Friday, October 26th, 2007

von Braun

Wernher von Braun at Kennedy Space Center NASA Image

Wernher von Braun was the chief rocket engineer of the Nazi Third Reich, and was responsible for the creation of the V-2 rocket that rained destruction on Europe during World War 2. Following the war, von Braun and many of his colleagues surrendered to the Allies. Some moved to the Soviet Union and helped develop the rockets that allowed the launch of Sputnik. Von Braun and several others came to the U.S. and became key players in the development of the U. S. space program. In this segment, Ira talks with space historian Michael Neufeld, author of a new biography of von Braun, about the man, his life, and his influence on space exploration.