Walter Haeussermann
Encyclopedia
Walter Haeussermann was a German-American aerospace engineer
and member of the "von Braun
rocket group", both at Peenemünde
and later at Marshall Space Flight Center
, where he was the director of the guidance and control laboratory. He was awarded the Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service
in 1959 for his contributions to the US rocket program.
Haeussermann was born in Germany shortly before the beginning of World War I
. He eventually matriculated at the Darmstadt University of Technology
, where he earned a doctorate in physics. He was drafted into the German army for World War II
and taken to the rocket development center at Peenemünde
on December 1, 1939. In a 2008 interview, he recalled seeing a rocket engine
test upon his arrival there, saying, "I was flabbergasted, because on the first day I was shown a rocket test ... I was astonished that something like this was already existing." Asked about meeting von Braun
, he enthusiastically replied, "I met him the second day. I was very interested about him." He worked on the V-2 guidance and simulations by means of analog computers.
He stayed at Peenemünde 3 years, then returned to Darmstadt where he worked for Kreiselgeraete and Siemens to develop a gyroscopic guidance platform. After the war, he was invited to join von Braun's team in Fort Bliss
, Texas
, but initially declined because his wife was ill.
Helmut Hölzer
and Ernst Steinhoff
accepted the Operation Paperclip
invitation to the United States, traveled there in late 1945, and maintained contact with Haeussermann. Haeussermann came to the United States in 1947 to rejoin von Braun's team, working on ballistic missile guidance and control engineering at Fort Bliss
. In 1951, the group moved to Redstone Arsenal
.
In 1954, Haeussermann became a naturalized
US citizen
. At that time he was the director of the Guidance and Control Laboratory and head of the Astrionics Division of what is now Marshall Space Flight Center
.
NASA
was formed in 1958, and Haeussermann was on the initial roster. There, he led electrical, computer systems, guidance, and navigation systems for the Saturn V
. He took his responsibility for the astronauts safe transport seriously. He said, "I refused any congratulation before Apollo 11
astronauts were safely back. Of course, we were very proud."
His contributions to the space program were recognized with the Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service
in 1959.
Haeussermann remained an enthusiastic supporter of the space program and attended reunions and public events regularly until his death.
system. He also conducted research more broadly, for instance in 3-axis attitude control and the use of Hall devices
in aerospace control devices. In his late career, he examined control issues related to experiments on board the Space Shuttle
.
, who in the 1980s had become the subject of harassment from the OSI and Eli Rosenbaum
over alleged Nazi war crimes. Haeussermann was at one time part of Rudolph's defense team tasked with proving his innocence.
Aerospace engineering
Aerospace engineering is the primary branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction and science of aircraft and spacecraft. It is divided into two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering...
and member of the "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,...
rocket group", both at Peenemünde
Peenemünde
The Peenemünde Army Research Center was founded in 1937 as one of five military proving grounds under the Army Weapons Office ....
and later at Marshall Space Flight Center
Marshall Space Flight Center
The George C. Marshall Space Flight Center is the U.S. government's civilian rocketry and spacecraft propulsion research center. The largest center of NASA, MSFC's first mission was developing the Saturn launch vehicles for the Apollo moon program...
, where he was the director of the guidance and control laboratory. He was awarded the Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service
Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service
The Department of the Air Force Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service is the highest award granted by the United States Secretary of the Air Force to civilian personnel. It consists of a medal, lapel button, and citation certificate...
in 1959 for his contributions to the US rocket program.
Biography
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He eventually matriculated at the Darmstadt University of Technology
Darmstadt University of Technology
The Technische Universität Darmstadt, abbreviated TU Darmstadt, is a university in the city of Darmstadt, Germany...
, where he earned a doctorate in physics. He was drafted into the German army for 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...
and taken to the rocket development center at Peenemünde
Peenemünde
The Peenemünde Army Research Center was founded in 1937 as one of five military proving grounds under the Army Weapons Office ....
on December 1, 1939. In a 2008 interview, he recalled seeing a rocket engine
Rocket engine
A rocket engine, or simply "rocket", is a jet engineRocket Propulsion Elements; 7th edition- chapter 1 that uses only propellant mass for forming its high speed propulsive jet. Rocket engines are reaction engines and obtain thrust in accordance with Newton's third law...
test upon his arrival there, saying, "I was flabbergasted, because on the first day I was shown a rocket test ... I was astonished that something like this was already existing." Asked about meeting 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,...
, he enthusiastically replied, "I met him the second day. I was very interested about him." He worked on the V-2 guidance and simulations by means of analog computers.
He stayed at Peenemünde 3 years, then returned to Darmstadt where he worked for Kreiselgeraete and Siemens to develop a gyroscopic guidance platform. After the war, he was invited to join von Braun's team in Fort Bliss
Fort Bliss
Fort Bliss is a United States Army post in the U.S. states of New Mexico and Texas. With an area of about , it is the Army's second-largest installation behind the adjacent White Sands Missile Range. It is FORSCOM's largest installation, and has the Army's largest Maneuver Area behind the...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, but initially declined because his wife was ill.
Helmut Hölzer
Helmut Hölzer
Helmut Hoelzer was a Nazi Germany V-2 rocket engineer who was brought to the United States under Operation Paperclip.- Life :In October 1939, while working for the Telefunken electronics firm in Berlin, Hoelzer met with Ernst Steinhoff, Hermann Steuding, and Wernher von Braun regarding guide beams...
and Ernst Steinhoff
Ernst Steinhoff
Ernst August Wilhelm Steinhoff was a rocket scientist and member of the "von Braun rocket group", at Peenemünde . He was among the scientists to surrender and travel to the United States to provide rocketry expertise via Operation Paperclip. He came to the United States on the first boat,...
accepted the Operation Paperclip
Operation Paperclip
Operation Paperclip was the Office of Strategic Services program used to recruit the scientists of Nazi Germany for employment by the United States in the aftermath of World War II...
invitation to the United States, traveled there in late 1945, and maintained contact with Haeussermann. Haeussermann came to the United States in 1947 to rejoin von Braun's team, working on ballistic missile guidance and control engineering at Fort Bliss
Fort Bliss
Fort Bliss is a United States Army post in the U.S. states of New Mexico and Texas. With an area of about , it is the Army's second-largest installation behind the adjacent White Sands Missile Range. It is FORSCOM's largest installation, and has the Army's largest Maneuver Area behind the...
. In 1951, the group moved to Redstone Arsenal
Redstone Arsenal
Redstone Arsenal is a United States Army base and a census-designated place adjacent to Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama, United States and is part of the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area...
.
In 1954, Haeussermann became a naturalized
Naturalization
Naturalization is the acquisition of citizenship and nationality by somebody who was not a citizen of that country at the time of birth....
US citizen
United States nationality law
Article I, section 8, clause 4 of the United States Constitution expressly gives the United States Congress the power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization. The Immigration and Naturalization Act sets forth the legal requirements for the acquisition of, and divestiture from, citizenship of...
. At that time he was the director of the Guidance and Control Laboratory and head of the Astrionics Division of what is now Marshall Space Flight Center
Marshall Space Flight Center
The George C. Marshall Space Flight Center is the U.S. government's civilian rocketry and spacecraft propulsion research center. The largest center of NASA, MSFC's first mission was developing the Saturn launch vehicles for the Apollo moon program...
.
NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
was formed in 1958, and Haeussermann was on the initial roster. There, he led electrical, computer systems, guidance, and navigation systems for the Saturn V
Saturn V
The Saturn V was an American human-rated expendable rocket used by NASA's Apollo and Skylab programs from 1967 until 1973. A multistage liquid-fueled launch vehicle, NASA launched 13 Saturn Vs from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida with no loss of crew or payload...
. He took his responsibility for the astronauts safe transport seriously. He said, "I refused any congratulation before Apollo 11
Apollo 11
In early 1969, Bill Anders accepted a job with the National Space Council effective in August 1969 and announced his retirement as an astronaut. At that point Ken Mattingly was moved from the support crew into parallel training with Anders as backup Command Module Pilot in case Apollo 11 was...
astronauts were safely back. Of course, we were very proud."
His contributions to the space program were recognized with the Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service
Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service
The Department of the Air Force Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service is the highest award granted by the United States Secretary of the Air Force to civilian personnel. It consists of a medal, lapel button, and citation certificate...
in 1959.
Haeussermann remained an enthusiastic supporter of the space program and attended reunions and public events regularly until his death.
Work in guidance and control
Haeussermann's main area of work was in automatic guidance and control for missiles. For example, he was instrumental in the design of the Saturn VSaturn V
The Saturn V was an American human-rated expendable rocket used by NASA's Apollo and Skylab programs from 1967 until 1973. A multistage liquid-fueled launch vehicle, NASA launched 13 Saturn Vs from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida with no loss of crew or payload...
system. He also conducted research more broadly, for instance in 3-axis attitude control and the use of Hall devices
Hall effect
The Hall effect is the production of a voltage difference across an electrical conductor, transverse to an electric current in the conductor and a magnetic field perpendicular to the current...
in aerospace control devices. In his late career, he examined control issues related to experiments on board the Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
.
Arthur Rudolph
Haeussermann was a colleague of Arthur RudolphArthur Rudolph
Arthur Louis Hugo Rudolph was a German rocket engineer and member of the Nazi party who played a key role in the development of the V-2 rocket. After World War II he was brought to the United States, subsequently becoming a pioneer of the United States space program. He worked for the U.S...
, who in the 1980s had become the subject of harassment from the OSI and Eli Rosenbaum
Eli Rosenbaum
Eli M. Rosenbaum was the director of the U.S. DOJ Office of Special Investigations , which was primarily responsible for identifying and deporting Nazi war criminals, from 1995 to 2010, when OSI was merged into the new Human Rights and Special Prosecution Section...
over alleged Nazi war crimes. Haeussermann was at one time part of Rudolph's defense team tasked with proving his innocence.
Works
- Haeussermann, W. (1965) Guidance and control of saturn launch vehicles, AIAAAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and AstronauticsThe American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics is the professional society for the field of aerospace engineering. The AIAA was founded in 1963 from the merger of two earlier societies: the American Rocket Society , founded in 1930 as the American Interplanetary Society , and the Institute...
#65-304. - Haeussermann, W. (1970) Description and performance of the Saturn launch vehicle's navigation, guidance, and control system , NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
TN D-5869. - Haeussermann, W. (1971) http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V21-47TFYHT-3H&_user=4275&_coverDate=09%2F30%2F1971&_rdoc=2&_fmt=high&_orig=browse&_srch=doc-info%28%23toc%235689%231971%23999929994%23384183%23FLP%23display%23Volume%29&_cdi=5689&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=15&_acct=C000000938&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=4275&md5=9436d78830eb7efbd9cf2e481ed66a36Saturn launch vehicle's navigation guidance, and control system], Automatica 7(5), 537-556.
- Haeussermann, W. (1959) The Spherical Control Motor for Three-Axis Attitude Control of Space Vehicles, NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
TM X-50071 - Haeussermann, W. (1979) Hall devices improve electric motor efficiency, NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
MFS-23828. - Haeussermann, W. (1976) Control requirements of the Shuttle experiments, In: Symposium on Automatic Control in Space, 7th, Rottach-Egern, West Germany, May 17–21, 1976, Volume 1. (A77-24777 10-12) Düsseldorf, VDI/VDE-Gesellschaft Mess- und Regelungstechnik, 1976, p. 97-111.