Wernher von Braun

Wernher von Braun signed USA 1971 Apollo 14 cover.

German scientist who led the Nazi era rocket team based in Peenemünde during WWII, including the development of the V-2 rocket. He was one of over 1,600 Germans who moved to America post-war through Operation Paperclip. Von Braun worked for NASA as engineering program manager and was the chief architect of the Apollo Saturn V rocket, which put the Apollo missions onto the Moon. His legacy is controversial; seen by many as escaping justice for his awareness of Nazi war crimes, whilst also being named the ‘father of space travel’.