The only way of accelerating satellites to high enough velocities to reach a stable orbit around the Earth is by means of rocket
Development of the A4 (V2) rocket In 1933 the Nazis put an end to the era of private rocket research, as all research activity was turned over to the Army Weapons Office. Wernher von Braun became the central figure in rocket development. His work led directly to the first large liquid-fuelled guided missile, the A4 rocket, also known as the V2 or Vergeltungswaffe 2 (vengeance weapon 2). The first test launch of an A4 rocket took place at the secret army research facility in Peenemünde on the Baltic Sea in 1942. Prüfstand VII (test bed 7) is represented here in the form of a diorama. To be safe from aerial bombing raids, the entire production work was moved to the subterranean Mittelwerk facility on the southern fringes of the Harz Mountains. More than 10 000 prisoners from the Dora concentration camp (now the Dora-Mittelbau memorial site) lost their lives during the production of A4 rockets. Approximately 3000 rockets were launched as armed missiles, with most of them aimed at the cities of London and Antwerp. The exhibition shows a complete A4 rocket in the winding staircase leading up from the Aviation Hall.
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Photo credit: © Manfred Glueck / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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