William H. Pickering Biography

Quick Facts

NAME: William H. Pickering
OCCUPATION: Scientist
BIRTH DATE: c. 1910
DEATH DATE: c. 2004
PLACE OF BIRTH: Wellington, New Zealand
Full Name: William Hayward Pickering

Best Known For

William Pickering was a rocket scientist who oversaw many American forays into space in the 1950-1970s.

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William Hayward Pickering

APA Style

William Hayward Pickering. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 04:43, Jun 19, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/william-h-pickering-9440249.

Harvard Style

William Hayward Pickering. [Internet]. 2013. The Biography Channel website. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/william-h-pickering-9440249 [Accessed 19 Jun 2013].

MLA Style

"William Hayward Pickering." 2013. The Biography Channel website. Jun 19 2013, 04:43 http://www.biography.com/people/william-h-pickering-9440249.

MHRA Style

"William Hayward Pickering," The Biography Channel website, 2013, http://www.biography.com/people/william-h-pickering-9440249 [accessed Jun 19, 2013].

Chicago Style

"William Hayward Pickering," The Biography Channel website, http://www.biography.com/people/william-h-pickering-9440249 (accessed Jun 19, 2013).

CBE/CSE Style

William Hayward Pickering [Internet]. The Biography Channel website; 2013 [cited 2013 Jun 19] Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/william-h-pickering-9440249.

Bluebook Style

William Hayward Pickering, http://www.biography.com/people/william-h-pickering-9440249 (last visited Jun 19, 2013).

AMA Style

William Hayward Pickering. The Biography Channel website. 2013. Available at: http://www.biography.com/people/william-h-pickering-9440249. Accessed Jun 19, 2013.

Synopsis

In 1944, New Zealander William Pickering joined the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which he went on to direct (1954-76). He oversaw the first orbit of the Earth by an American satellite (1958), the first American soft landings on the Moon, the first mission to orbit Mars (Mariner IX) and the first missions to Venus and Mercury (Mariner X). He received an honorary knighthood in 1976.

Profile

Rocket scientist, born in Wellington, New Zealand. He studied in the USA, and in 1944 joined the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which he went on to direct (1954-76). He oversaw the first orbit of the Earth by a US satellite (1958), the first US soft landings on the Moon, the first mission to orbit Mars (Mariner IX) and the first missions to Venus and Mercury (Mariner X). He received an honorary knighthood in 1976.

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