Charles P. Sonett papers

Charles P. Sonett was born on January 15, 1924 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, of Hungarian parents. When he was a young boy his family moved to Trona California, forty miles southwest of Death Valley. He attended Los Angeles High School and became a member of the LA Amateur Astronomical Society.

Following high school, Sonett attended UCLA and majored in physics. After 2 years of college and the bombing of Pearl Harbor he enlisted in the Army where he was assigned to the 103rd Infantry Division. On March 13, 1945 Sonett stepped on a German mine while on patrol in France, his injuries led to the battlefield amputation of his left leg.

He returned to UCLA in 1946 to continue his undergraduate degree in physics. Sonett ultimately transferred to UC Berkley where he graduated in 1948. In June of that same year he married Virginia Louise Hooten, also a graduate of UC Berkley.

His first job was with the Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory at Hunters Point in San Francisco working on satellite planning. After only one year he returned to UCLA and received his masters of arts in 1951 and his doctorate in Nuclear Physics in 1954.

From 1954 through 1960 Dr. Sonett was employed by Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation in the Space Technology Laboratories. He was subsequently employed at NASA Headquarters, as Chief of Sciences, in the Lunar and Planetary Programs from 1960-1962. In 1962 Sonett was chosen as the head of the Space Sciences Division at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California. Dr. Sonett remained at Ames Research Center for 11 years. Where he was a pioneer in space exploration and involved in the Pioneer Program, 1958-1969; Explorer Program, 1959-1976; Apollo Program, 1969-1972.

In 1969 he was awarded the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal for significant scientific contribution toward achievement of aeronautical or space exploration goals.

Dr. Sonett was personally selected by Dr. Gerard P. Kuiper to replace him in 1973, as the director of the Lunar Planetary Laboratory (LPL) and the head of the Department of Planetary Science. During his tenure as director, 1973-1977, Sonett built and expanded an internationally recognized research and education program in solar system sciences at the University of Arizona.

Following his resignation as director, Sonett continued to be active in both research and teaching at the Lunar Planetary Laboratory and the Department of Planetary Sciences. In 1990 Dr. Sonett was involved in the Ulysses Program, a joint venture between The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA. This mission was the first survey of the Sun's environment in space from its equator to the poles and over a wide range of solar activity conditions.

In 1992 the University of Arizona named Dr. Sonett a Regents’ Professor, the top title for university professors in the state. In 2003 he retired from teaching and research at the university as a Regents’ Professor Emeritus.

On April 30, 2004 the University of Arizona dedicated the Dr. Charles P. Sonett Space Science Building at 1541 E. University Blvd., Tucson, AZ. The building now houses approximately 45 scientists and support staff.

Charles P. Sonett died on September 30, 2011 at the age of 87.