Vaino Jack Vehko
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Vaino Jack Vehko, (b. 1918 Detroit, Michigan; d. 17 August 1999 Austin, Texas) was the son of James Vehko (aka Jalmari Vehkomäki) of Kolho, [[Finland].
Spent his entire career with Chrysler Corporation developing engines and booster rockets, including the XI-2220 aircraft engine. In 1952 joined Chrysler Mission Division as head of engineering for the Redstone and Jupiter rockets. In 1960 became director of Engineering on the Saturn 1B booster rocket at Chrysler's Michoud operation in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saturn booster successfully launched all the NASA moon missions. Retired as General Manager of the Chrysler Space Division in 1976.
He received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 1940, and a M.S. degree in Automotive Engineering from Chrystler Institute of Engineering, Highland Park, in 1942. After World War II he worked with recently arrived German rocket designers Werner von Braun and Magnus von Braun, in Huntsville, Alabama.
He married Hilda Scherer in 1941, with whom he had four children. Notable personal achievements include mastering the violin at an early age, and serving as an enthusiastic volunteer for many years at the Westbank Community Library in Austin, Texas.
[edit] Publications
- Vehko, Vaino J (1966). A "zero stage" for the Saturn IB launch vehicle. Society of Automotive Engineers. ASIN B0007HPIXU.
- Vehko, Vaino J (1966). A supersonic / hypersonic aerodynamic investigation of the Saturn IB / Apollo upper stage. NASA contractor report.
