Hermann Oberth, born on June 25, 1894, in Hermannstadt, Austria-Hungary (now Sibiu, Romania), was a pioneering rocket scientist and one of the founding fathers of astronautics and space travel. His work significantly contributed to the development of rocketry and space exploration.
Oberth studied medicine at the University of Munich but his interest quickly shifted towards physics and astronomy, leading him to explore the theoretical aspects of space travel. His dissertation on rocket flight was initially rejected by the University of Heidelberg in 1922, which led him to publish it privately as "Die Rakete zu den Planetenräumen" ("The Rocket into Interplanetary Space") in 1923.
Oberth's work inspired many, including a young Wernher von Braun, who would later lead the development of the V-2 rocket and contribute to the U.S. space program. Oberth himself worked on the V-2 project during World War II. After the war, he moved to Switzerland and later worked with von Braun in the U.S. on the Saturn V rocket, which propelled the Apollo missions to the moon.
Oberth's influence extended beyond rocketry into popular culture through his association with the science fiction genre. He advised on films like "Frau im Mond" (Woman in the Moon), which was one of the first films to depict space travel realistically.
In his later years, Oberth continued to write and lecture on space travel and related topics. He returned to Germany in 1953, where he continued his research. He was honored with numerous awards, including the Wilhelm Exner Medal and the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Hermann Oberth passed away on December 29, 1989, in Nuremberg, Germany, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence space exploration.