astronomical observations outside the terrestrial atmosphere) from 1967 to 1970, a Vice-President of the IAU from 1979 to 1985 and a member of the bureau of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) from 1986 to 1990. References Further reading Exploring the Universe with the IUE Satellite Ed Y. Kondo 1987,1989 A. Dalgarno, Sir Robert Wilson, Biographical Memoir, Proc. Am. Philos. Soc., p 119 Vol 142 March 2003. I. Howarth & A. Willis Sir Robert Wilson 1927–2002 Astr. & Geophys. Vol 44 (1) Page 1.34, Feb 2003 1927 births 2002 deaths People from Durham, England Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Academics of University College London 20th-century British astronomers Fellows of the Royal Society Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Knights Bachelor Alumni of King's College, Newcastle