EUGEN SÄNGER – Meritorious Space Pioneer
- Paper number
IAC-05-E4.1.03
- Author
Mr. Aleksander Kerstein, CM-Celje, Slovenia
- Coauthor
Prof. Drago Matko, Slovenia
- Year
2005
- Abstract
In the world\'s literature on astronautics, there are three main space pioneers mentioned: Ciolkovski, Goddard and Oberth. There are other two space pioneers who are very rarely mentioned: Robert Esnault Petrie and Eugen Sänger. Petrie is known particularly in Europe, while Sänger is mentioned in the second half of the 20th century normally only in connection with the Space Shuttle flights. Taking a look at Sänger’s work and heritage, it is obvious that he greatly influenced the development of astronautics in terms of purely theoretical dissertations on achievable limits of space research as well as in terms of scientific technical approach to reaching short and long-term goals of astronautics, and in terms of setting tasks for organizing mankind to achieve these goals. Sänger’s book The Technology of Rocket Flight was the first scientific study based on basic and applicable research he had conducted and published its findings in scientific papers. There is a correlation and Sänger’s influence on the development of two experimental research groups in the USA in the 1930s, which resulted in two of the most significant companies in the USA in the 1950s manufacturing liquid propellant rocket engines. Basic and applicable research in the field of space planes resulted in construction of rocket planes such as Shuttle and Buran shuttles. Sänger’s research on subsonic and supersonic ramjets in combination with turbo-jet engine provided a basis for developing this promising propulsion in order to be used in subsequent space planes designed for flights into low Earth orbits. His pioneering work on the photon rocket represents human achievements in reaching almost unimaginable limits of space research. By striving for a peaceful international approach to space research, he participated in establishing the non-governmental organization IAF (The International Astronautical Federation) and realized his idea that space research was a concern of the whole mankind. Therefore he was appointed first president of the IAF. The paper demonstrably presents how Eugen Sänger influenced the development of rocket technology and astronautics, which definitely ranks him with the first three space pioneers.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-05-E4.1.03.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.