Wernher Von Braun's Accomplishments

Christa Loucks

Mr. Gluf

Honors Engineering II

21 December 2014

Wernher von Braun

Wernher von Braun, one of the most important engineers that once began his career in Germany, played a major role in the outcome of World War II. The astute rocket scientist altered plans by Robert Goddard and invented the powerful V-2 Combat Rocket. He was known the most for rocketry in Germany, and for helping to design the series of booster rockets used for the Saturn V Rocket, at NASA. Throughout his lifetime, he had occupations ranging from being an aerospace engineer and architect, to leading as a rocket scientist. His determination to study aerospace engineering led to his accomplishments and inventions that have influenced the world.

The legendary rocket

scientist was born to a noble family on March 23, 1912, in Wirsitz, Germany. In his early childhood, he grew up with Sigismund Freiherr von Braun, his older brother and Magnus Freiherr von Braun, his younger brother. From the time his mother gave him a telescope as a child, Wernher was always fascinated with the idea of rockets and spacecraft. Overtime, Wernher had become intrigued by a book written by a man named Hermann Oberth; the book expressed mathematical concepts and design which presented ideas of spacecraft and rocket travel. It was at Ettersberg Castle, where he was able to receive his first copy of the book, Die Rakete zu den Planetenräumen, in the year 1925. As he became captivated by astronomy at age 12, he wanted to explore physics and chemistry to further invest in engineering technology.
In 1930, he attended Technische Hochschule Berlin, where he then assisted Willy Ley in his liquid-fueled rocket motor tests in the Spaceflight Society. A year later he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and was convinced that the exploration of space and rocket technology would require more skills than the current engineering technology he graduated with. In 1934, he graduated with a degree in physics, and continued to work hard on military rockets in his later years, as it was his main interest. Using his knowledge from his engineering technology he became intrigued to try and invent new rocket technology. His college years inspired him to gain more knowledge about physics and mathematics to have a higher understanding of astronomy and engineering.
After college, Wernher von Braun became more experienced with rockets and the technology that came with it. Using some of Robbert Goddard’s journal plans for rocketry, Braun assimilated the ideas into the building of his own rockets. The end result being one of the most important historical inventions of all time, the V-2 rocket used during World War II. In Peenemunde, Germany, Wernher von Braun became the technical director of military developments. It was here where the V-2 Ballistic Missile and Supersonic Wasserfall Anti-Aircraft Missile were developed. On December 22, 1944, Adolf Hitler signed the order approving the V-2 Rocket as a weapon that would be used on Allied cities such as: London, Antwerp, and Liege.
The V-2 Rocket is a rocket engine that utilizes propellants in liquid form such as pressurized fuel to create propulsion to take off and travel.

In the rocket, an alcohol-water fuel is combusted with air, which is then directed through 1,244 nozzles, producing the thrust that is necessary for reaching longer distances. (See Figure 1.2) Regenerative heating maintained a fuel temperature range of 4,500-4900 degrees Fahrenheit, while keeping the combustion chamber consistently cool. Once the V-2 took off, it could propel itself into the air for up to 65 seconds, then a programmed motor controlled when the engine shuts down, (50 miles) and at what angle. As it continued on a free-fall path and made contact with the ground, the warhead exploded by an electric contact fuse. (See Figure 1.3) It was used against other Allied cities such as London, Antwerp and Liege; the rockets were ultimately the reason over 21,000 civilians, military personnel, and concentration prisoners were

killed.
This was the World’s first long range ballistic missile that used Supersonic Wasserfall Missiles and Aircraft were among some of his other inventions that had become of significant value. The design included an additional set of fins located at the middle of the fuselage to provide extra maneuvering capabilities, which was necessary during World War II. As the war continued, Germany began to lose ground to the Allied Powers whom were gaining control. Eventually, seeing the most likely outcome, Germany knew the imminent threat of losing territory, and significant designs of rocketry, it was 1945 when they made the important decision.
Despite the incredibly powerful rocket, Germany surrendered to the Allied forces on May 7, 1945, at Reims, located in northwestern France. Immediately after the surrender, a program called Operation Paperclip took many of the German scientists and engineers involved in the building of the V-2, including Wernher von Braun, over to the United States. Once Wernher von Braun arrived in the United States he and his team began to help refurbish, assemble, and launch more V-2’s from Germany, as a part of the Hermes Project. In 1950, he was then transferred to Huntsville, Alabama, where he developed the Redstone rocket, the first live nuclear ballistic missile. Eight years later von Braun became the director of the Development Operations Division of the Army Ballistic Missile Agency, when the Explorer 1 was launched, beginning America’s space program.
In 1957, during the Space Race, the United States decided to utilize Wernher von Braun’s experience to develop and launch an orbital vehicle into space.

Once NASA was established on July 29, 1958, he was transferred there to develop the Saturn V Rocket. After further, successful innovations to the booster rockets, he helped to put man on the moon on July 16, 1969, for an eight day journey aboard the Saturn V. After many years of working with NASA and inventing rockets, he left and became Vice President for Engineering and Development at Fairchild Industries, in Germantown, Maryland, on July 1, 1972. Despite being diagnosed with kidney cancer in 1973, Von Braun continued to speak at colleges and universities about rocketry and to inspire them about aerospace engineering. He also established the National Space Institute and became its first president and chairman in

1975.
On June 16, 1977, Wernher von Braun died of pancreatic cancer in Alexandria, Virginia, at 65 years old. His work influenced many around the world to pursue aerospace engineering and changed the way many saw rocketry. The significance of his inventions became important and led to greater improvements in modern today technology of spacecraft. From the time he invented the V-2 Rocket in Germany, to designing the Saturn V booster rockets, he had become a leading figure in rocketry and is considered one of the “Fathers of Rocket Science.”

References and Images

Citation Page
Williams, Robin. "Wernher Von Braun : Feature Articles." Wernher Von Braun : Feature Articles. Earth Observatory, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.
Taylor Redd, Nola. "Wernher Von Braun, Rocket Pioneer: Biography & Quotes." Space.com. SPACE.com, 7 Mar. 2013. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.
Picture/Illustration Citations
Rincon, Paul. "The V-2 Rocket." BBC News. BBC, 07 Sept. 2004. Web. 20 Dec. 2014.