James Hart Wyld
Encyclopedia
James Hart Wyld was an American
engineer
and rocket
ry scientist.
In 1931 he joined the American Interplanetary Society, later renamed the American Rocket Society
. He worked on many of the early tests of liquid-propellant rockets by the society. Meanwhile he completed his B.S.
in mechanical engineering
at Princeton University
in 1935.
In 1936 he developed the concept of a regeneratively cooled liquid rocket motor. This uses a double-hulled rocket nozzle that allows the rocket fuel to circulate as a coolant. A version of this rocket motor was tested by the American Rocket Society on December 10, 1938 at New Rochelle, New York. The design produced a thrust of 90 pounds force (400 N) that lasted for 13 seconds, and the steel chamber and nozzle were successfully protected by the design. This cooling design became the basis of all modern liquid-propellant rocket motors.
In 1941 he helped to found Reaction Motors, Inc., serving as secretary and research director. This was the first commercial rocket company in the United States. RMI's first Navy contract produced an engine capable of 1,000 pounds force (4,000 N) that was employed for JATO
. Today this engine is on display at the National Air and Space Museum
.
More details at: http://www.nmspacemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.php?id=34
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
and rocket
Rocket
A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
ry scientist.
In 1931 he joined the American Interplanetary Society, later renamed the American Rocket Society
American Rocket Society
The American Rocket Society began its existence on April 4, 1930, under the name of the American Interplanetary Society. It was founded by science fiction writers G. Edward Pendray, David Lasser, Laurence Manning and others. The members originally conducted their own rocket experiments in New York...
. He worked on many of the early tests of liquid-propellant rockets by the society. Meanwhile he completed his B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in 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 Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1935.
In 1936 he developed the concept of a regeneratively cooled liquid rocket motor. This uses a double-hulled rocket nozzle that allows the rocket fuel to circulate as a coolant. A version of this rocket motor was tested by the American Rocket Society on December 10, 1938 at New Rochelle, New York. The design produced a thrust of 90 pounds force (400 N) that lasted for 13 seconds, and the steel chamber and nozzle were successfully protected by the design. This cooling design became the basis of all modern liquid-propellant rocket motors.
In 1941 he helped to found Reaction Motors, Inc., serving as secretary and research director. This was the first commercial rocket company in the United States. RMI's first Navy contract produced an engine capable of 1,000 pounds force (4,000 N) that was employed for JATO
JATO
JATO is an acronym for jet-fuel assisted take off. It is a system for helping overloaded aircraft into the air by providing additional thrust in the form of small rockets....
. Today this engine is on display at the National Air and Space Museum
National Air and Space Museum
The National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution holds the largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft in the world. It was established in 1976. Located in Washington, D.C., United States, it is a center for research into the history and science of aviation and...
.
More details at: http://www.nmspacemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.php?id=34
Awards and honors
- Inductee into the International Space Hall of Fame at the New Mexico Museum of Space History, Alamogordo, New Mexico.
- The AIAAAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and AstronauticsThe American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics is the professional society for the field of aerospace engineering. The AIAA was founded in 1963 from the merger of two earlier societies: the American Rocket Society , founded in 1930 as the American Interplanetary Society , and the Institute...
James H. Wyld Memorial Award was named for him. - The crater WyldWyld (crater)Wyld is a lunar impact crater that is located on the Moon's far side, beyond the eastern limb. It lies in that portion of the lunar surface that is sometimes brought into view of the Earth under conditions of favorable libration and illumination, but even then the crater is seen from the edge and...
on the MoonMoonThe 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...
is named after him.