Williams, Oswald S. 'Ozzie'

1921-2005 · Contribution: 1940s-1970

Aeronautical engineer

Designed aircraft and spacecraft propulsion/control systems: an early experimental airborne radar/radio beacon for locating crashed aircraft, and the reaction-control rocket-engine systems (small steering thrusters) for NASA's Apollo lunar module

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Technology & Engineering

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Quick facts

Born
1921, Washington, D.C.
Active since
1943
Category
Technology & Engineering
Best known for
Apollo lunar module's control-rocket systems

Impact on the world

Williams engineered the small thrusters that let the lunar module maneuver in space, hardware that proved critical to bringing the crippled Apollo 13 crew home.

An alternative history

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