Willy Ley (October 2, 1906 – June 24, 1969) was a German-American science writer, spaceflight advocate, and historian of science who helped popularize rocketry, spaceflight, and natural history in both Germany and the United States. The crater Ley on the far side of the Moon is named in his honor.
In 1935, he was brought to the United States under the auspices of the American Rocket Society, and became a U.S. citizen in 1944. His literary works on astronautics and astro-history are considered classics in their field. His writings on what might be accomplished in astronautics with technology encouraged many young people to pursue careers in the astronautic sciences and technologies where they managed to turn his writings into reality. As an early advocate of space travel, Willy Ley helped usher in the rocket age.
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Popularizer of space exploration and travel.
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In 1927, Ley was one of the founders of the German Rocket Society and helped design, build and fly liquid-propellant rockets in Germany.
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Studied astronomy, physics, zoology, and paleontology at the universities of Berlin and Konigsberg.
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color
1955
TV Series scientific advisor - 1 episode
Tom Corbett, Space Cadet
1950
TV Series technical advisor
Woman in the Moon
1929
technical advisor
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Conquest of Space
1955
book
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color
1955
TV Series
Himself
Scope
1955
TV Series
Himself
Longines Chronoscope
1952
TV Series
Himself - Science Writer
The Faye Emerson Show
1951
TV Series
Himself
Known for movies
Conquest of Space (1955) as Writer
Woman in the Moon (1929) as Miscellaneous Crew
Tom Corbett, Space Cadet (1950) as Miscellaneous Crew
$600,000
