Alfred J. Eggers
Encyclopedia
Alfred J. Eggers, Jr. was NASA
's Assistant Administrator for Policy and devoted efforts to determine the influence of aviation technology in world peace and lectured widely.
Eggers specialized in hypersonic and spaceflight research including the development of new wind tunnel
and ballistic range facilities. He went to work for the NACA
at Ames Aeronautical Laboratory in 1944 after completing the V-12 Navy College Training Program
.
branch and the hypervelocity ballistic range branch. In 1958, Eggers headed up the Manned Satellite Team, which was to design a practical system for a satellite while recommending a suitable research program. This ultimately lead to Ames developing and managing the Pioneer program
of planetary exploration probes. Although Eggers is most famous for his pioneering work on atmospheric reentry with a blunt body, arguably his greatest achievement was his work on supersonic interference lift. This work lead directly to the XB-70 Valkyrie
supersonic bomber.
In May 1964, Eggers was appointed Deputy Associate Administrator for Advanced Research and Technology. He became Assistant Administrator for Policy in January 1968, and served until March 1971. From 1969 to 1970, Eggers was a visiting professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
.
Following his career at NASA, Eggers took a position as Assistant Director for Research Applications at the National Science Foundation
.
His assistant, C. A. "Sy" Syvertson became Director of NASA Ames Research Center during probably its most productive years. A close friend of both was the legendary aerodynamicist, R. T. Jones.
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
's Assistant Administrator for Policy and devoted efforts to determine the influence of aviation technology in world peace and lectured widely.
Eggers specialized in hypersonic and spaceflight research including the development of new wind tunnel
Wind tunnel
A wind tunnel is a research tool used in aerodynamic research to study the effects of air moving past solid objects.-Theory of operation:Wind tunnels were first proposed as a means of studying vehicles in free flight...
and ballistic range facilities. He went to work for the NACA
National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics
The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics was a U.S. federal agency founded on March 3, 1915 to undertake, promote, and institutionalize aeronautical research. On October 1, 1958 the agency was dissolved, and its assets and personnel transferred to the newly created National Aeronautics and...
at Ames Aeronautical Laboratory in 1944 after completing the V-12 Navy College Training Program
V-12 Navy College Training Program
The V-12 Navy College Training Program was designed to supplement the force of commissioned officers in the United States Navy during World War II...
.
Biography
In 1954, he became Division Chief of the Vehicle Environment Division, which was composed of a physics branch, an entry simulation branch, a structural dynamics branch, the 3.5 foot hypersonic wind tunnelHypersonic wind tunnel
A hypersonic wind tunnel is designed to generate a hypersonic flow field in the working section. The speed of these tunnels vary from Mach 5 to 15. As with supersonic wind tunnels, these types of tunnels must run intermittently with very high pressure ratios when initializing.Since the temperature...
branch and the hypervelocity ballistic range branch. In 1958, Eggers headed up the Manned Satellite Team, which was to design a practical system for a satellite while recommending a suitable research program. This ultimately lead to Ames developing and managing the Pioneer program
Pioneer program
The Pioneer program is a series of United States unmanned space missions that was designed for planetary exploration. There were a number of such missions in the program, but the most notable were Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11, which explored the outer planets and left the solar system...
of planetary exploration probes. Although Eggers is most famous for his pioneering work on atmospheric reentry with a blunt body, arguably his greatest achievement was his work on supersonic interference lift. This work lead directly to the XB-70 Valkyrie
XB-70 Valkyrie
The North American Aviation XB-70 Valkyrie was the prototype version of the proposed B-70 nuclear-armed deep-penetration strategic bomber for the United States Air Force's Strategic Air Command...
supersonic bomber.
In May 1964, Eggers was appointed Deputy Associate Administrator for Advanced Research and Technology. He became Assistant Administrator for Policy in January 1968, and served until March 1971. From 1969 to 1970, Eggers was a visiting professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
.
Following his career at NASA, Eggers took a position as Assistant Director for Research Applications at the National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
.
His assistant, C. A. "Sy" Syvertson became Director of NASA Ames Research Center during probably its most productive years. A close friend of both was the legendary aerodynamicist, R. T. Jones.
External links
- Profile at the National Academy of EngineeringNational Academy of EngineeringThe National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
- NACA Biography at NASA.gov