#bill pickering

[gregorygalloway]

William Hayward Pickering (born Wellington, New Zealand, 24 December 1910 – 15 March 2004)

Pickering headed the group that launched the first US satellite, Explorer I in 1958 (less than 4 months after the Soviet Union launched Sputnik), and directed the launch of Explorer III (also 1958), the Pioneer missions, the Ranger and Surveyor missions (to explore the moon), and the Mariner missions (which flew past Mars and Venus).

[gregorygalloway]

William Hayward Pickering (born Wellington, New Zealand, 24 December 1910 – 15 March 2004)