Walter Hohmann
Encyclopedia
Walter Hohmann was a German
engineer who made an important contribution to the understanding of orbital dynamics
. In a book published in 1925, Hohmann demonstrated a very fuel-efficient path to move a spacecraft between two different orbits, now called a Hohmann transfer orbit
. He received his Ph.D. from the RWTH Aachen University in 1920.
, the son of a doctor. Whilst a boy, he lived with his family in Port Elizabeth, South Africa
for a time, before returning to Germany. He studied civil engineering at the Technical University of Munich
, graduating in 1904. He then worked for the municipal councils of Vienna
, Hanover
and Breslau before settling in Essen, where he eventually held the post of chief architect.
Between 1911 and 1915, Hohmann became interested the problem of interplanetary spaceflight. He later realised that minimising the amount of fuel that the spacecraft had to carry would be an important consideration, and plotted a variety of orbits until he found the one that now bears his name. He published his findings in Die Erreichbarkeit der Himmelskörper (The Attainability of the Celestial Bodies). He was influenced in part by the German science fiction author Kurd Laßwitz
and his book Two Planets.
The importance of this work saw Hohmann become a leading figure in Germany's amateur rocketry movement in the late 1920s, the Verein für Raumschiffahrt
(VfR - "Spaceflight Society"). Following the rise to power of the Nazi
party, Hohmann distanced himself as much as possible from rocketry, wishing to play no part in the development of the rocket as a weapon.
He died in an Essen hospital shortly before the end of World War II
as a result of stress experienced during the intense Allied bombing of the city.
Walter Hohmann was born as the son of a doctor and visited the high-school in Würzburg (Germany), where he graduated In 1900. He studied engineering at the technical university in Munich (Germany) and worked from 1904 as a engineer for structural analysis in Vienna (Austria), Berlin (Germany), Hanover (Germany) and Wroclaw (Poland). From 1912 he worked as a city planner and director of the static building office and the department of materials testing of the city of Essen (Germany). Here he died in a hospital on 11.03.1945, shortly before the war ended. His honorary grave is located at the cemetery at "Meisenburgstraße" in the city of Essen (Germany).
Walter Hohmann In his spare time he devoted to celestial mechanics calculations, and in 1920 he published his book "Die Ereichbarkeit der Himmelskörper" (The Attainability of the Celestial Bodies). He developed basic principles and created advanced tools necessary for the conquest of space. His ideas were taken up for the Apollo program and the Voyager spacecraft (for example). Today he is considered a pioneer of space travel.
In recognition of his scientific achievements, a lunar crater was named after him in 1970. The Astronomical Association of Essen (Germany) gave itself the name "Walter-Hohmann-Observatory" in 1971.
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...
engineer who made an important contribution to the understanding of orbital dynamics
Orbit
In physics, an orbit is the gravitationally curved path of an object around a point in space, for example the orbit of a planet around the center of a star system, such as the Solar System...
. In a book published in 1925, Hohmann demonstrated a very fuel-efficient path to move a spacecraft between two different orbits, now called a Hohmann transfer orbit
Hohmann transfer orbit
In orbital mechanics, the Hohmann transfer orbit is an elliptical orbit used to transfer between two circular orbits, typically both in the same plane....
. He received his Ph.D. from the RWTH Aachen University in 1920.
Biography
Hohmann was born in HardheimHardheim
Hardheim is a town in the district of Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The town is twinned with Müntschemier in Switzerland and Suippes in France. Its existence is first mentioned in written form in 1050. The township consists of Hardheim, Ruedental, Schweinberg,...
, the son of a doctor. Whilst a boy, he lived with his family in Port Elizabeth, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
for a time, before returning to Germany. He studied civil engineering at the Technical University of Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, graduating in 1904. He then worked for the municipal councils of Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
and Breslau before settling in Essen, where he eventually held the post of chief architect.
Between 1911 and 1915, Hohmann became interested the problem of interplanetary spaceflight. He later realised that minimising the amount of fuel that the spacecraft had to carry would be an important consideration, and plotted a variety of orbits until he found the one that now bears his name. He published his findings in Die Erreichbarkeit der Himmelskörper (The Attainability of the Celestial Bodies). He was influenced in part by the German science fiction author Kurd Laßwitz
Kurd Laßwitz
Kurd Lasswitz was a German author, scientist, and philosopher. He has been called the father of German science fiction He sometimes used the pseudonym Velatus....
and his book Two Planets.
The importance of this work saw Hohmann become a leading figure in Germany's amateur rocketry movement in the late 1920s, the Verein für Raumschiffahrt
Verein für Raumschiffahrt
The Verein für Raumschiffahrt was a German amateur rocket association prior to World War II that included members outside of Germany...
(VfR - "Spaceflight Society"). Following the rise to power of the Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
party, Hohmann distanced himself as much as possible from rocketry, wishing to play no part in the development of the rocket as a weapon.
He died in an Essen hospital shortly before the end of 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...
as a result of stress experienced during the intense Allied bombing of the city.
Walter-Hohmann-Observatory
In 2009 the Walter-Hohmann-Observatory in Essen, Germany installed a Commemorative plaque at their ground:Walter Hohmann was born as the son of a doctor and visited the high-school in Würzburg (Germany), where he graduated In 1900. He studied engineering at the technical university in Munich (Germany) and worked from 1904 as a engineer for structural analysis in Vienna (Austria), Berlin (Germany), Hanover (Germany) and Wroclaw (Poland). From 1912 he worked as a city planner and director of the static building office and the department of materials testing of the city of Essen (Germany). Here he died in a hospital on 11.03.1945, shortly before the war ended. His honorary grave is located at the cemetery at "Meisenburgstraße" in the city of Essen (Germany).
Walter Hohmann In his spare time he devoted to celestial mechanics calculations, and in 1920 he published his book "Die Ereichbarkeit der Himmelskörper" (The Attainability of the Celestial Bodies). He developed basic principles and created advanced tools necessary for the conquest of space. His ideas were taken up for the Apollo program and the Voyager spacecraft (for example). Today he is considered a pioneer of space travel.
In recognition of his scientific achievements, a lunar crater was named after him in 1970. The Astronomical Association of Essen (Germany) gave itself the name "Walter-Hohmann-Observatory" in 1971.