History of space technology - from my late father Rudi Reichert
The corona pandemic may also have something good. Now it's time to clean up the basement. There I found an old filing cabinet from my late father Rudi Reichert. He was one of the engineers who worked on the Apollo moon flight program in USA. Later, back in Germany, he helped set up the European space program.
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In the filing cabinet I found a large number of different documents, photos and publications. A small part of it is shown on this website.
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​I found it interesting that the principle of reusable rocket stages at that time was actually very similar to that of today's SpaceX Falcon 9 Heavy. However, a horizontal landing was proposed back then instead of a vertical landing. Landing like a glider would be significantly more fuel-efficient. However, that would only work well in the atmosphere, like on Earth.
Photo: Rudi Reichert (*18.8.1929, â´•19.8.2009), at his booth at the 26th Space Congress in Florida, USA in 1989
Der Raumfahrtpionier Wernher von Braun - Teil 1
Article by Rudi Reichert in the magazine "Luft- und Raumfahrt" issue 6 November / December 1992
Der Raumfahrtpionier Wernher von Braun - Teil 2
Article by Rudi Reichert in the magazine "Luft- und Raumfahrt" issue 1 January / February 1993
Contribution to the US Pathfinder Program from 1989
On July 4,1997, NASA landed a spacecraft on Mars, Pathfinder, for the first time in about two decades, following the successful Viking 1 and 2 missions. It was a big step for the space agency and for Mars exploration in general.
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A few early artist views of space travel
