Faget, Max

American Engineer and Designer 1921-

Maxime (Max) Allan Faget was born in Stan Creek, British Honduras, on August 26, 1921. He received a bachelor of sciences degree from Louisiana State University in 1943 and later was given honorary degrees by the University of Pittsburgh and Louisiana State University. He has done research in manned spaceflight, propulsion, re-entry aerodynamics, life support systems, guidance and control, engineering and space systems development, and technical management. He worked at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, from 1946 to 1958; as director of engineering and development at NASA Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston, from 1961 to 1981; as vice president and director of Eagle Engineering from 1981 to 1984; and as the founder, president, and chief executive officer of Space Industries from 1982 to 1992.

Faget has contributed many publications to the field of spaceflight and has been granted numerous patents. He has received many awards, including the Athhur S. Fleming Award, 1959; Golden Plate Award for Academic Achievement, 1962; Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Award, 1973; NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Astronaut Award, 1979; William Randolph Lovelace II Award, American Astronautical Society, 1971; Space Flight Award, 1976; Lloyd V. Berkner Award, 1987; Gold Medal, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 1975; Albert F. Sperry Medal, Instrument Society America, 1976; Harry Diamond Award, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 1976; and the Jack Swigert Memorial Award, 1988.

see also Guidance and Control Systems (volume 3); History of Humans in Space (volume 3); Life Support (volume 3).

E. Julius Dasch

Internet Resources

"Max Faget." Nova Online. PBS. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tothemoon/faget.html>.