Klaus Riedel
Encyclopedia
Klaus Riedel was a German rocket
pioneer. He was involved in many early liquid-fuelled rocket experiments, and eventually worked on the V-2 missile programme at Peenemünde
.
Riedel was born in Wilhelmshaven
, the son of a naval officer. His mother died when he was twelve years old, and his father two years later. The orphaned Riedel was raised by his grandmother in Bernstadt
. He went on to study as a machinist at the Technical University of Berlin
and to work at Löwe
. While in Berlin, he attended a public lecture on rocketry by Rudolf Nebel
on behalf of Germany's amateur rocket group, the Verein für Raumschiffahrt
(VfR - "Spaceflight Society") and joined the group straight away, becoming very active in its efforts to build a working rocket that resulted in the Mirak and Repulsor rockets, providing his family's farm as a testing ground.
After the VfR disbanded in 1933, Riedel was invited by Wernher von Braun
to join him in the army's rocket programme. He accepted, and worked from Peenemünde when the team moved there. Riedel's position was "Head of the Test Laboratory" and his work seems to have been mostly concerned with developing the mobile support equipment for the V-2.
He was killed in a car accident two days after his thirty-seventh birthday.
There is a memorial and small museum dedicated to him in Bernstadt and in 1970 a crater on the moon was named after him.
Rocket
A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
pioneer. He was involved in many early liquid-fuelled rocket experiments, and eventually worked on the V-2 missile programme at Peenemünde
Peenemünde
The Peenemünde Army Research Center was founded in 1937 as one of five military proving grounds under the Army Weapons Office ....
.
Riedel was born in Wilhelmshaven
Wilhelmshaven
Wilhelmshaven is a coastal town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the western side of the Jade Bight, a bay of the North Sea.-History:...
, the son of a naval officer. His mother died when he was twelve years old, and his father two years later. The orphaned Riedel was raised by his grandmother in Bernstadt
Bernstadt
Bernstadt may refer to:*Bernstadt auf dem Eigen, a town in Saxony, Germany*Bernstadt , a municipality in Baden-Württemberg, Germany*East Bernstadt, Kentucky, a place in Kentucky, United States...
. He went on to study as a machinist at the Technical University of Berlin
Technical University of Berlin
The Technische Universität Berlin is a research university located in Berlin, Germany. Translating the name into English is discouraged by the university, however paraphrasing as Berlin Institute of Technology is recommended by the university if necessary .The TU Berlin was founded...
and to work at Löwe
Löwe Automobil
Löwe Automobil is a German automotive part manufacturer that specializes in various car sensors. It is a brand of LASPA Berlin.-Products:Löwe Automobil products include mass flow sensors, fuel pressure regulators, oxygen sensors, universal oxygen sensors, idle speed controllers, and throttle...
. While in Berlin, he attended a public lecture on rocketry by Rudolf Nebel
Rudolf Nebel
Rudolf Nebel was a spaceflight advocate active in Germany's amateur rocket group, the Verein für Raumschiffahrt in the 1930s and in rebuilding German rocketry following World War II....
on behalf of Germany's amateur rocket group, 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") and joined the group straight away, becoming very active in its efforts to build a working rocket that resulted in the Mirak and Repulsor rockets, providing his family's farm as a testing ground.
After the VfR disbanded in 1933, Riedel was invited by Wernher von Braun
Wernher von Braun
Wernher Magnus Maximilian, Freiherr von Braun was a German rocket scientist, aerospace engineer, space architect, and one of the leading figures in the development of rocket technology in Nazi Germany during World War II and in the United States after that.A former member of the Nazi party,...
to join him in the army's rocket programme. He accepted, and worked from Peenemünde when the team moved there. Riedel's position was "Head of the Test Laboratory" and his work seems to have been mostly concerned with developing the mobile support equipment for the V-2.
He was killed in a car accident two days after his thirty-seventh birthday.
There is a memorial and small museum dedicated to him in Bernstadt and in 1970 a crater on the moon was named after him.