Heinz-Hermann Koelle
Encyclopedia
Heinz-Hermann Koelle was an aeronautical engineer who made the preliminary designs on the rocket that would emerge as the Saturn I
. Closely associated with Werner von Braun's team at the Army Ballistic Missile Agency
(ABMA), he was a member of the launch crew on Explorer I
and later directed the Marshall Space Flight Center
's involvement in Project Apollo
. In 1965, he accepted the Chair of Space Technology at the Technical University of Berlin
.
, son of a lieutenant-colonel in the police. After Germany annexed Danzig in 1939, Koelle joined the Luftwaffe
and served as a pilot during the war. During his time in a prisoner of war
camp after the war, Koelle turned his back on military matters and turned to the field of civilian spaceflight.
In 1948 he re-formed the pre-war German Society for Space Travel
, which brought him into contact with von Braun and many others of the former Peenemünde
team. In 1951 he and another ex-pilot helped von Braun publish his book Mars Project in Germany, arranging a publisher to take it on.
He started studying mechanical engineering
at the University of Stuttgart
, and led the Astronautical Research Institute between 1952 and 1954, when he received his Dipl.-Ing. On his graduation, von Braun invited him to join the ABMA team at the Redstone Arsenal
in Huntsville, AL.
announced the country's intent to launch a satellite during the International Geophysical Year
in 1957. Koelle was put in charge of Preliminary Design Section of the Structures and Mechanics Laboratory. The section was in charge of making "blue sky" studies into conversions and modifications of various missiles for use as space launchers. Over time, the section grew from 4 to 70 people as their studies on what was then known as "Super-Jupiter" evolved into the "Juno V" and finally Saturn I
. His last job for the Army was a feasibility study of a lunar base, under Project Horizon
.
When ABMA was turned over to NASA
in 1960, the Redstone Arsenal became the Marshall Space Flight Center
(MSFC) and the Preliminary Design Section became the Future Projects Office. The Office served to coordinate between MSFC and NASA as a whole, as well as continue to study new missions based on the Saturn rockets. In 1960 he also became a naturalized American Citizen, and took his doctorate in Engineering at the Technical University of Berlin
in 1963.
force reduction in NASA budgets, he concluded that the rapid progress he had been a part of was no longer possible, and decided to look for other work. In 1965, he accepted a teaching position at the Technical University of Berlin
. Upon the death of Eugen Sänger
in 1964, he was offered the Chair of Space Technology in Europe in 1965, a position he held for 30 years.
He received the 1952 Medal of the French Aeroclub and the 1963 Hermann Oberth Gold Medal.
In 2007 he received the Space Pioneer Awards of the National Space Society
.
Saturn I
The Saturn I was the United States' first heavy-lift dedicated space launcher, a rocket designed specifically to launch large payloads into low Earth orbit. Most of the rocket's power came from a clustered lower stage consisting of tanks taken from older rocket designs and strapped together to make...
. Closely associated with Werner von Braun's team at the Army Ballistic Missile Agency
Army Ballistic Missile Agency
The Army Ballistic Missile Agency was the agency formed to develop the US Army's first intermediate range ballistic missile. It was established at Redstone Arsenal on February 1, 1956 and commanded by Major General John B...
(ABMA), he was a member of the launch crew on Explorer I
Explorer I
Explorer 1 was the first Earth satellite of the United States, launched as part of its participation in the International Geophysical Year...
and later directed the Marshall Space Flight Center
Marshall Space Flight Center
The George C. Marshall Space Flight Center is the U.S. government's civilian rocketry and spacecraft propulsion research center. The largest center of NASA, MSFC's first mission was developing the Saturn launch vehicles for the Apollo moon program...
's involvement in Project Apollo
Project Apollo
The Apollo program was the spaceflight effort carried out by the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration , that landed the first humans on Earth's Moon. Conceived during the Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Apollo began in earnest after President John F...
. In 1965, he accepted the Chair of Space Technology at the Technical University of Berlin
Technical University of Berlin
The Technische Universität Berlin is a research university located in Berlin, Germany. Translating the name into English is discouraged by the university, however paraphrasing as Berlin Institute of Technology is recommended by the university if necessary .The TU Berlin was founded...
.
Early life
Koelle was born in 1925 in the Free City of DanzigFree City of Danzig
The Free City of Danzig was a semi-autonomous city-state that existed between 1920 and 1939, consisting of the Baltic Sea port of Danzig and surrounding areas....
, son of a lieutenant-colonel in the police. After Germany annexed Danzig in 1939, Koelle joined the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
and served as a pilot during the war. During his time in a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
camp after the war, Koelle turned his back on military matters and turned to the field of civilian spaceflight.
In 1948 he re-formed the pre-war German Society for Space Travel
Verein für Raumschiffahrt
The Verein für Raumschiffahrt was a German amateur rocket association prior to World War II that included members outside of Germany...
, which brought him into contact with von Braun and many others of the former Peenemünde
Peenemünde
The Peenemünde Army Research Center was founded in 1937 as one of five military proving grounds under the Army Weapons Office ....
team. In 1951 he and another ex-pilot helped von Braun publish his book Mars Project in Germany, arranging a publisher to take it on.
He started studying mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
at the University of Stuttgart
University of Stuttgart
The University of Stuttgart is a university located in Stuttgart, Germany. It was founded in 1829 and is organized in 10 faculties....
, and led the Astronautical Research Institute between 1952 and 1954, when he received his Dipl.-Ing. On his graduation, von Braun invited him to join the ABMA team at the 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, AL.
ABMA and MSFC
He arrived in the U.S. in April 1955, three months before President Dwight D. EisenhowerDwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
announced the country's intent to launch a satellite during the International Geophysical Year
International Geophysical Year
The International Geophysical Year was an international scientific project that lasted from July 1, 1957, to December 31, 1958. It marked the end of a long period during the Cold War when scientific interchange between East and West was seriously interrupted...
in 1957. Koelle was put in charge of Preliminary Design Section of the Structures and Mechanics Laboratory. The section was in charge of making "blue sky" studies into conversions and modifications of various missiles for use as space launchers. Over time, the section grew from 4 to 70 people as their studies on what was then known as "Super-Jupiter" evolved into the "Juno V" and finally Saturn I
Saturn I
The Saturn I was the United States' first heavy-lift dedicated space launcher, a rocket designed specifically to launch large payloads into low Earth orbit. Most of the rocket's power came from a clustered lower stage consisting of tanks taken from older rocket designs and strapped together to make...
. His last job for the Army was a feasibility study of a lunar base, under Project Horizon
Project Horizon
Project Horizon was a study to determine the feasibility of constructing a scientific / military base on the Moon. On June 8, 1959, a group at the Army Ballistic Missile Agency produced for the U.S. Department of the Army a report entitled Project Horizon, A U.S. Army Study for the Establishment...
.
When ABMA was turned over to 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...
in 1960, the Redstone Arsenal became the Marshall Space Flight Center
Marshall Space Flight Center
The George C. Marshall Space Flight Center is the U.S. government's civilian rocketry and spacecraft propulsion research center. The largest center of NASA, MSFC's first mission was developing the Saturn launch vehicles for the Apollo moon program...
(MSFC) and the Preliminary Design Section became the Future Projects Office. The Office served to coordinate between MSFC and NASA as a whole, as well as continue to study new missions based on the Saturn rockets. In 1960 he also became a naturalized American Citizen, and took his doctorate in Engineering at the Technical University of Berlin
Technical University of Berlin
The Technische Universität Berlin is a research university located in Berlin, Germany. Translating the name into English is discouraged by the university, however paraphrasing as Berlin Institute of Technology is recommended by the university if necessary .The TU Berlin was founded...
in 1963.
Chair of Space Technology
As Koelle watched the Vietnam WarVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
force reduction in NASA budgets, he concluded that the rapid progress he had been a part of was no longer possible, and decided to look for other work. In 1965, he accepted a teaching position at the Technical University of Berlin
Technical University of Berlin
The Technische Universität Berlin is a research university located in Berlin, Germany. Translating the name into English is discouraged by the university, however paraphrasing as Berlin Institute of Technology is recommended by the university if necessary .The TU Berlin was founded...
. Upon the death of Eugen Sänger
Eugen Sänger
Eugen Sänger was an Austrian-German aerospace engineer best known for his contributions to lifting body and ramjet technology.-Early career:...
in 1964, he was offered the Chair of Space Technology in Europe in 1965, a position he held for 30 years.
He received the 1952 Medal of the French Aeroclub and the 1963 Hermann Oberth Gold Medal.
In 2007 he received the Space Pioneer Awards of the National Space Society
National Space Society
The National Space Society is an international nonprofit 501, educational, and scientific organization specializing in space advocacy...
.
Family
He married Elisabeth Trautmann in 1951; they had three daughters, Ingrid, Karin and Patricia.Works
- Handbook of astronautical engineering, Editor Heinz Hermann Koelle, McGraw-Hill, 1961
- Prospects of a settlement on the moon: development, operation, cost, benefits, Institut für Luft und Raumfahrt (Berlin), 2002
Further reading
- Heinz-Hermann Koelle, "Werden und Wirken eines Deutsch-Amerikanischen Raumfahrt-Professors" ("Growth and Work of a German-American Spaceflight-Professor"), W&T Verlag, Berlin, 1994, ISBN 3-928943-08-1
- Heinz-Hermann Koelle (Editor-in-Chief), "Handbook of Astronautical Engineering", McGraw-Hill, 1961