Wernher von Braun

Born: 1912 | Died: 1977

Scientist

Wernher von Braun was born in Wirsitz, a part of eastern Germany that today belongs to Poland. He developed the first rockets and later joined the NASA to develop the first space station.

Von Braun was born into an aristocratic family who supported von Braun’s interest in science and astronomy. As a young student, struggling with math and physics, von Braun bought a copy of the book “Die Rakete zu den Planetenräumen” (The rocket into interplanetary space). Fascinated by this book, he decided to put more effort into school and by 1930; he joined the German Society for Space Travel.

With a research grant, von Braun studied the potential of liquid fueled rockets and two years later received a PhD in Physics from the University of Berlin. By 1944, Wernher von Braun and his team launched two rockets that were able to rise vertically. Hitler was very interested in Braun’s work and provided funds for further research in Peenemünde near the Baltic Sea. The V-2 (meaning Vengeance Weapon Two) was designed using von Braun’s advanced technology.

After World War II von Braun and his team surrendered to US troops and he moved to the United States, where he became a US citizen in 1955. When the NASA was formed, von Braun continued his work for them. In the 1960’s he developed the skylab, the world’s first space station.

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