Hans K. Ziegler
Hans K. Ziegler | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 11, 1911 Munich, Germany |
| Died | December 11, 1999 (aged 88) Colts Neck Township, New Jersey, United States |
| Education | Technische Hochschule |
| Known for | Pioneer in the field of communication satellites and the use of photovoltaic solar cells as a power source for satellites |
| Spouse | Friederike |
| Children | Christine Griffith, Friederike Meindl, and Hans |
| Awards | Meritorious Civilian Service Award |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Communication satellites |
| Institutions | Rosental Selb |
Hans K. Ziegler (March 1, 1911,
Life
Hans Ziegler was born in Munich,
In 1947, he came to the US with
Ziegler's work in the US was very influential in the development of military electronics, especially in the electronics for the early phases of the US space program.[1] During the thirty years he worked as an engineer in the field of electronics and electrical engineering in the research and development department of the U.S. Army in Fort Monmouth, N.J. (from 1947 to 1976), he held the top position of Chief Scientist for 12 years.[2] In Fort Monmouth, he worked as a Scientific Consultant, Assistant Director of Research, Director of the Astro-Electronics Division and Chief Scientist (1959). After the Army was restructured, he became Deputy for Science and Chief Scientist of the US Army Electronics Command in 1963 and Director of the US Army Electronics Technology & Devices Laboratory from 1971 until his retirement.
In May 1954, after examining the solar cells of
Referring to silicon solar cells, he said to the head of the U. S. Signal Corps, General James O'Connell, at a meeting in September 1955, "In fact, in the long run, mankind has no choice but to turn to the sun if it wants to survive."[3]
He and his team produced a report on the prospects for application of this technique in the field of communication and they named the supply of energy for artificial satellites as the most important application. He knew that he was not the first to suggest this application. For example, the science fiction author, Arthur C. Clarke had already made this suggestion in 1945, but without having a concrete technology for it at that time.
Ziegler participated in the development of the first planned satellites. The first satellite,
Over the objections of the
He was awarded the Meritorious Civilian Service Award by the
Ziegler was the author of many technical papers, a member of the
Ziegler's wife Friederike died in 1996. He last lived in Colts Neck Township, New Jersey and died at the age of 88 on December 11, 1999. He was survived by his daughters, Christine Griffith and Friederike Meindl, and his son, Hans.
See also
References
- ^ Perlin, John (January 3, 1999). "Late 1950s - Saved by the Space Race". SOLAR EVOLUTION - The History of Solar Energy. The Rahus Institute. Retrieved 2007-02-25.
- ^ IEEE Archival Collection
- ^ ISBN 0-674-01013-2
External links
Relevant links on Fort Monmouth history site:
- PROJECT SCORE Dr. Hans K. Ziegler, writing in 1960 when he was chief scientist of US Army Signal Research and Development Laboratory, describes SCORE - 6k
- Hans Ziegler by Tex and Jinx McRary. Format: Audio Tape Reels. - 2k[permanent dead link]
- Name: Ziegler.jpg Date: November 04 2000 17:55:52. - 2k
- Biographical Information Files List
- Audio Visual List RADAR Set AN/PPS-9, Target Signatures, 1969, Audio Tape Reels. Radio Interview of Dr. Hans Ziegler by Tex and Jinx McRary, undated
Other sites:
- Short biography at IEEE[permanent dead link]
- Short quotation on the motivation of the USA in employing Ziegler
- Projects Ziegler worked on
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