[FPSPACE] Saunders Kramer has died

[David Woods]

Folks,

List members will be sad to hear that Saunders B. Kramer, Sr. has died. 
His son, Sandy Jr., has passed along the following information to share 
with the list membership. Saunders had an amazing career over the years 
and will be missed by all of his friends and colleagues.

Dave Woods

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Saunders Kramer had died
Date: Wed, 01 Jun 2005
From: Sandy Kramer, Jr

David,

Nice to hear from you. I know Dad had a great many friends in the space community.  I am familiar with some of their names.  I am learning many more of their names now.  Attached is Dad's revised bio.  I just forwarded a copy to Jim Oberg.  As I told him, memorial services should be this Sunday afternoon and will be open to all.  We are finalizing arrangements with the funeral home this morning and will post notice to all afterwards.

Regards,

Sandy Jr.

**********************************************************

Saunders B. Kramer, Sr.

Saunders Kramer’s passion was space exploration.  “Sandy”, as he was known by family, friends, and colleagues, wanted to be the first man on Mars and dreamed of the possibilities of life in space.  Born on Oct. 30, 1920, he died May 30, 2005 as he recovered from heart surgery.   

A native New Yorker, he called Brooklyn home until moving to California in 1955 where he established his position in the space community very early in the space age at Lockheed Missiles & Space Division.  At Lockheed, he served as the director/manager of the first detailed study of a crewed space station (1958) followed by station designs for the United States Air Force.  For a new space station design in 1960, he received the first patent ever issued in the United States -- and likely in the Western World.  He is also responsible for the concept and design of the first crewed space tug as well as early space shuttle concepts (1958-1960). 

At Lockheed, he was highly involved in conceptual designs of lunar and planetary bases and numerous other NASA sponsored studies aimed at lunar and planetary exploration.  He also taught a graduate-level course at LMSC in advanced systems engineering and design for three years that received university accreditation.

While at Lockheed and until the time of his death, he collected, analyzed and interpreted data on all satellite/spacecraft launchings.  This evolved into an extensive database that focused on Soviet/Commonwealth of Independent States-Russian activities.  Sandy was widely recognized as an international expert and consultant on this subject.

Sandy was also associated with very early studies on the Polaris submarine missile, with examining NASA oriented missions involving the use of Lockheed’s upper stage Agena booster, with the design of ballistic missiles, and with early studies in the anti-ballistic missile arena.  As a result of his expertise in Soviet space activities, he was a consultant to the CIA and USAF at Lockheed.  He also gave almost 200 lectures on many aspects of space activity, both domestic and foreign.

He authored more than two-dozen papers, and co-authored another dozen.  He also co-authored an early children’s book on the Discoverer Satellite. In 2003, he authored  and published The Hundred Billion New-Ruble Trip: A Russian Landing on Mars.  

Following his interval at Lockheed, Sandy joined the Federal Government’s Department of Energy in 1971 and conducted research and development activity in new automotive engines directed toward reducing exhaust pollution and in improving engine efficiency.  He was program manager of an extended R&D effort to develop an advanced automotive gas-turbine engine.  Saunders retired from the Federal Government at the end of 1992.

A prolific letter writer on the subject of space activity, Sandy was published more than 100 times. The National Air and Space Museum requested his letters and papers for its archives.  

At the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, Sandy received a B.S. in Physics (1951), and an M.S. in Applied Mathematics (1952).  He did further graduate work in Mathematical Physics.

Sandy served his country in World War II as a private first class in the Army of the United States.  He was honorably discharged in April 1946 and received the American Campaign Medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal and World War II Victory Medal. 

He served as a contributing editor for Air & Space Magazine, and consulted in and wrote about space activity.  He was a founding member and fellow of the American Astronautical Society, a fellow of the British Interplanetary Society, a charter member of the Planetary Society, and a life member of the National Space Society.

At age 84, Sandy planned to study Russian and hoped to become part of NASA’s advisory team for the Mission to Mars.  He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Elissa; two sons Saunders, Jr. and Peter; daughters-in-law Randee Exler and Veralucia Sorge; and granddaughter Molly.