Whose work first recognized that meteorite impacts can shape planetary geology?

Eugene M. Shoemaker, an American geologist, helped establish impact cratering as a major geological process in the mid-20th century. He demonstrated that many craters on the Moon, Earth, and other planets are caused by high-speed impacts rather than volcanism. Shoemaker also helped train astronauts to recognize impact geology. His work was crucial for understanding planetary surfaces across the Solar System.