Georg von Tiesenhausen
Encyclopedia
Dr. Georg F. von Tiesenhausen
(born May 18, 1914) is a retired German-American rocket scientist
. After being brought to the United States in 1953 as part of Operation Paperclip
, he was part of Wernher von Braun
's team at the U.S. Army, and later, NASA
. He is credited with the first complete design of the Lunar Rover
and made a variety of other contributions to the space program.
in 1943. After his graduation he was sent to Peenemünde to work at a military research centre.
, where he again worked with von Braun on guided missiles such as the Redstone
, this time for the U.S. Army at Redstone Arsenal
in Huntsville, Alabama
. He would later be transferred to NASA, where he would work on various spaceflight programs, including the Apollo program which would land men on the Moon
. He continued to work for NASA well into the Shuttle
era.
, lecturing to students in Space Camp
programs about the future of space exploration and other topics.
. "Dr. von T is one of those rare individuals who has a natural ability to inform and inspire, to educate and motivate, and, most remarkably, to endure," Armstrong said.
Tiesenhausen
Tiesenhausen is the name of a Baltic German nobility family. The origins of the family are in Lower Saxony. During the Baltic crusades they settled in Livonia in the first half of the 12th century where they became one of the wealthiest and most important noble lineages between the 14th and 16th...
(born May 18, 1914) is a retired German-American rocket scientist
Aerospace engineering
Aerospace engineering is the primary branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction and science of aircraft and spacecraft. It is divided into two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering...
. After being brought to the United States in 1953 as part of Operation Paperclip
Operation Paperclip
Operation Paperclip was the Office of Strategic Services program used to recruit the scientists of Nazi Germany for employment by the United States in the aftermath of World War II...
, he was part of Wernher von Braun
Wernher von Braun
Wernher Magnus Maximilian, Freiherr von Braun was a German rocket scientist, aerospace engineer, space architect, and one of the leading figures in the development of rocket technology in Nazi Germany during World War II and in the United States after that.A former member of the Nazi party,...
's team at the U.S. Army, and later, NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
. He is credited with the first complete design of the Lunar Rover
Lunar rover
The Lunar Roving Vehicle or lunar rover was a battery-powered four-wheeled rover used on the Moon in the last three missions of the American Apollo program during 1971 and 1972...
and made a variety of other contributions to the space program.
Early Years
Tiesenhausen was born in Riga, Latvia and graduated from Hamburg UniversityUniversity of Hamburg
The University of Hamburg is a university in Hamburg, Germany. It was founded on 28 March 1919 by Wilhelm Stern and others. It grew out of the previous Allgemeines Vorlesungswesen and the Kolonialinstitut as well as the Akademisches Gymnasium. There are around 38,000 students as of the start of...
in 1943. After his graduation he was sent to Peenemünde to work at a military research centre.
Career
Tiesenhausen worked with Dr. Wernher von Braun developing V-2 rockets in Germany during World War II. He came to America in 1953 as part of Operation PaperclipOperation Paperclip
Operation Paperclip was the Office of Strategic Services program used to recruit the scientists of Nazi Germany for employment by the United States in the aftermath of World War II...
, where he again worked with von Braun on guided missiles such as the Redstone
Redstone (rocket family)
The Redstone family of rockets consisted of a number of American ballistic missiles, sounding rockets and expendable launch vehicles operational during the 1950s and 60s. The first member of the family was the PGM-11 Redstone missile, from which all other members were derived. The first large U.S...
, this time for the U.S. Army at Redstone Arsenal
Redstone Arsenal
Redstone Arsenal is a United States Army base and a census-designated place adjacent to Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama, United States and is part of the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area...
in Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
. He would later be transferred to NASA, where he would work on various spaceflight programs, including the Apollo program which would land men on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
. He continued to work for NASA well into the Shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
era.
After NASA
Between 1987 and 2010, von Tiesenhausen frequently volunteered at the U.S. Space & Rocket Centerin Huntsville, AlabamaHuntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
, lecturing to students in Space Camp
United States Space Camp
U.S. Space Camp is owned and operated by the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission d.b.a. U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. "Space Camp" refers to both the actual camp and a family of related camp programs offered year-round by the facility. The camp provides residential and...
programs about the future of space exploration and other topics.
Awards
In 2007, he became one of the original inductees into the Space Camp Hall of Fame. On February 3, 2011, he was presented with the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Lifetime Achievement Award for Education by Neil ArmstrongNeil Armstrong
Neil Alden Armstrong is an American former astronaut, test pilot, aerospace engineer, university professor, United States Naval Aviator, and the first person to set foot upon the Moon....
. "Dr. von T is one of those rare individuals who has a natural ability to inform and inspire, to educate and motivate, and, most remarkably, to endure," Armstrong said.