Named in honor of William M. Kaula (1926– ), professor of earth and space science at the University of California at Los Angeles. Kaula pioneered the use of artificial satellites in geodesy, producing global gravity maps of the earth, the moon, Venus and Mars. He has used the gravity, cratering record and surface topography of Venus to infer current and historical tectonics and properties of the interior. He also played an active role in establishing the Apollo Lunar Laser Ranging Experiment and has had a longstanding and wide-ranging interest in the origin and evolution of the solar system. (M 27359) _ _.