posted 03-06-2010 09:32 AM               

Cho Gyeong-chul (Korean: 조경철, April 4, 1929 – March 6, 2010) was a South Korean astronomer. He was born in Sonchon, Pyongannam-do. During the Korean war, he moved to South Korea, and he graduated in physics at Yonhui University. After graduating, he went to the United States to study further. He studied politics at Tusculum College, however he later changed his major to astronomy at University of Michigan and finally received his doctorate in astronomy at University of Pennsylvania.

After graduating, he worked for several corporations and observatories in the 1960's, most notably at Alexandria University and NASA. He went back to South Korea in 1968, where he worked as a professor at Yonsei University. He also became chairman of the Korean Astronomical Society (KAS) and Korean Amateur Astronomical Society. In 1969, he interpreted the Apollo 11 moon landing broadcast on American Forces Korean Network. While he was interpreting, he became so excited that he fell out of his chair. This situation was broadcast widely in Korea, and after that he received the nickname "아폴로 박사."("Apollo baksa", which means "Dr. Apollo")

Later in life, he developed heart disease, and was hospitalized in Severance Hospital with high fever on March 2, 2010. He later suffered a heart attack and lost consciousness. He died on March 6, 2010.