Theodore von Kármán
Theodore von Kármán was a Hungarian-American engineer and physicist celebrated for his work in aerospace engineering and applied mathematics. Born in 1881, he contributed significantly to fluid dynamics and the study of aerodynamics, particularly in aircraft design. He founded the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and played a crucial role during World War II, developing technologies vital to aviation and rocketry. Von Kármán also established the California Institute of Technology’s aeronautics department, influencing generations of scientists and engineers. His legacy includes the Kármán line, which defines the boundary between the Earth’s atmosphere and outer space, set at about 100 kilometers above sea level.
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Theodore von Kármán was a Hungarian-American engineer and physicist renowned for his work in aerodynamics and applied mathematics. Born in 1881, he made significant contributions to the understanding of fluid dynamics and structural mechanics, influencing aerospace engineering. Von Kármán is known for formulating the Kármán vortex street, explaining fluid flow around objects, and for founding the California Institute of Technology's Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory. His research helped advance aviation technology, including the design of airplanes and rockets, and he played a key role in the development of the U.S. space program. He passed away in 1963 but left a lasting legacy.