布劳恩(1912～1977年)

Braun, Wernher von

德裔美籍火箭工程师，出生於贵族家庭，在柏林大学取得博士学位，1936年纳粹德国在佩内明德建立一个「凡尔赛和约」禁止的大型军用火箭试验场，布劳恩任技术主任，研制出液体火箭发动机的飞机、起飞助推器、远程弹道飞弹A-4（V-2火箭）和超音速防空飞弹「瀑布」。他们1944年在火箭和飞弹技术方面所达到的水平，遥遥领先其他任何国家许多年。大战结束时他和整个研制小组投降美军，并立即为美军研制导弹，1952年起担任美国陆军弹道飞弹计画的技术主任（之後成为领导者）。在他的领导下，研制成红石、丘比特-C、朱诺、潘兴等飞弹。1958年他的小组成功的发射美国第一颗人造卫星探险家一号。美国国家航空暨太空总署成立後，布劳恩领导研发一些大型的土星登陆艇，他在土星级助推火箭方面的成功在火箭史上仍无人能出其右。

English version：

1912～1977年

Braun, Wernher von

German-U.S. rocket engineer. Born into an aristocratic family, he received his doctorate from the University of Berlin. In 1936 he became technical director of the new military development facility at Peenemünde, an essential center for the rearmament of Nazi Germany, forbidden by the Versailles accords. Liquid-fueled rocket aircraft and jet-assisted takeoffs were successfully demonstrated there, and the V-2 long-range ballistic missile and the Wasserfall supersonic antiaircraft missile were developed. By 1944 the sophistication of the rockets and missiles being tested at Peenemünde was many years ahead of that of any other country. After World War II he and his team surrendered to the U.S.; they were immediately set to work on guided missiles by the U.S. Army, and in 1952 he became technical director (later chief) of the Army's ballistic-weapon program. Under his leadership, the Redstone, Jupiter-C, Juno, and Pershing missiles were developed. In 1958 he and his group launched the first U.S. satellite, Explorer 1. After NASA was formed, von Braun led the development of some of the large Saturn space launch vehicles; the engineering success of each of the Saturn class of space boosters remains unmatched in rocket history.