Hale Van Dorn Bradt, PhD ’61, a distinguished professor emeritus at MIT, has passed away at the age of 93. He died on November 14 at Salem Hospital in Peabody, Massachusetts, surrounded by his loving family. Renowned for his contributions to physics, particularly in X-ray astronomy, Bradt was a beloved figure in the MIT community and a devoted husband to Dorothy A. (Haughey) Bradt.
Bradt made significant strides in X-ray astronomy, utilizing both NASA rockets and satellites to explore neutron stars and black holes within X-ray binary systems. Notably, he served as the original principal investigator for the All-Sky Monitor instrument aboard NASA’s Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE), which conducted impactful research from 1996 until its decommissioning in 2012.
His work focused on pinpointing celestial X-ray sources, leading to groundbreaking investigations of these cosmic phenomena at various wavelengths, including optical and radio. “Hale was the last of the cosmic ray group that transitioned to X-ray astronomy,” stated Claude Canizares, Bruno Rossi Professor of Physics. “He was deeply committed to undergraduate education, and his mentorship profoundly influenced my career.”
In 1999, Bradt was honored with the Bruno Rossi Prize in High-Energy Astrophysics from the American Astronomical Society.
Born on December 7, 1930, in Colfax, Washington, Bradt grew up in various locations, including Maine and New York City. He graduated high school in Washington, where his father, a chemistry professor, and mother, a musician and writer, profoundly influenced his upbringing. Following a challenging family event, which led to his father’s tragic death, Bradt embarked on a decades-long research project culminating in the trilogy “Wilber’s War,” which explored his father’s experiences during World War II.
An early passion for music saw Bradt singing in choirs and studying violin from a young age, eventually enrolling at Princeton University to study musicology and composition. During his MIT years, he played in a string quartet and was an active member of the MIT Chorale Society, showcasing his remarkable versatility.
Bradt’s military service in the U.S. Navy as a deck officer during the Korean War unveiled his aptitude for technical subjects, leading him back to his academic passion for physics. Upon completing his studies at MIT, Bradt joined the Cosmic Ray Group under Bruno Rossi, particularly during the exciting early days of space exploration following the launch of Sputnik.
His pioneering work in X-ray astronomy set the stage for significant developments in the field. He participated in the first successful rocket missions, which explored X-ray sources in the Milky Way, and played a vital role in designing instruments for NASA’s early X-ray satellite missions, including SAS-3 and HEAO-1.
Bradt and his team initiated the RXTE project in the 1980s, launching it successfully in 1995. The instrument provided a wealth of data, studying X-ray phenomena over 16 years, including the landmark discovery of X-ray pulsations from the Crab pulsar.
After retiring in 2001, Bradt became MIT’s McCormick Hall academic advisor for first-year students and significantly contributed to the department’s history and mentorship programs. He was awarded numerous accolades, including the 1990 Buechner Teaching Prize in Physics and the 2004 Outstanding Freshman Advisor of the Year Award.
Bradt’s legacy extends beyond his research. He was a dedicated mentor to numerous students, fostering the next generation of physicists. Andrea Ghez, a Nobel laureate, fondly recalled Bradt’s instrumental role in facilitating her entry into high-energy astrophysics.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, two daughters, and two grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salem Athenaeum or the Thomas Fellowship, which supports physics graduate students at MIT, established in honor of the department’s long-serving staff.
“MIT has provided a fantastic environment for my research and teaching endeavors,” Bradt once reflected. “I am profoundly appreciative and keen to give back.”
The Barbara E. Thomas Fund, dedicated to supporting physics graduate students, has also been established within the Department of Physics. Contributions can be made online at the MIT website giving.mit.edu.
Photo credit & article inspired by: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
