Lennart Nordh : En intervju av Martin Emanuel 22 oktober 2017

The interview treats Lennart Nordh’s experiences as an astronomer at Stockholm University and the Stockholm Observatory in Saltsjöbaden, and as secretary of the Swedish National Space Board’s (SNSB) scientific committee, responsible for the distribution of funds for Swedish space-related research and development. As part of his role at SNSB, Nordh was also the Swedish delegate in ESA:s scientific committee, which he chaired for three years towards the end of his career. The interview treats, among other things, the entry, development, and special requirements of astronomy as a space-borne scientific field in a landscape that was initially dominated by space physics and aeronomy. Given Nordh’s involvement in infrared (IR) astronomy in particular, focus is on IR-related projects, from balloon and sounding rocket-based projects via the Swedish national satellite project Odin to grand international missions such as ISO, Herschel and James Webb Space Telescope, although he also discusses other Swedish astronomy groups’ particularities and access to experimental know-how and technical facilities. Finally, based on his experiences within the Swedish and European scientific committees, Nordh elaborates on the inner workings and considerations regarding funding of space research, including national strategies and the juste retour-principle that guides ESA-funding.
QC 20181128
50 år i rymden: Ett dokumentationsprojekt om svensk rymdverksamhet