Frank J. Malina: Astronautical Pioneer Dedicated to International Cooperation and the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
- Paper number
IAC-06-H.L.4.01
- Author
Mr. Roger Malina, CNRS/Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, France
- Year
2006
- Abstract
The story begins in Brenham Texas in 1912 where Frank Malina was born of Czech immigrants. He credits the reading of Jules Verne as a child in the town library with inspiring him with a desire to become a space explorer. After attending Texas A and M, he attended the California Institute Technology and earned a PhD under Theodore Von Karman, later to be the founder of the IAF and IAA. Malina together with fellow students Jack Forman, Apollo Smith, Ed Forman and Tsien Hsue-shen went on to develop one of the most successful lineages of rocket concepts, including the JATO units and the Sergeant missile, as well as providing a number of fundamental patents of American rocketry; their first rocket firings took place in October 1936. On October 11, 1945 Malina led the team that launched the WAC Corporal to an altitude of 43.5 Miles, setting a new world record and was the first man made object to escaper Earth's atmosphere. Malina co-founded Aerojet General Corporation and JPL, serving as the second Director. After the end of the War, Malina went on to become the Deputy Science Director of the new organization UNESCO, dedicating himself to mobilizing international cooperation. He was one of the founders of the IAA during the 1959 Barcelona congress and served as its second Director. When Malina died in 1981; the IAF instituted the Frank J Malina Astronautics Medal, with the support of Aerojet General Corporation, for demonstrated excellence by an educator in promoting astronautics and related sciences. The young students who in 1935 began experimenting with rocket motors had lived to see their dreams for the peaceful exploration of outer space begin to be realized. This Highlight Lecture will describe the life and times of one of the true pioneers in space rocketry and his work in support of international cooperation in the peaceful uses of Space.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-H.L.4.01.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.