Abe Silverstein
Abe Silverstein (1908 - 2001) was an American engineer who played an important part in the United States space program. He was a longtime manager at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and its predecessor the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). On August 14, 1997, Silverstein was recipient of the prestigious Guggenheim Medal for "significant contributions to the advancement of flight."
Early life
Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, Silverstein earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering (1929) and an M.E. (1934) from the Rose Polytechnic Institute in his home town.
He was hired by NACA in 1929 at the Langley research center as an aerodynamicist to work on the design of the Altitude Wind Tunnel to be built in Cleveland, Ohio as the Lewis research center Lewis Laboratory (later, Research Center). While at Langley, he directed important aerodynamic research which led to increased high-speed performance of most of the combat aircraft of World War II. In 1943 he became Chief of the Wind Tunnel and Flight Division, at the Lewis research center in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1944 he joined the NACA High-Speed panel and advocated the supersonic wind tunnel, completed in 1949. Abe was placed in charge of all research at the Lewis Research Center in 1949. In 1952 he was appointed Associate director of the Lewis Laboratory.
During his time at the Lewis research center, his directed research in propulsion aerodynamics in the Altitude Wind Tunnel led to significant improvements in both reciprocation and early turbojet aircraft engines. He also pioneered research on large-scale ramjet engines.
Following World War II, Dr. Silverstein was responsible for the conception, design, and construction of America's first supersonic propulsion wind tunnels. The investigations in these facilities greatly contributed to the development of our present day supersonic aircraft.
Later, he held a succession of management positions at the Lewis Laboratory (later, Research Center). During his first tour at Lewis, he directed investigations leading to significant improvements in turbojet engines.
At NASA Headquarters he helped create and direct the efforts leading to the space flights of Project Mercury and to establish the technical basis for the Apollo program; in particular he chaired a government commission, the "Saturn Vehicle Evaluation Committee" (better known as the Silverstein Committee). As Lewis's director, he oversaw a major expansion of the center and the development of the Centaur launch vehicle.
He retired from NASA in 1970 to take a position with Republic Steel Corporation.
In 1984, NASA named Silverstein an "Elder Statesman of Aviation." He died on June 1, 2001.
References
- Portions of this article are based on public domain text from NASA