John Herbert Chapman (1921-1979) was a physicist who studied at the University of Western Ontario and McGill University. He began his career at the Department of National Defence studying the propagation of radio waves in the ionosphere, and as part of that work he directed the development of Canada’s first satellites Alouette 1, Alouette 2, and two more satellites in the International Satellites for Ionospheric Studies (ISIS) program. Chapman chaired a group that produced a 1967 report known today as the Chapman Report that was widely seen as the blueprint for Canada’s space program.
In 1969 Chapman continued his leading role in Canadian space efforts when he was named assistant deputy minister of Communications, where he directed the creation of a Canadian network of communications satellites that incorporated new technologies that were pioneered in the Communications Technology Satellite, also known as Hermes, which was launched in 1976. Chapman today is known as the "Father of the Canadian Space Program,” and the Headquarters of the Canadian Space Agency in St. Hubert, Quebec, is named in his honour.
Name proposed and information provided by Chris Gainor.
Orbit type: Main Belt Asteroid
Reference: MPC 49099
Name:
Johnchapman
Number:
14163
Designation:
1998 TY20
Disc. Date:
1998-10-13
Discoverer:
Spacewatch
Disc. Place:
Kitt Peak