Richard Passman
Richard Passman | |
---|---|
Born | 30 June 1925 ![]() Cedarhurst ![]() |
Died | 1 April 2020 ![]() Holy Cross Hospital ![]() |
Alma mater | University of Michigan |
Occupation | Aeronautical engineer, non-fiction writer ![]() |
Employer |
Richard Passman (June 30, 1925 – April 1, 2020) was an aeronautical engineer and space scientist from the United States. He worked on projects including the Corona, the first spy satellite. He was a volunteer in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum[1] and author.
Early life and education[]
Passman was born in Cedarhurst, New York to Ethel and Matthew Passman. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in aeronautical engineering in 1944 and mathematics in 1946. He earned a master's in aeronautical engineering in 1947.[2] He joined the Navy Pilot Training program during WWII, but was discharged for medical reasons.[3]
Career[]
He worked for Bell Aircraft, General Electric, the U.S. Department of Energy, and Grumman Corp.
Passman worked on the team that created Bell X-1, the first airplane to exceed the speed of sound and served as the Chief Aerodynamicist for Bell X-2, the first plane to break mach-3.[3] He also worked on the Corona, the spy satellite that informed the U.S. of Russian nuclear power.[4]
Passman's work also included the Nimbus weather satellite and the SNAP-27 power system for Apollo missions to the moon.[5] He served as manager of the Manned Orbiting Laboratory project before it was terminated by President Nixon.[6]
He co-authored X-15: The World’s Fastest Rocket Plan and the Pilots who Ushered In the Space Age in 2014.[7]
He was named to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Wall of Honor.[8]
Personal life[]
He was married to Minna for 70 years. They had three sons and lived in Silver Spring, Maryland at the time of his death. Passman died of complications of the coronavirus.[2]
References[]
- ^ The Michigan Alumnus. UM Libraries. 2001.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Schwartz, John (April 16, 2020). "Richard Passman, Space-Age Engineer Who Kept His Secrets, Dies at 94". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Mr. Richard Passman -". baldwincremation.com. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ "Richard Passman: Aerospace engineer was known as a 'Renaissance man'". Newsday. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ "Richard Passman: Pioneer in the aerospace industry | News Break". News Break Philadelphia, PA. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ The Michigan Alumnus. UM Libraries. 1965.
- ^ "X-15 (Smithsonian Series)". www.amazon.com. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ "Richard A. Passman". National Air and Space Museum. January 16, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- 1925 births
- 2020 deaths
- American aerospace engineers
- Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Maryland
- People from Cedarhurst, New York
- Engineers from New York (state)
- University of Michigan alumni
- 20th-century American engineers