fbpx
Wikipedia

Robert R. Gilruth

January 05, 2023

Robert Rowe Gilruth (October 8, 1913 – August 17, 2000) was an American aerospace engineer and an aviation/space pioneer who was the first director of NASA's Manned Spacecraft Center, later renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.[1]

Robert R. Gilruth
Gilruth at NASA, 1965
Born
Robert Rowe Gilruth

(1913-10-08)October 8, 1913
Nashwauk, Minnesota, U.S.
DiedAugust 17, 2000(2000-08-17) (aged 86)
Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Minnesota, B.S. 1935, M.S. 1936
Occupation(s)Director of NASA Manned Spacecraft Center, now Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
Awards President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service (1962)
ASME Medal (1970)

He worked for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) from 1937 to 1958 and its successor NASA, until his retirement in 1973. He was involved with early research into supersonic flight and rocket-powered aircraft, and then with the United States human spaceflight program, including the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs.

Biography

Early life

Gilruth was born October 8, 1913, in Nashwauk, Minnesota, and moved to Duluth when he was nine years old. He graduated in 1931 from Duluth Central High School.[2] As a teenager, Gilruth was fascinated by aeronautics and spent time building model airplanes. He was inspired to pursue a career in the field after reading about NACA's Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory in Virginia.[3] Gilruth received a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Minnesota in 1935, and received his Master of Science degree in 1936. While there he was a member of the Professional Engineering Fraternity Theta Tau, of which he was later inducted as a Hall of Fame Alumnus.

Flight test career

In January 1937 Gilruth was hired at NACA's Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory, where he performed flight research. His research led to the NACA Report R755, Requirements for Satisfactory Flying Qualities of an Airplane, published in 1941, in which he defined a set of requirements for the handling characteristics of an aircraft. Until this point, no set of guidelines for pilots and aircraft designers existed.[3]

Gilruth also pioneered the recording of data from instruments during flight test, to be later correlated with the pilot's experience.[4] This would go on to become the standard operating procedure.

NASA career

 
NASA flight director Chris Kraft (left) and Gilruth in Mission Control in 1965 at the conclusion of Gemini 5

Gilruth had been working on hypersonic missile rockets as the assistant director of the Pilotless Aircraft Research Division of NACA. He and his team pushed their superiors to pursue a program to launch satellites into space, but he was rebuffed by administrators. The dynamic quickly changed after the Soviets succeeded in launching Sputnik, and Gilruth became involved in the transition of NACA into NASA.[citation needed]

When NASA was created, Gilruth became head of the Space Task Group, tasked with putting a man in space before the Soviet Union.[citation needed]

In 1961, when President John F. Kennedy announced that America would put a man on the Moon before the end of the decade (the 1960s), Gilruth was "aghast" and unsure that such a goal could be accomplished. He was integral to the creation of the Gemini program, which he advocated as a means for NASA to learn more about operating in space before attempting a lunar landing.[3]

In 1962, he was awarded the President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service by President John F. Kennedy.[5]

Soon the Apollo program was born, and Gilruth was made head of the NASA center which ran it, the new Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC) (now the Johnson Space Center). Gilruth was inducted into the National Space Hall of Fame in 1969 and served as director of the MSC until his retirement in 1972. He was inducted as a member of the inaugural class to the International Space Hall of Fame in 1976.[6] He oversaw a total of 25 crewed space flights, from Mercury-Redstone 3 to Apollo 15.[citation needed]

In 1971, Gilruth, along with the Apollo 15 crew, was awarded the Collier Trophy.[7]

In 1992, Gilruth was inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame at the San Diego Air & Space Museum,[8] in 1994, he was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame[9] and in 2015, the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame as a posthumous induction.[10]

Death

In 2000, Gilruth died in Charlottesville, Virginia, at the age of 86.[11]

Portrayals in dramas

References

  1. ^ . NASA. Archived from the original on October 29, 2000. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  2. ^ "Robert Gilruth Inducted into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame". Duluth Aviation Institute. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Chaikin, Andrew. "Bob Gilruth, the Quiet Force Behind Apollo". Air & Space/Smithsonian. ISSN 0886-2257. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  4. ^ "Monographs in Aerospace History: Flying Qualities". NASA. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  5. ^ "AR7400-E. President John F. Kennedy Presents President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service to Dr. Robert Gilruth".
  6. ^ Locke, Robert (October 6, 1976). "Space Pioneers Enshrined". Las Vegas Optic. Las Vegas, New Mexico. Associated Press. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Haugland, Vern (March 22, 1972). "Apollo 15 astronauts, Gilruth to be honored". El Dorado Times. El Dorado, Arkansas. Associated Press. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Sprekelmeyer, Linda, editor. These We Honor: The International Aerospace Hall of Fame. Donning Co. Publishers, 2006. ISBN 978-1-57864-397-4.
  9. ^ National Aviation Hall of Fame, Biography - Gilruth, Robert Rowe
  10. ^ Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame, Inductees - Robert R. Gilruth
  11. ^ Wilford, John Noble (August 18, 2000). "Robert Gilruth, 86, Dies; Was Crucial Player at NASA". The New York Times.
  12. ^ James, Caryn (April 3, 1998). "Television Review; Boyish Eyes on the Moon". The New York Times. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  13. ^ "Modern Figures: Frequently Asked Questions". NASA. Retrieved January 17, 2017.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robert R. Gilruth.

January 05, 2023
robert, gilruth, robert, rowe, gilruth, october, 1913, august, 2000, american, aerospace, engineer, aviation, space, pioneer, first, director, nasa, manned, spacecraft, center, later, renamed, lyndon, johnson, space, center, gilruth, nasa, 1965bornrobert, rowe. Robert Rowe Gilruth October 8 1913 August 17 2000 was an American aerospace engineer and an aviation space pioneer who was the first director of NASA s Manned Spacecraft Center later renamed the Lyndon B Johnson Space Center 1 Robert R GilruthGilruth at NASA 1965BornRobert Rowe Gilruth 1913 10 08 October 8 1913Nashwauk Minnesota U S DiedAugust 17 2000 2000 08 17 aged 86 Charlottesville Virginia U S Alma materUniversity of Minnesota B S 1935 M S 1936Occupation s Director of NASA Manned Spacecraft Center now Lyndon B Johnson Space CenterAwardsPresident s Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service 1962 ASME Medal 1970 He worked for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics NACA from 1937 to 1958 and its successor NASA until his retirement in 1973 He was involved with early research into supersonic flight and rocket powered aircraft and then with the United States human spaceflight program including the Mercury Gemini and Apollo programs Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life 1 2 Flight test career 1 3 NASA career 1 4 Death 2 Portrayals in dramas 3 References 4 External linksBiography EditEarly life Edit Gilruth was born October 8 1913 in Nashwauk Minnesota and moved to Duluth when he was nine years old He graduated in 1931 from Duluth Central High School 2 As a teenager Gilruth was fascinated by aeronautics and spent time building model airplanes He was inspired to pursue a career in the field after reading about NACA s Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory in Virginia 3 Gilruth received a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Minnesota in 1935 and received his Master of Science degree in 1936 While there he was a member of the Professional Engineering Fraternity Theta Tau of which he was later inducted as a Hall of Fame Alumnus Flight test career Edit In January 1937 Gilruth was hired at NACA s Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory where he performed flight research His research led to the NACA Report R755 Requirements for Satisfactory Flying Qualities of an Airplane published in 1941 in which he defined a set of requirements for the handling characteristics of an aircraft Until this point no set of guidelines for pilots and aircraft designers existed 3 Gilruth also pioneered the recording of data from instruments during flight test to be later correlated with the pilot s experience 4 This would go on to become the standard operating procedure NASA career Edit NASA flight director Chris Kraft left and Gilruth in Mission Control in 1965 at the conclusion of Gemini 5 Gilruth had been working on hypersonic missile rockets as the assistant director of the Pilotless Aircraft Research Division of NACA He and his team pushed their superiors to pursue a program to launch satellites into space but he was rebuffed by administrators The dynamic quickly changed after the Soviets succeeded in launching Sputnik and Gilruth became involved in the transition of NACA into NASA citation needed When NASA was created Gilruth became head of the Space Task Group tasked with putting a man in space before the Soviet Union citation needed In 1961 when President John F Kennedy announced that America would put a man on the Moon before the end of the decade the 1960s Gilruth was aghast and unsure that such a goal could be accomplished He was integral to the creation of the Gemini program which he advocated as a means for NASA to learn more about operating in space before attempting a lunar landing 3 In 1962 he was awarded the President s Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service by President John F Kennedy 5 Soon the Apollo program was born and Gilruth was made head of the NASA center which ran it the new Manned Spacecraft Center MSC now the Johnson Space Center Gilruth was inducted into the National Space Hall of Fame in 1969 and served as director of the MSC until his retirement in 1972 He was inducted as a member of the inaugural class to the International Space Hall of Fame in 1976 6 He oversaw a total of 25 crewed space flights from Mercury Redstone 3 to Apollo 15 citation needed In 1971 Gilruth along with the Apollo 15 crew was awarded the Collier Trophy 7 In 1992 Gilruth was inducted into the International Air amp Space Hall of Fame at the San Diego Air amp Space Museum 8 in 1994 he was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame 9 and in 2015 the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame as a posthumous induction 10 Death Edit In 2000 Gilruth died in Charlottesville Virginia at the age of 86 11 Portrayals in dramas EditIn the 1996 TV movie Apollo 11 Gilruth was played by William Mesnik In the 1998 miniseries From the Earth to the Moon he was played by John Carroll Lynch 12 In the 2016 film Hidden Figures the character Al Harrison played by Kevin Costner is based largely on Gilruth 13 In the 2018 film First Man Gilruth is portrayed by Ciaran Hinds In the 2020 TV series The Right Stuff Gilruth is portrayed by Patrick Fischler References Edit Former Manned Spacecraft Center Director Dies NASA Archived from the original on October 29 2000 Retrieved January 17 2017 Robert Gilruth Inducted into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame Duluth Aviation Institute Retrieved January 17 2017 a b c Chaikin Andrew Bob Gilruth the Quiet Force Behind Apollo Air amp Space Smithsonian ISSN 0886 2257 Retrieved 27 July 2016 Monographs in Aerospace History Flying Qualities NASA Retrieved January 17 2017 AR7400 E President John F Kennedy Presents President s Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service to Dr Robert Gilruth Locke Robert October 6 1976 Space Pioneers Enshrined Las Vegas Optic Las Vegas New Mexico Associated Press p 6 via Newspapers com Haugland Vern March 22 1972 Apollo 15 astronauts Gilruth to be honored El Dorado Times El Dorado Arkansas Associated Press p 13 via Newspapers com Sprekelmeyer Linda editor These We Honor The International Aerospace Hall of Fame Donning Co Publishers 2006 ISBN 978 1 57864 397 4 National Aviation Hall of Fame Biography Gilruth Robert Rowe Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame Inductees Robert R Gilruth Wilford John Noble August 18 2000 Robert Gilruth 86 Dies Was Crucial Player at NASA The New York Times James Caryn April 3 1998 Television Review Boyish Eyes on the Moon The New York Times Retrieved August 5 2018 Modern Figures Frequently Asked Questions NASA Retrieved January 17 2017 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robert R Gilruth Biography portal Spaceflight portalRequirements for satisfactory flying qualities of airplanes 1943 NACA report by Robert Gilruth Dr Robert Gilruth 1986 interview transcript from the National Air and Space Museum Dr Robert R Gilruth 2000 tribute at NASA s Human Space Flight website Robert R Gilruth 1913 2000 2003 memoir at the National Academy of Sciences written by NASA flight director Christopher Kraft From Minnesota to the moon 2013 Star Tribune article by Cirrus Aircraft co founder Dale Klapmeier honoring Gilruth s legacy Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert R Gilruth amp oldid 1125653231, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.