After the experiments of von Opel and Espenlaub with gliders equipped with simple powder rockets, work on rocket planes in Germany continued with the focus on more controllable motors using liquid propellants. Most spaceflight visionaries at the time believed that a reusable spaceplane would eventually be required to make launches into space routine and affordable. Wernher von Braun, the technical genius leading the development of the A-type rockets for the German Army at their Kummersdorf proving ground (the success of which ultimately led to the notorious A4fV2 missile), was no exception. But where others merely came up with ideas and published their hypothetical concepts, von Braun was actively trying to set up a practical program to evaluate an aircraft with a rocket motor propulsion system. The ultimate goal of all von Braun’s efforts was space exploration, not the development of military missiles, but he recognized that in Germany in the 1930s the military was the only source of funding to develop rockets. He hoped later to use the technology for the exploration of outer space. To get the military, which was already funding his missiles, also to pay for rocket plane experiments he once again had to convince them of the novel technology’s possibilities for making war.
Germany’s wonder weapons
Springer Praxis Books (formerly: Springer-Praxis Series)
16.05.2012
50 pages
Aufsatz/Kapitel (Buch)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
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