born April 15, 1902, Williamsport, Pa., U.S.
died June 26, 1995, Santa Barbara, Calif.
U.S. aeronautical design and rocket propulsion engineer.
At North American Aviation (1949–70), he vastly increased the power of rocket engines, and he completed the prototype of the engine for the launch vehicles that orbited the first U.S. satellite ( Explorer 1) and placed the first U.S. astronauts in space. His work was essential to the early development of intercontinental and intermediate-range ballistic missiles (see ICBM ). From 1958 he oversaw development of the engines for Saturn launch vehicles, which eventually carried U.S. astronauts to the Moon.