Stewart, Homer J. (1915–2007)
Prominent aerospace engineer involved with the American space program. Stewart
earned a B.S. in aeronautic engineering from the University of Minnesota
in 1936, joined the faculty of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
in 1938, and earned his doctorate from Caltech two years later. In 1939
he took part in pioneering rocket research with other Caltech engineers
and scientists, including Frank Malina, in
the foothills of Pasadena. Out of their efforts, JPL
(Jet Propulsion Laboratory) arose, and Stewart maintained his interest in
rocketry at that institution. He chaired the committee (see Stewart Committee)
that made recommendations about the early direction of the United States
space program and was heavily involved in developing the first American
satellite, Explorer 1, in 1958. In that
year, on leave from Caltech, he became director of NASA's program planning
and evaluation office, returning to Caltech in 1960 to a variety of positions,
including chief of the advanced studies office at JPL (1963–67) and
professor of aeronautics at Caltech itself.
Related category
• ROCKET
ENGINEERS AND SPACE SCIENTISTS
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