Gilruth, Robert R. (1913–2000)
Influential NACA (National Advisory Committee
for Aeronautics) engineer who worked at the Langley
Aeronautical Laboratory (1937–46), then as chief of the pilotless
aircraft research division at Wallops Island
(1946–52), and explored the possibility of human spaceflight before
the creation of NASA. He served as assistant
director at Langley from 1952–59 and as assistant director (manned
satellites) and head of the Mercury
Project from 1959–61, technically assigned to the Goddard
Space Flight Center but physically located at Langley. In early 1961
Glennan established an independent Space Task Group (already the group's
name as an independent subdivision of the Goddard center) under Gilruth
at Langley to supervise the Mercury Project. This group moved to the Manned
Spacecraft Center, Houston, Texas, in 1962, and Gilruth served as the
first director of the Houston operation (1962–72). During his 10 years
as head of the center, Gilruth directed 25 manned space flights, including
the first Mercury flight in 1961 and the first Apollo
moon landing in 1969. Gilruth was also in charge of the development and
operation of the Gemini spacecraft,
a two-man craft used to perfect techniques for the control, rendezvous and
linking of spaceships in Earth orbit. Gilruth was born in Nashwauk, Minnesota,
and received degrees from the University of Minnesota.
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