Robert J. Helberg
Encyclopedia
Robert J. Helberg was an American
aeronautical engineer
.
He was born in Watonga, Oklahoma
. In 1932 he earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Washington
. After graduation he went to work at the Goss Humidity Control Company in Seattle. Three years later he left to work for the Boeing
company.
Bob's first work at Boeing was on the early YB-17 model of the Flying Fortress. He followed this by work on the Model 307 transport
, then on additional models of the B-17. In 1942 he became group engineer on the B-29's electrical systems. By 1946 he was senior group engineer, working on the C-97 Stratofreighter
's electrical systems.
In 1950 he received a promotion to project engineer on an experimental version of a pilotless B-47 Stratojet. (This program was designated Project Brass Ring
.) Around 1955 he joined the Bomarc Missile Program
, a pilotless interceptor. He worked on this program as assistant project engineer, focused on the guidance and data systems. Later became lead engineer for production, and then head of the Bomarc operation.
In 1965 he was placed in charge of the company's Lunar Orbiter
Program Office, as an assistant division manager in the Spacecraft Systems of the Boeing Space Division. He helped co-design two of the Lunar Orbiter spacecraft.
By 1966 Bob Helberg had developed a heart condition and was taking nitroglycerin tablets to treat the symptoms. He continued to work almost to his final day, then died of a heart attack
in Seattle. He was remembered as gentlemanly and hard-working by his associates.
He had lived with his wife Helen in the Seattle area. His hobbies included fishing
, duck hunting
, poker
, gardening
, and raising tree
s at a nearby tree farm.
Robert J. Helberg was awarded a patent
for an automatic control cable tensioner. This device was used in Boeing-built bomber
s.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
aeronautical engineer
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...
.
He was born in Watonga, Oklahoma
Watonga, Oklahoma
Watonga is a city in Blaine County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 4,658 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Blaine County.-Early History:...
. In 1932 he earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
. After graduation he went to work at the Goss Humidity Control Company in Seattle. Three years later he left to work for the Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
company.
Bob's first work at Boeing was on the early YB-17 model of the Flying Fortress. He followed this by work on the Model 307 transport
Boeing 307
The Boeing Model 307 Stratoliner was the first commercial transport aircraft with a pressurized cabin. This feature allowed the plane to cruise at an altitude of 20,000 ft , well above weather disturbances. The pressure differential was 2.5 psi , so at 14,700 ft the cabin altitude...
, then on additional models of the B-17. In 1942 he became group engineer on the B-29's electrical systems. By 1946 he was senior group engineer, working on the C-97 Stratofreighter
C-97 Stratofreighter
The Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter was a long range heavy military cargo aircraft based on the B-29 bomber. Design work began in 1942, with the prototype's first flight being on 9 November 1944, and the first production aircraft entered service in 1947. Between 1947 and 1958, 888 C-97s in several...
's electrical systems.
In 1950 he received a promotion to project engineer on an experimental version of a pilotless B-47 Stratojet. (This program was designated Project Brass Ring
Project Brass Ring
Project Brass Ring was a 1950 United States Air Force project designed to deliver an early hydrogen bomb to within 2 miles of a target using a drone version of the B-47 Stratojet. Brass Ring was meant to provide an interim nuclear weapons delivery capability while more capable systems were under...
.) Around 1955 he joined the Bomarc Missile Program
Bomarc Missile Program
The CIM-10 Bomarc was the only surface-to-air missile ever deployed by the United States Air Force. All other U.S. land-based SAMs were and are under the control of the United States Army....
, a pilotless interceptor. He worked on this program as assistant project engineer, focused on the guidance and data systems. Later became lead engineer for production, and then head of the Bomarc operation.
In 1965 he was placed in charge of the company's Lunar Orbiter
Lunar Orbiter program
The Lunar Orbiter program was a series of five unmanned lunar orbiter missions launched by the United States from 1966 through 1967. Intended to help select Apollo landing sites by mapping the Moon's surface, they provided the first photographs from lunar orbit.All five missions were successful,...
Program Office, as an assistant division manager in the Spacecraft Systems of the Boeing Space Division. He helped co-design two of the Lunar Orbiter spacecraft.
By 1966 Bob Helberg had developed a heart condition and was taking nitroglycerin tablets to treat the symptoms. He continued to work almost to his final day, then died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in Seattle. He was remembered as gentlemanly and hard-working by his associates.
He had lived with his wife Helen in the Seattle area. His hobbies included fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, duck hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
, poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
, gardening
Gardening
Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants. Ornamental plants are normally grown for their flowers, foliage, or overall appearance; useful plants are grown for consumption , for their dyes, or for medicinal or cosmetic use...
, and raising tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
s at a nearby tree farm.
Robert J. Helberg was awarded a patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
for an automatic control cable tensioner. This device was used in Boeing-built bomber
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
s.
Honors
- For his contributions to the success of the Lunar Orbiter, NASANASAThe 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...
awarded him the Public Service Medal, their highest honor. - Astronautics Engineer Award given by the National Space Club in 1966.
- The crater HelbergHelberg (crater)Helberg is a lunar crater that is located just behind the western limb of the Moon, on the far side from the Earth. Due to libration this part of the surface is sometimes brought into view, and the crater is visible under suitable lighting conditions...
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.
External links
- SP-4308 Spaceflight Revolution — see chapter 10.