11 and 12 Breccias and of an Apollo 17 Soil Sample".[2]
References
edit- ^ "Alta Walker". www.wikidata.org. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
- ^ a b c d "Dr. Alta Walker". NNY360. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
- ^ "A. S. Walker (Walker, A. S. (Alta Sharon), 1942-) | The Online Books Page". onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu. Retrieved 2022-11-17.