Former Director Of Planetary Exploration Was Also A Rocket Scientist

NASA's former Director of Planetary Exploration Robert S. Kraemer passed away August 20 at an assisted living center in Catonsville, MD. The 84-year-old Kraemer had fallen at his home two months ago, and the cause of death was listed as complications stemming from that fall.

Kraemer had joined NASA in 1967, and was assigned to the development of a mission to establish a laboratory on Mars. That project was cancelled by congress, and he was reassigned to manage the advanced planetary programs for the agency. He was named director of planetary programs in 1970.

The Baltimore Sun cites an obituary in the University of Maryland newspaper the Diamondback which reports that Kraemer oversaw 12 successful missions launching spacecraft into the solar system.

Earlier in his career, he had led all advanced projects for North American Aviation's Rocketdyne division. He was later chief engineer for space systems at Ford Aeronautics before joining NASA. He retired from the agency in 1990.

He was the author of "Rocketdyne: Powering Humans into Space" and "Beyond the Moon: A Golden Age of Planetary Exploration 1971-1981."

FMI: www.nasa.gov