Valier, Max (1893-1930)

Austria

'Raketen Fahrt', 1930. Book on the possibilities of travel by rocket written by Max Valier, published in 1930

Max Valier was born on Fevrier 9, 1895 at Bozen (Sud Tirol, Austria)
Since childhood, he developed a passion for astronomy and enrolled in 1913 at the University of Innsbruck in order to follow astronomy, mathematics and physics. He is also a machinist job in a factory. However, his studies and activities are interrupted by the war of 14/18 in which he enlisted in the Austrian aviation as aerial observer. He will end the war with the rank of lieutenant.
He resumed his studies at the Universities of Vienna and Munich. In 1923, he became aware of the book of Hermann Oberth "Die Raketen zu dem Planetenraümen (Rockets into space)." He is interested immediately to this new topic and published in 1924 the book "Der Vorstoss in den Weltenraum (advance in space)." This book in a simple and understandable by all readers writing is a huge success that will require six editions until 1930. He also wrote several articles on the same subject.
On July 5, 1927, he founded the association Verein für Raumschiffsfahrt (Society for Space Travel) in Breslau which Wernher von Braun, Hermann Oberth and Johannes WINCKLER.
His non-technical book Der Vorstoss in den Weltenraum (The Advance into Space) spread Oberth´s ideas to a wide audience.
Valier was also interested in using rockets to propel ground vehicles and, from 1928 to 1929, he collaborates with Fritz von Opel car manufacturer and Friedrich Sander, built the world´s first rocket-powered automobile in 1928.
He developed the "Opel-Sander RAK 2" with which von Opel reached a speed of 170 km / h.
He then devoted himself to the development of liquid fuel rocket engines and was killed May 17, 1930 in Berlin (aged only 31), following the explosion of a new small, steel-cased LOX/alcohol engine, designed for use in the Opel-RAK 7 rocket car, during a test run in his laboratory.

Ref.: #95 - update: 06.08.15

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