Arthur Rudolph

Arthur Rudolph
Rudolph showing a model of the Saturn V
Born	Arthur Louis Hugo Rudolph November 9, 1906 (1906-11-09) Stepfershausen, Meiningen, German Empire
Died	January 1, 1996 (1996-02) (aged 89) Hamburg, Germany
Nationality	German, American
Alma mater	Technical University of Berlin
Occupation	Rocket engineer
Known for	V-2, Saturn V
Spouse(s)	Martha Therese Kohls
Children	Marianne Erika Rudolph
Parent(s)	Gustav and Ida Rudolph
Awards	Honorary Doctor of Science Department of the Army Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service NASA Exceptional Service Medal NASA Distinguished Service Medal

Arthur Louis Hugo Rudolph (November 9, 1906 – January 1, 1996) was a German rocket engineer who played a key role in the development of the V-2 rocket during World War II. After the war, he was brought to the United States by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), subsequently becoming a pioneer of the United States space program. He worked for the U.S. Army and NASA where he managed the development of several important systems including the Pershing missile and the Saturn V Moon rocket. In 1984 he was investigated for war crimes, and he agreed to leave the United States and renounce his US citizenship in return for not being prosecuted in the United States.

Rudolph was born in Stepfershausen, Meiningen, Germany in 1906. His family were farmers, with a long tradition in the area. His father Gustav, died in 1915 while serving during World War I. Arthur and his younger brother Walter were raised by their mother, Ida. When Ida noticed young Arthur had a mechanical gift, she decided he should attend technical training. Walter inherited the family farm. From 1921 on, Rudolph attended the technical school in Schmalkalden for three years. In 1924 he found employment at a silver goods factory in Bremen.

In August 1927 Rudolph accepted a job at Stock & Co. in Berlin. After a few months, he became a toolmaker at Fritz Werner. In 1928 he attended the Technical College of Berlin— now the Technical University of Berlin —graduating in 1930 with the equivalent of a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. On May 1, 1930, Rudolph began working for the Heylandt Works in Berlin where he met rocketry pioneer Max Valier. Valier had use of the factory grounds for his experiments in rocketry and Rudolph became interested, working with Valier in his spare time along with Walter Riedel. Rudolph already had some interest in rocketry, having read Wege zur Raumschiffahrt (Ways to Spaceflight) by Hermann Oberth and having seen the film Woman in the Moon.