About Dr. Harold MacDonald and Dr. William Waite:
Dr. Harold MacDonald was on the faculty of the University of Arkansas in the Geology Department from 1971 until his retirement in 1998 as an Emeritus University Professor. With specialization in remote sensing and petroleum geology, Dr. MacDonald analyzed various remote sensing techniques to determine the best to use for different landscapes. Active in radar geologic research, he served as a Co-Investigator on the first Shuttle Imaging Radar Experiment-A (SIR-A), a project carried aboard the space shuttle Columbia in 1981. The experiment demonstrated the capability of space-borne imaging radar as a tool for geological exploration and included radar mapping of areas in Arkansas and other areas around the world. The project introduced new methods to examine prospects for mineral and petroleum exploration. Dr. MacDonald and his research team were presented the NASA Group Achievement Award (1983) "for pioneering the economic application of scientific investigations on the first shuttle payload." MacDonald's work continued with subsequent SIR-B (1984-1986) and SIR-C (1990-1995), shuttle imaging experiments that aided NASA in developing models for future imaging radars. From 1984 to 1989, he also served as Co-Investigator on Magellan, a spacecraft mission that used imaging radar to map the surface of Venus.
Publications (by date): 1962-1969 | 1970-1979 | 1980-1989
