Wernher von Braun

German rocket expert Wernher von Braun (1912-1977) was the first director of the Army Ballistic Missile Agency. During World War II, he developed V-2 ballistic missiles for Nazi Germany. Following the war, von Braun built rockets for U.S. military and NASA programs in Texas and Alabama. He headed the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Madison County, from 1958-70.

Wernher von Braun standing in front of the Saturn IB launch vehicle at Cape Kennedy
Courtesy of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Wernher von Braun standing in front of the Saturn IB launch vehicle at Cape Kennedy