Ernst Steinhoff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ernst Steinhoff
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| Born | February 11, 1908 Treysa, Germany
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| Died | December 2, 1987 (aged 79) |
| Nationality |  German United States of America |
| Alma mater | Technische Hochschule Darmstadt |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Aeronautics, Meteorology, Engineering |
| Institutions | Peenemünde Army Research Center Fort Bliss Holloman Air Force Base |
Ernst August Wilhelm Steinhoff (born February 11, 1908 – died December 2, 1987) was a brilliant scientist who helped create rockets. He was part of a special group of rocket experts in Germany during World War II. Later, he moved to the United States and continued his important work, helping America's space program grow.
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Who Was Ernst Steinhoff?
Ernst Steinhoff was a key figure in the early days of rocket science. He worked at the Peenemünde Army Research Center in Germany from 1939 to 1945. During this time, he was part of the "von Braun rocket group," a team of scientists developing rockets. He was also a skilled glider pilot and held distance records. He even had an honorary military rank as a "Flight Captain." In May 1937, he became a member of the NSDAP.
Early Life and Education
Ernst Steinhoff was born in Treysa, Germany. He studied at the Technische Hochschule Darmstadt. In 1940, he earned his PhD from this university. His advanced degree focused on aviation instruments, which are tools used in airplanes.
A Pioneer in Rocket Science
Ernst Steinhoff's younger brother, Friedrich Steinhoff, also helped with rocket experiments. Friedrich was a submarine commander during World War II. Ernst was one of the scientists who decided to come to the United States after the war. This was part of a special program called Operation Paperclip. The goal was to bring German scientists to America to share their knowledge about rockets.
Moving to America
Ernst Steinhoff arrived in the United States on November 16, 1945. He first worked at Fort Bliss in Texas from 1945 to 1949. After that, he moved to Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. There, he worked closely with the White Sands Missile Range. His main focus was on how rockets are guided, controlled, and how their flight paths are tracked.
For his important contributions to the U.S. rocket program, he received the Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service in 1958. This is a high award for civilians working for the government. In 1979, he was honored again by being added to the New Mexico International Space Hall of Fame.
Exploring Space Resources
Ernst Steinhoff is also known for being one of the first people to talk about using resources found in space. This idea is called space resource utilization. He believed that future space explorers could use materials from places like Mars instead of bringing everything from Earth. He even became the first chairman of a group called the Working Group on Extraterrestrial Resources (WGER).
