Eberhard Rees facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dr Eberhard Rees
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March 27, 1970 photo
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| Born | April 28, 1908 |
| Died | April 2, 1998 (aged 89) |
| Nationality | German |
| Alma mater | University of Stuttgart Dresden Institute of Technology (1934) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Aerospace engineering |
| Institutions | 1939-1945: HVP 1945-1960: ABMA 1960-1973: NASA |
| Notes | |
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Fellow of the American Rocket Society (1959)
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Eberhard Friedrich Michael Rees was a German-American rocket scientist. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States. He was a pioneer in rocketry. He also served as the second director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. He was born on April 28, 1908, and passed away on April 2, 1998.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Eberhard Rees was born in Trossingen, Germany. He studied engineering at the University of Stuttgart. In 1934, he earned his master's degree. This was from the Dresden University of Technology.
Building Rockets
After his studies, Rees worked at a steel mill in Leipzig, Germany. In 1939, he joined the Army Research Center Peenemünde. Here, he helped build and assemble V-2 rockets. He worked closely with Wernher von Braun. They were a team from the time of World War II through the Apollo program.
Moving to the United States
Rees was part of a special group of rocket scientists. They were brought to the United States. This was through a program called Operation Paperclip. He arrived in the US on October 2, 1945. He first worked at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds. Then, he moved to Fort Bliss in 1946. By 1950, he was working at the Redstone Arsenal.
Developing New Technologies
In August 1957, Rees and his team made an important invention. They developed the ablative heat shield. This shield protects spacecraft from extreme heat.
Leadership at NASA
Rees served as Deputy Director of Development Operations. This was for the Army Ballistic Missile Agency. In 1960, he joined the Marshall Space Flight Center. He became the Deputy for Technical and Scientific Matters. He also led the Lunar Roving Vehicle program. This program developed the moon buggy used by astronauts.
Director of Marshall Space Flight Center
On March 1, 1970, Rees was appointed Director. He became the head of the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. In this role, he managed the development and building of the Skylab space station. Skylab was the first US space station. He retired from NASA in 1973.
Later Life
Eberhard Rees passed away on April 2, 1998. He was 89 years old. He died in a hospital in DeLand, Florida.
Images for kids
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Wernher von Braun, Hans Hueter, and Eberhard Rees at launch control for the May 28, 1964, SA-6 launch.
