Otto Berg: From Nazi V2 Rocket to NASA Apollo 17

Who was Otto Berg? otto berg v2 apollo nasa

Dr. Otto Berg (1917-2017) was a pioneering astrophysicist who initiated groundbreaking high-altitude research with the Naval Research Laboratory in 1948, utilizing captured Nazi V-2 rockets well before NASA’s establishment. otto berg v2 apollo nasa

He was among the founding members of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, where he led the Cosmic Dust Section. Serving as Principal Investigator (P.I.) for numerous rocket probe experiments launched on Aero bee sounding rockets before the era of satellites, Berg later led significant heliocentric missions like Pioneer 8 and 9.

He also oversaw the Lunar Ejecta and Meteorites (LEAM) experiment placed on the moon by Apollo 17 astronauts.

Berg authored or co-authored approximately 67 scientific papers and received the NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement in 1977. Post-retirement, he joined the Max Planck Institute in Germany and subsequently became a space consultant at the University of Maryland.

Berg’s contributions spanned from pioneering V-2 rocket research to involvement in pivotal early NASA missions like Apollo 17. Notably, he created a renowned photomosaic of Earth from space in the mid-1950s, assembled from film footage captured at 100 miles above the planet, which gained widespread attention in magazines such as Life and Look. His studies on cosmic dust significantly influenced his later career and proved crucial for manned spaceflight, particularly in dispelling early concerns about micrometeoroid risks during extravehicular activities (EVAs).

Otto Berg’s Passport and NASA Badges

Otto Berg possessed these three personal identification items: a “Contractor” badge from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, a “Retired” badge issued to him in August 1977, and a United States OFFICIAL passport issued in 1970. The passport featured his photograph with the signature “Otto E. Berg” in blue ballpoint along the edge of the page, and his full signature “Otto Edwin Berg” in black ballpoint on the adjacent page. otto berg v2 apollo nasa

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