Forgotten pioneer of space exploration: Max Valier

[ToSeek]

The First Person to Sacrifice His Life for the Dream of Space Travel

A stubby-winged plane launches itself from an airport runway on the outskirts of Berlin. When it reaches an altitude of several miles, it fires its rocket engines, lifting itself high into the stratosphere. And then it coasts across the Atlantic Ocean. Its passengers, strapped into their cushioned, contoured chairs, are hopefully enjoying their first experience with weightlessness. If they don't like it, they can comfort themselves with the fact that free-fall will only last 20 minutes, after which the rocket will begin its descent back into the atmosphere. Barely half an hour after leaving Germany, the rocket touches down near New York City.

A scenario of the immediate future, as described by one of the entrepreneurs pushing for the commercialization of spaceflight? Certainly. But this is also a scenario proposed by the first space entrepreneur, more than 70 years ago. And if any of the current schemes for commercial spaceflight succeeds, they'll owe a huge debt to Max Valier, the first martyr to the development of space travel.

[KaiYeves]

Wow, I'd never heard of Mr. Valier before, but what a true pioneer!

[Noclevername]

Wow, I'd never heard of Mr. Valier before, but what a true pioneer!

Ditto; When you see the same handfull of famous names over and over, it's easy to forget just how many people were actively involved in the pursuit of space travel.

[Swift]

Wow, I'd never heard of Mr. Valier before, but what a true pioneer!

Me three.

I thought this was interesting:

Long interested in astronomy, he was the author of dozens of books and pamphlets on the subject and invented the rotating star chart (the "planosphere") that is still in use.

[publiusr]

I wish more was written about Tsander (Zander) He and Max would have worked well together.

[ravens_cry]

We certainly people need more people like him, people to help 'sell' the dream of spaceflight.

[Noclevername]

We certainly people need more people like him, people to help 'sell' the dream of spaceflight.

I second that. Too many short-sighted people still buy into the idea that it's a "boondoggle".