List of German rocket scientists in the United States
Encyclopedia
The following lists contain names of engineer
s, scientist
s and technician
s specializing in rocket
ry who originally came from Germany
but spent most of their careers working for the NASA
space program in Huntsville, Alabama
.
Particularly after World War II
many technicians left Germany
to pursue further rocket projects in the U.S
. The majority had been involved with the V-2
in Peenemünde
, and 127 of them eventually entered the U.S.
through Operation Paperclip
. They were also known as the Von Braun
Group.
Before and after Operation Paperclip, other German experts arrived in the US by individual immigration
without government
links and would only later join various space projects, primarily at NASA
.
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,...
s, scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
s and technician
Technician
A technician is a worker in a field of technology who is proficient in the relevant skills and techniques, with a relatively practical understanding of the theoretical principles. Experienced technicians in a specific tool domain typically have intermediate understanding of theory and expert...
s specializing in 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 who originally came from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
but spent most of their careers working for the 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...
space program 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....
.
Particularly after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
many technicians left Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to pursue further rocket projects in the U.S
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The majority had been involved with the V-2
V-2 rocket
The V-2 rocket , technical name Aggregat-4 , was a ballistic missile that was developed at the beginning of the Second World War in Germany, specifically targeted at London and later Antwerp. The liquid-propellant rocket was the world's first long-range combat-ballistic missile and first known...
in Peenemünde
Peenemünde
The Peenemünde Army Research Center was founded in 1937 as one of five military proving grounds under the Army Weapons Office ....
, and 127 of them eventually entered the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
through 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...
. They were also known as the 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,...
Group.
Before and after Operation Paperclip, other German experts arrived in the US by individual immigration
Immigration to the United States
Immigration to the United States has been a major source of population growth and cultural change throughout much of the history of the United States. The economic, social, and political aspects of immigration have caused controversy regarding ethnicity, economic benefits, jobs for non-immigrants,...
without government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
links and would only later join various space projects, primarily at 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...
.
Operation Paperclip scientists
- Rudolph 'Rolf' Ammann
- Rudi Beichel
- Werner DahmWerner DahmWerner Karl Dahm was an early spaceflight scientist of the Peenemünde Future Projects Office who emigrated to the US under Operation Paperclip and was the Marshall Space Flight Center Chief Aerodynamicist.-Life:Werner Karl Dahm was born on Feb...
- Konrad DannenbergKonrad DannenbergKonrad Dannenberg was a German-American rocket pioneer and member of the German rocket team brought to the United States after World War II.-Early years:...
- Kurt H. DebusKurt H. DebusKurt Heinrich Debus was a German V-2 rocket scientist during World War II who, after being brought to the United States under Operation Paperclip, became the first director of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in 1962. Debus' U.S...
- Casper van DiënCasper Van Dien-Early life:Van Dien was born and grew up in Milton, Florida, the son of Diane , a retired nursery school teacher, and Casper Robert Van Dien, Sr., a retired U.S. Navy Commander and fighter pilot. There is a long military tradition in Van Dien's family. Aside from his father, his grandfather was a...
- Ernst R. G. EckertErnst R. G. EckertDr Ernst R. G. Eckert was a scientist who advanced the film cooling technique for aeronautical engines. Eckert worked as a rocket and jet engine scientist at the Aeronautical Research Institute in Braunschweig, Germany, then via Operation Paperclip, began jet propulsion research in 1945 at...
- Krafft Arnold EhrickeKrafft Arnold Ehricke-External links:* * *...
- Ernst GeisslerErnst GeisslerErnst Geissler was a German-American aerospace engineer. After World War II, he came to the United States in 16 November 1945 as part of the Argentina group, Operation Paperclip....
- Dieter GrauDieter GrauDieter Grau is a retired rocket scientist and member of the "von Braun rocket group", at Peenemünde working on the V-2 rockets in World War II. He was among the scientists to surrender and travel to the United States to provide rocketry expertise via Operation Paperclip which took them first to...
- Walter HäussermannWalter HaeussermannWalter Haeussermann was a German-American aerospace engineer and member of the "von Braun rocket group", both at Peenemünde and later at Marshall Space Flight Center, where he was the director of the guidance and control laboratory...
- Karl Heimburg
- Otto Hirschler
- Helmut Hoelzer
- Hans Hueter
- Wilhelm Jungert
- Georg ("George") Emil Knausenberger
- Heinz-Hermann KoelleHeinz-Hermann KoelleHeinz-Hermann Koelle was an aeronautical engineer who made the preliminary designs on the rocket that would emerge as the Saturn I...
- Hermann H. Kurzweg
- Hans Maus
- Fritz MuellerFritz MuellerFritz K. Mueller was a German engineer.Mueller was hired by Kreiselgeräte Company in 1933. He developed the PIGA accelerometer. and worked on gyroscopes for the German Navy...
- Willy Mrazek
- Erich W. Neubert
- Theodor A. Poppel
- Eberhard ReesEberhard ReesDr Eberhard Friedrich Michael Rees was a German-American rocketry pioneer and the second Director of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center...
- Gerhard Reisig
- Georg RickheyGeorg RickheyGeorg Johannes Rickhey was a German engineer and the general director of Mittelwerk GmbH in Dora-Mittelbau.Rickhey, a doctor of engineering, joined the Nazi Party in October 1931 as member number 664,050...
- Werner Rosinski
- Ludwig RothLudwig RothLudwig Roth was the Aerospace engineer who was the head of the Peenemünde Future Projects Office which designed the Wasserfall and created advanced rockets designs such as the A9/A10 ICBM....
- Arthur RudolphArthur RudolphArthur Louis Hugo Rudolph was a German rocket engineer and member of the Nazi party who played a key role in the development of the V-2 rocket. After World War II he was brought to the United States, subsequently becoming a pioneer of the United States space program. He worked for the U.S...
- Harry Ruppe
- Friedrich von Saurma
- August Schulze
- Walter Schwidetzky
- Ernst StuhlingerErnst StuhlingerErnst Stuhlinger was a German-born American atomic, electrical and rocket scientist. After being brought to the United States as part of Operation Paperclip, he developed guidance systems with Wernher von Braun's team at the US Army, and later, NASA...
- Bernhard TessmannBernhard TessmannBernhard Robert Tessmann was a German expert in guided missiles during World War II, and later worked for the United States Army and NASA.-Life:Tessmann first met rocket expert Wernher von Braun in 1935...
- Adolf ThielAdolf ThielAdolf Thiel was an Austrian-born German expert in guided missiles during World War II, and later worked for the United States Army and TRW....
- Wernher von BraunWernher von BraunWernher 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,...
- Albert Zeiler
- Theodor Karl Otto Vowe
- Georg von TiesenhausenGeorg von TiesenhausenDr. Georg F. von Tiesenhausen 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...
after Operation Paperclip
- Walter DornbergerWalter DornbergerMajor-General Dr Walter Robert Dornberger was a German Army artillery officer whose career spanned World Wars I and II. He was a leader of Germany's V-2 rocket program and other projects at the Peenemünde Army Research Center....
- Hermann OberthHermann OberthHermann Julius Oberth was an Austro-Hungarian-born German physicist and engineer. He is considered one of the founding fathers of rocketry and astronautics.- Early life :...
- Jesco von PuttkamerJesco von PuttkamerJesco Freiherr von Puttkamer is a German-American aerospace engineer and senior NASA manager from Leipzig.He belongs to a widely extended noble family, von Puttkamer...
- Guenter WendtGuenter WendtGünter F. Wendt was a German-American engineer noted for his work in the U.S. manned spaceflight program. An employee of McDonnell Aircraft and later North American Aviation, he was in charge of the spacecraft close-out crews at the launch pads for the entire Mercury and Gemini programs , and the...