Richard Passman

Richard Passman (June 30, 1925 – April 1, 2020) was an American aeronautical engineer and space scientist. 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.

Richard Passman
Born(1925-06-30)June 30, 1925
Cedarhurst, New York, U.S.
DiedApril 1, 2020(2020-04-01) (aged 94)
Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Michigan
Occupation(s)Aeronautical engineer, non-fiction writer
Employer(s)Bell Aircraft, General Electric, United States Department of Energy

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

Passman worked for Bell Aircraft, General Electric, the U.S. Department of Energy, and Grumman Corp.

He 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. He served as manager of the Manned Orbiting Laboratory project before it was terminated by President Nixon.[5]

He co-authored X-15: The World’s Fastest Rocket Plan and the Pilots who Ushered In the Space Age in 2014.[6] He was named to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Wall of Honor.[7]

Personal life and death

Passman was married to Minna for 70 years. They had three sons and lived in Silver Spring, Maryland, at the time of his death. He died of complications from COVID-19 at Holy Cross Hospital.[2]

References
  1. The Michigan Alumnus. UM Libraries. 2001.
  2. 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.
  3. "Mr. Richard Passman -". baldwincremation.com. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  4. "Richard Passman: Aerospace engineer was known as a 'Renaissance man'". Newsday. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  5. The Michigan Alumnus. UM Libraries. 1965.
  6. X-15 (Smithsonian Series). Zenith Press. February 15, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2020 – via www.amazon.com.
  7. "Richard A. Passman". National Air and Space Museum. January 16, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
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