 | WERNER VON BRAUN |
The following biographical sketch was compiled at the time of induction into the Academy in 1969.
Dr. Werner von Braun of Huntsville, one of the world's foremost space
scientists, was born March 23, 1912 in Wirsitz, Germany, where his father was Secretary of
Agriculture in the German government.
After graduation from Gymnasium (high school), he entered Berlin Institute of Technology in
1930, where he began his early experiments with testing of liquid-fueled rocket engines under the
direction of Professor Hermann Oberth, and later under the sponsorship of the German Society
for Space Travel.
Dr. von Braun received his B.S. degree in mechanical enginering in 1932, then entered the
University of Berlin where he received his Ph.D. in physics in 1934. He
continued to do rocket research under a grant from the German Ordnance Department, and set up
a small development station at Kummersdorf Army Proving Grounds.
Following his graduation, Dr. von Braun took full-time employment with the Ordnance
Department, and was technical director of the Army portion of the Rocket Center Peenemuende
until 1945, and directed the efforts in developing the A-5 and the V-2 long range ballistic
missiles.
Following the fall of the Third Reich, Dr. von Braun consented to join the United States in her
early efforts at rocket missilery and space exploration. He first directed the Research and
Development Service of the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps at Fort Bliss, Texas, and in 1950,
moved to Huntsville as Technical Director of the Guided Missile Development Group, Redstone
Arsenal.
The years since then have seen the Huntsville facility greatly expand its experiment and research.
In 1960 Dr. von Braun was named Director of the newly-created George C. Marshall Space
Flight Center at Huntsville, under the direction of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration.
The world's most powerful rockets at the time were developed at the Huntsville facility under Dr. von Braun's guidance. He was directly involved in the continuing American space exploration
efforts, including the development of the Saturn 1 and the Saturn V boosters, the Gemini
managed-flight project, and the Apollo Moon Flight project.
Dr. von Braun was the recipient of numerous awards for his outstanding contributions to the
American space effort in particular and to science in general. He received the Dr. Robert H.
Goddard Memorial Trophy in 1958, the Distinguished Federal Civilian Service Award from
President Eisenhower in 1959, the American Astronautics Award from the American Rocket
Society in 1955, the Gold Medal Award from the British Interplanetary Society in 1961, the
NASA Medal for Outstanding Leadership in 1964, and the Smithsonian Institution Langley
Medal in 1967, to name a few.
He held honorary doctorate degrees from 19 colleges and universities. Dr. von Braun was a
member of numerous professional societies and was the author of dozens of books and articles.
He was married to the former Marie Louise von Quistorp. They have three children, Iris Careen
Margrit Cecile, and Peter Constantine. Dr. von Braun is now deceased.
Updated: March 15, 2007