Dr. Alfred J. Eggers

Dr. Alfred J. Eggers was a genius in aerodynamics and the lifting body concept was only one of his accomplishments. It is too late to wonder how the Shuttle would have evolved if it had been based on his design.

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Remember, the Shuttle was going to cut the cost of carrying payloads into orbit. Instead, the cost increased by a factor of 100, or more.

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The argument then was that it had less re-entry cross range, which would have been more efficiently accomplished during launch and orbit changes. Lack of wings and blunt leading edges added a degree of safety easily seen, then and in hindsight.

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Dr. Eggers became Assistant NASA Administrator and devoted efforts to determine the influence of aviation technology in world peace and lectured widely. He inspired a group of highly brilliant engineers from the best universities working at salaries much below what they could have earned elsewhere. Perhaps they can add their own recollections.

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His assistant, Dr. C. Syvertson became Director of NASA Ames Research Center during probably its most productive years. A close friend of both was the legendary aerodynamicist, Dr. R. T. Jones.

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