Robert Earl Samuelson Ph.D.

1935 - 2023

SAMUELSON

ROBERT EARL SAMUELSON Ph.D.

Robert Earl Samuelson, Ph.D., died peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of February 10, 2023. He was born on March 11, 1935, in Osceola, Nebraska, to Carlton and Eleanor Mills Samuelson. He grew up in York, Nebraska, along with his younger brother Samuel. He graduated from the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, and went on to earn his doctorate in Astronomy from Georgetown University, in Washington, DC.



Bob, as he was known, devoted his nearly 60-year career to planetary science. He joined the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in 1962, at a time when Goddard was involved in launching satellites orbiting Earth and taking observations at visible and infrared wavelengths. Bob's specialty was understanding the effects of clouds and aerosols on the signals received by the satellites. Later, he expanded his focus to other planetary atmospheres in the solar system. One of his early published papers examined Venus's atmosphere and its greenhouse effect, a subject still of interest today. He became one of the foremost experts in the analysis and interpretation of spacecraft infrared observations of planetary atmospheres, with a focus on ices and aerosols contained within the atmosphere of Saturn's giant moon Titan. He participated as a science co-investigator on the Voyager 1 and 2 missions to the giant planets in the 1980s and the Cassini mission that orbited Saturn and ended in 2017. Throughout his career, both he and the cutting-edge research he conducted were widely respected amongst his peers within the planetary science community. His contributions and legacy will live on through those he mentored and inspired during his remarkable career.



He is survived by the love of his life Anne Stuart Houser, his wife of 33 years; his brother Samuel and wife Judy Samuelson; a daughter Lauretta Samuelson, from a previous marriage, and her two children Jo Lynn and Dyani; and Anne's children Andrew C. Houser (Nicole), and Elisabeth Houser Lamb (Derick), and grandchildren Alex Michael Lamb and Abigail Erin Lamb. His parents predeceased him.



A Memorial Service for him is planned for 11 a.m., February 28, 2023, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 9705 Summit Ave., Kensington, Maryland, 20895.