Homer Joseph Stewart

Homer Joseph "Stewie" Stewart (August 15, 1915 – May 26, 2007) was an American aeronautical engineer, rocket propulsion expert, and Caltech professor, who pioneered the first American satellites.

Biography With a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota in 1936, Stewart matriculated at Caltech. In 1930s, Stewart and von Kármán constructed a turbine that later became known as the "Grandpa's Knob". It was built in the mountains of Vermont, "generated up to a megawatt of power and operated through World War II in cooperation with a local electrical company."

In addition to contributing to the development of the WAC Corporal, MGM-29 Sergeant, and Jupiter-C rockets, he helped prepare for Pioneer 4 and the preliminary planning of the Apollo Moon missions. He also recommended Cape Canaveral as a launching site. In 1959 Stewart and Wernher von Braun testified to Congress concerning the Soviet spacecraft and missile capabilities.

Except for his two-years with NASA, Stewart remained on Caltech's faculty from 1938 until 1980, when he retired as emeritus professor of aeronautics.

In 1970 he was awarded the NASA Exceptional Service Medal. At his death, Homer J. Stewart was survived by two daughters, one son, and two grandchildren.

Publications

(transcript of radio interview of Homer J. Stewart conducted by Irving Bengelsdorf)