The man who designed the original spacecraft for Project Mercury and is credited with contributing to the designs of every U.S. human spacecraft from Mercury to the Space Shuttle has died. Dr. Maxime A. Faget, who in 1958 became part of the Space Task Group that would later evolve into the NASA Johnson Space Center, died Saturday at his home in Houston. He was 83 years old.
"Without Max Faget's innovative designs and thoughtful approach to problem solving, America's space program would have had trouble getting off the ground," said NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe. "He also was an aeronautics pioneer. In fact, it was his work on supersonic flight research that eventually led to his interest in space flight. The thoughts and prayers of the entire agency are with his family."
Faget's career with NASA dates back to 1946, when he joined the staff of Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va., as a research scientist. He worked in the Pilotless Aircraft Research Division and later was named head of the Performance Aerodynamics Branch. He conceived and proposed the development of the one-man spacecraft used in Project Mercury.
Faget was selected as one of the original 35 engineers as a nucleus of the Space Task Group to carry out the Mercury project. The group also devoted a lot of time to follow-on programs and Faget led the initial design and analysis teams that studied the feasibility of a flight to the Moon. As a result of his work and other NASA research, President John F. Kennedy was able to commit the U.S. to a lunar landing by the end of the 1960s.
"Max was a genuine icon," said NASA's Associate Administrator for Space Operations William Readdy, "a down-to-earth Cajun with a very nuts-and-bolts approach to engineering. He contributed immeasurably to America's successes in human space flight. His genius allowed us to compete and win the space race to the Moon."
"Max Faget was truly a legend of the manned space flight program," said Christopher C. Kraft, former Johnson Space Center director. "He was a true icon of the space program. There is no one in space flight history in this or any other country who has had a larger impact on man's quest in space exploration. He was a colleague and a friend I regarded with the highest esteem. History will remember him as one of the really great scientists of the 20th Century."
Faget was part of the original feasibility study for the Space Shuttle. His team then focused on Shuttle development. He retired from NASA in 1981 following the second shuttle mission (STS-2). His government service career spanned four decades.
After retiring from NASA, Faget was among the founders of one of the early private space companies, Space Industries Inc., established in 1982. One of its projects was the Wake Shield Facility, built for the University of Houston and flown twice aboard the Space Shuttle to demonstrate a technique for processing material in a near-perfect vacuum.
Born on August 26, 1921, in Stann Creek, British Honduras, Faget graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering in 1943. He joined the U.S. Navy where he saw considerable combat as an officer in the submarine service.
Faget's numerous accomplishments include patents on the "Aerial Capsule Emergency Separation Device" (escape tower), the "Survival Couch," the "Mercury Capsule," and a "Mach Number Indicator."
He received numerous honors and awards, including the Arthur S. Flemming Award, the NASA Medal for Outstanding Leadership, and honorary doctorate of engineering degrees from the University of Pittsburgh and Louisiana State University. He was inducted into the National Space Hall of Fame in 1969 and the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2003. Faget was the first recipient of the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement in 1987.
Faget was preceded in death by his wife Nancy in 1994. He is survived by four children: Ann, Carol, Guy, and Nanette; a daughter in law, two sons in law and 10 grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Get the Space.com Newsletter
Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!
"Mtu aliyebuni chombo cha kwanza cha anga kwa ajili ya mradi wa Mercury na anayehesabiwa kuchangia muundo wa chombo cha anga cha Marekani kutoka kwa ""Mercury"" hadi ""Space Shuttle"" amefariki dunia." Maxime Faget, ambaye mwaka 1958 alikuwa mshiriki wa Space Task Group ambayo baadaye ilibadilika kuwa Kituo cha Anga cha NASA, alikufa Jumamosi katika nyumba yake huko Houston, Texas. Alikuwa na umri wa miaka 83. "Bila muundo wa ubunifu wa Max Faget na mbinu yake ya kufikiri kwa uangalifu ya kutatua matatizo, programu ya angani ya Marekani ingekuwa na matatizo ya kuanzishwa,"" alisema Msimamizi wa NASA Sean O'Keefe." "Alikuwa pia painia wa anga. Kwa kweli, kazi yake ya utafiti wa ndege za kasi zaidi ya sauti ndiyo iliyomfanya apendezwe na ndege za angani. Mawazo na sala za shirika lote ziko pamoja na familia yake". Faget alianza kazi yake katika NASA mwaka 1946, wakati alipojiunga na wafanyakazi wa Kituo cha Utafiti cha Langley, Hampton, Virginia, kama mwanasayansi wa utafiti. Alifanya kazi katika Idara ya Utafiti wa Ndege zisizo na rubani na baadaye aliteuliwa kuwa mkuu wa Tawi la Aerodynamics ya Utendaji. Yeye alibuni na kupendekeza maendeleo ya mtu mmoja spacecraft kutumika katika Mradi Mercury. Faget alichaguliwa kama mmoja wa wahandisi 35 wa awali kama kiini cha Kikundi cha Kazi ya Anga kutekeleza mradi wa Mercury. Kikundi hicho pia kilitumia muda mwingi katika mipango ya kufuatilia na Faget aliongoza timu za awali za kubuni na uchambuzi ambazo zilijifunza uwezekano wa kuruka hadi Mwezi. Kwa sababu ya kazi yake na utafiti mwingine wa NASA, Rais John F. Kennedy aliweza kuahidi Marekani kwa kutua mwezi mwishoni mwa miaka ya 1960. "Max alikuwa mfano halisi, ""alisema Mkurugenzi Msaidizi wa NASA kwa Operesheni za Anga William Readdy, ""Cajun chini ya ardhi na mbinu ya karanga na bolts sana kwa uhandisi." Alisaidia sana mafanikio ya Marekani katika safari za angani za wanadamu. Uwezo wake wa kipekee ulituwezesha kushindana na kushinda mbio za angani za kwenda Mwezi". "Max Faget alikuwa hadithi ya kweli ya programu ya ndege za angani zenye watu", akasema Christopher C. Kraft, mkurugenzi wa zamani wa Kituo cha Angani cha Johnson. "Alikuwa mfano halisi wa programu ya angani. Hakuna mtu katika historia ya ndege za angani katika nchi hii au nchi nyingine yoyote ambaye amekuwa na athari kubwa zaidi kwa utafutaji wa mwanadamu katika uvumbuzi wa anga. Alikuwa mwenzangu na rafiki niliyemthamini sana. "Historia itamkumbuka kama mmoja wa wanasayansi wakuu wa karne ya 20.""" Faget alikuwa sehemu ya utafiti wa awali wa uwezekano wa Space Shuttle. Kisha timu yake ikakazia fikira maendeleo ya Shuttle. Alianza kazi yake ya kwanza katika NASA mwaka 1981 baada ya safari ya pili ya Shuttle (STS-2). Kazi yake ya utumishi wa serikali ilichukua miongo minne. Baada ya kustaafu kutoka NASA, Faget alikuwa miongoni mwa waanzilishi wa moja ya kampuni za kwanza za nafasi za kibinafsi, Space Industries Inc. ilianzishwa mnamo 1982. Wake Shield Facility ilijengwa kwa ajili ya Chuo Kikuu cha Houston na ilisafirishwa mara mbili kwenye Space Shuttle ili kuonyesha mbinu ya kusindika vifaa katika utupu wa karibu. Alizaliwa mnamo Agosti 26, 1921 huko Stann Creek, British Honduras, Faget alihitimu kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Jimbo la Louisiana na shahada ya Sayansi katika Uhandisi wa Mashine mnamo 1943. Aliingia katika Jeshi la Wanamaji la Marekani, ambako aliona mapigano mengi kama afisa katika huduma ya nyambizi. Faget amepata hati miliki za "Aerial Capsule Emergency Separation Device" (mashine ya kutoroka), "Survival Couch", "Mercury Capsule", na "Mach Number Indicator". Alipokea tuzo nyingi, ikiwa ni pamoja na Tuzo ya Arthur S. Flemming, Medali ya Uongozi wa NASA, na udaktari wa heshima wa digrii za uhandisi kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Pittsburgh na Chuo Kikuu cha Jimbo la Louisiana. Aliingizwa katika Jumba la Taifa la Space Hall of Fame mnamo 1969 na Jumba la Taifa la Inventors Hall of Fame mnamo 2003. "Faget alikuwa mmoja wa wa kwanza kupokea tuzo ya kitaifa ya Rotary kwa ""Ufanisi wa Anga"" katika 1987."" Faget aliuawa na mkewe Nancy mnamo 1994. Ana watoto wanne: Ann, Carol, Guy, na Nanette; binti-katika-sheria, wana wawili katika-sheria na wajukuu kumi. Mipango ya mazishi inangojea kufanywa. Kupata Space.com Newsletter Breaking nafasi ya habari, updates karibuni juu ya roketi launches, skywatching matukio na zaidi!