The World's Largest Public Domain Media Search Engine

V-2 Rocket Vergeltungswaffe

Aggregat 4 (A4), or Vergeltungswaffe was the world's first long-range guided ballistic missileCreated by: PICRYL - Public Domain Media Search EngineDated: 2017
The V-2 (German: Vergeltungswaffe 2, "Retribution Weapon 2"), Aggregat 4 (A4), was the world's first long-range guided ballistic missile. It was developed during the Second World War in Nazi Germany as a "vengeance weapon", assigned to attack Allied cities as retaliation for the Allied bombings against German cities. The V-2 rocket also became the first artificial object to cross the boundary of space with the vertical launch of MW 18014 on 20 June 1944.
Research into the military use of long-range rockets began when the studies of graduate student Wernher von Braun attracted the attention of the German Army. A series of prototypes culminated in the A-4, which went to war as the V-2. Beginning in September 1944, over 3,000 V-2s were launched by the German Wehrmacht against Allied targets during the war, first London and later Antwerp and Liège. The attacks from V2s resulted in the deaths of an estimated 9,000 civilians and military personnel.
As Germany collapsed, teams from the Allied forces—the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union—raced to capture key German manufacturing sites and technology. Wernher von Braun and over 100 key V-2 personnel escaped advancing Soviets and surrendered to the Americans. Von Braun role in American space program is hard to overestimate. The Soviets too gained possession of the V-2 manufacturing facilities, re-established V-2 production, and lay foundation forthe Soviet space program.
44 Media in collectionpage 1 of 1
Origin of Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) - Wernher von Braun

Origin of Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) - Wernher von Braun

(From left to right) Karl L. Heimburg, Director of the Test Laboratory; Dr. Wernher von Braun, Director of the Development Operation Division; and Major General John B. Medaris with the model of S-1B Test Stand... More

Wernher von Braun, America Space Program

Wernher von Braun, America Space Program

Dr. von Braun with a model of a V2 rocket. Public domain photograph related to World War Two, National Socialism, The Third Reich, Europe under Nazi occupation, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - P... More

X-2 After Drop from B-50 Mothership

X-2 After Drop from B-50 Mothership

(1955) The Bell Aircraft Company X-2 (46-674) drops away from its Boeing B-50 mothership in this photo. Lt. Col. Frank "Pete" Everest piloted 674 on its first unpowered flight on August 5 1954. He made the firs... More

Wernher von Braun in the Launch Complex Control Center during the launch of Saturn I

Wernher von Braun in the Launch Complex Control Center during the laun...

This profile of Dr. von Braun was taken in the Launch Complex Control Center at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida during the launch of Saturn I vehicle (SA-8) on May 25, 1965.

Origin of Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)

Origin of Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)

The German Rocket Team, also known as the Von Braun Rocket Team, poses for a group photograph at Fort Bliss, Texas. After World War II ended in 1945, Dr. Wernher von Braun led some 120 of his Peenemuende Collea... More

NASA officials, (left to right) Charles W. Mathews; Dr. Wernher von Braun, Director, Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC); Dr. George E. Mueller, Associate Administrator for Marned Space Flight; and Air Force Lt. General Samuel C. Phillips, Apollo Program Director celebrate the successful launch of Apollo 11 in the control room at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on July 16, 1969. Boosted by the Saturn V launch vehicle, the Apollo 11 mission with a crew of three: Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin E. Aldrin, made the first manned lunar landing. The Saturn V vehicle was developed by Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) under the direction of Dr. von Braun. n/a

NASA officials, (left to right) Charles W. Mathews; Dr. Wernher von Br...

NASA officials, (left to right) Charles W. Mathews; Dr. Wernher von Braun, Director, Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC); Dr. George E. Mueller, Associate Administrator for Marned Space Flight; and Air Force Lt... More

Wernher von Braun tried out a floating platform in the Marshall Space Flight Center

Wernher von Braun tried out a floating platform in the Marshall Space ...

Dr. von Braun tried out a floating platform in the Marshall Space Flight Center Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory. This was a test rig to help determine how future astronauts will be able to perform maintena... More

Early Rockets V2 static test. NASA public domain image colelction.

Early Rockets V2 static test. NASA public domain image colelction.

A V-2 rocket is hoisted into a static test facility at White Sands, New Mexico. The German engineers and scientists who developed the V-2 came to the United States at the end of World War II and continued rocke... More

Maria von Braun, wife of Wernher von Braun

Maria von Braun, wife of Wernher von Braun

This is a portrait of Maria von Braun, wife of the famous Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) director Wernher von Braun. Her husband, Wernher, who led America to the Moon, served as MSFC’s first director fro... More

Origin of Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)

Origin of Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)

Five pioneers pose with scale models of their missiles they created in the 1950s. From left to right: Dr. Ernst Stuhlinger, a member of the original German rocket team who directed the Research Projects Office,... More

Wernher von Braun, America Space Program

Wernher von Braun, America Space Program

Dr. von Braun watches the Saturn 1 (SA-1) launch through a scope from the blockhouse 34 on October 27, 1961. The SA-1 was the first launch of Saturn launch vehicles developed at the Marshall Space Flight Center... More

Wernher von Braun awaits the launch of the Saturn I vehicle

Wernher von Braun awaits the launch of the Saturn I vehicle

In this photo, Dr. von Braun anxiously awaits the launch of the Saturn I vehicle (SA-8) in the Launch Complex Control Center at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 25, 1965. The SA-8 mission made the fir... More

Saturn Apollo Program, NASA history collection

Saturn Apollo Program, NASA history collection

This historical photograph is of the Apollo Space Program Leaders. An inscription appears at the top of the image that states, “Our deep appreciation for your outstanding contribution to the success of Apollo ... More

Wernher von Braun, NASA history collection

Wernher von Braun, NASA history collection

Dr. von Braun stands beside a model of the upper stage (Earth-returnable stage) of the three-stage launch vehicle built for the series of the motion picture productions of space flight produced by Walt Disney i... More

Wernher von Braun views a demonstration of a simulated spacecraft

Wernher von Braun views a demonstration of a simulated spacecraft

Edward O. Buckbee, the first Director of the Alabama Space Science Center (left), and Dr. Wernher von Braun (right) view a demonstration of a simulated spacecraft which uses an actual hybrid rocket engine for l... More

Wernher von Braun during his visit to the Huntsville Boy's Club

Wernher von Braun during his visit to the Huntsville Boy's Club

Dr. Wernher von Braun during his visit to the Huntsville Boy's Club on August 14, 1961.

Wernher von Braun, America Space Program

Wernher von Braun, America Space Program

Dr. von Braun and Dr. Ernst Stuhlinger at the Observatory of the Rocket City Astronomical Association in 1956.

Wernher von Braun, America Space Program

Wernher von Braun, America Space Program

Dr. Wernher von Braun served as Marshall Space Flight Center's first director from July 1, 1960 until January 27, 1970, when he was appointed NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Plarning. Following World Wa... More

Wernher von Braun and Dr. Debus, Director of the Launch Operations Center

Wernher von Braun and Dr. Debus, Director of the Launch Operations Cen...

Dr. von Braun, Director of the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), and Dr. Debus, Director of the Launch Operations Center, at Complex 34 prior to the Launch of the SA-4 (the fourth flight of Saturn I), March ... More

Early Rockets - A-4 (Aggregate-4) rocket. Later renamed the V-2 (Vengeance Weapon-2).

Early Rockets - A-4 (Aggregate-4) rocket. Later renamed the V-2 (Venge...

The cutaway drawing of the A-4 (Aggregate-4) rocket. Later renamed the V-2 (Vengeance Weapon-2), The rocket was developed by Dr. Wernher von Braun and the German rocket team at Peenemuende, Germany on the Balti... More

Hermes A-1 Test Rockets. NASA public domain image colelction.

Hermes A-1 Test Rockets. NASA public domain image colelction.

Full Description: The first Hermes A-1 test rocket was fired at White Sand Proving Ground (WSPG). Hermes was a modified V-2 German rocket, utilizing the German aerodynamic configuration; however, internally it ... More

Wernher von Braun, America Space Program

Wernher von Braun, America Space Program

Dr. von Braun on the telephone prior to the launch of the Pioneer IV, March 1, 1959.

Early Rockets - V-2 rocket emerges from its camouflaged shelter

Early Rockets - V-2 rocket emerges from its camouflaged shelter

In this undated file photo, probably from World War II, a V-2 rocket emerges from its camouflaged shelter. The team of German engineers and scientists who developed the V-2 came to the United States after World... More

Early Rockets: German technicians wire vehicles for mobile V-2 batteries

Early Rockets: German technicians wire vehicles for mobile V-2 batteri...

In this photograph from the fall of 1943, German technicians wire vehicles for mobile V-2 batteries in an abandoned railroad turnel in the Rhineland. The team of German engineers and scientists who developed th... More

Wernher von Braun explains a detail from a Saturn IB mockup

Wernher von Braun explains a detail from a Saturn IB mockup

Marshall Space Flight Center Director Dr. Wernher von Braun explains a detail from a Saturn IB mockup and engine to President John F. Kennedy, Vice President Lyndon Johnson and other guests, September 11, 1962.

Early Rockets - Aggregate-4 (A-4) illustrates the dimensions and internal workings of the rocket. Later renamed the V-2

Early Rockets - Aggregate-4 (A-4) illustrates the dimensions and inter...

This German cutaway drawing of the Aggregate-4 (A-4) illustrates the dimensions and internal workings of the rocket. Later renamed the V-2, the rocket was developed by Dr. Wernher von Braun and the German Rocke... More

V2 rocket ariane 5 launcher rockets in the size comparison, science technology.
Early Rockets: German technicians stack the various stages of the V-2 rocket

Early Rockets: German technicians stack the various stages of the V-2 ...

German technicians stack the various stages of the V-2 rocket in this undated photograph. The team of German engineers and scientists who developed the V-2 came to the United States at the end of World War II a... More

Early Rockets: V-2 rocket takes flight at White Sands, New Mexico, in 1946.

Early Rockets: V-2 rocket takes flight at White Sands, New Mexico, in ...

A V-2 rocket takes flight at White Sands, New Mexico, in 1946. The German engineers and scientists who developed the V-2 came to the United States at the end of World War II and continued rocket testing under t... More

Wernher von Braun, America Space Program

Wernher von Braun, America Space Program

Dr. Wernher von Braun (center), then Chief of the Guided Missile Development Division at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, discusses a "bottle suit" model with Dr. Heinz Haber (left), an expert on aviation medicine, a... More

Wernher von Braun standing before a display of Army missiles celebrating ABMA's Fourth Open House

Wernher von Braun standing before a display of Army missiles celebrati...

In this photo, Director of the US Army Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA) Development Operations Division, Dr. Wernher von Braun, is standing before a display of Army missiles celebrating ABMA's Fourth Open House.... More

Wernher von Braun with the front page of the Huntsville Times arnouncing the launch of Explorer I

Wernher von Braun with the front page of the Huntsville Times arnounci...

Dr. von Braun is presented with the front page of the Huntsville Times arnouncing the launch of Explorer I, the first U.S. Earth satellite, which was boosted by the Jupiter-C launch vehicle developed by Army Ba... More

Wernher von Braun, America Space Program

Wernher von Braun, America Space Program

Marshall Center Director Dr. Wernher Von Braun is pictured with Walt Disney during a visit to the Marshall Space Flight Center in 1954. In the 1950s, Dr. Von Braun while working in California on the Saturn proj... More

Wernher von Braun in Huntsville, AL

Wernher von Braun in Huntsville, AL

This snapshot, dated November 1957, shows Dr. von Braun in downtown Huntsville, Alabama.

Wernher von Braun, America Space Program

Wernher von Braun, America Space Program

Jet Propulsion Laboratory Director Dr. James Pickering, Dr. James van Allen of the State University of Iowa, and Army Ballistic missionile Agency Technical Director Dr. Wernher von Braun triumphantly display a ... More

Wernher von Braun during his appearance before the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences

Wernher von Braun during his appearance before the Senate Committee on...

Dr. von Braun, Director of the Marshall Space Flight Center, spoke of the progress in the Saturn Program during his appearance before the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences. He was accompanied ... More

A black and white photo of a rocket on display. Poland carpathian scar.

A black and white photo of a rocket on display. Poland carpathian scar...

A black and white photo of a missile / A black and white photo of a missile / Public domain space exploration photo.

Wernher von Braun. Herman Oberth's Kegelduese liquid rocket engine being certified.

Wernher von Braun. Herman Oberth's Kegelduese liquid rocket engine bei...

Dr. von Braun was among a famous group of rocket experimenters in Germany in the 1930s. This photograph is believed to be made on the occasion of Herman Oberth's Kegelduese liquid rocket engine being certified ... More

Early Rockets  A-4 (Aggregate-4). Later renamed the V-2 (Vengeance Weapon-2)

Early Rockets A-4 (Aggregate-4). Later renamed the V-2 (Vengeance Wea...

This drawing illustrates the vital dimensions of the A-4 (Aggregate-4). Later renamed the V-2 (Vengeance Weapon-2), the rocket was developed by Dr. Wernher von Braun and the German rocket team at Peenemuende, G... More

Wernher von Braun at his desk with moon lander in background

Wernher von Braun at his desk with moon lander in background

Photo of Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Director Dr. Wernher von Braun at his desk with moon lander in background and rocket models on his desk. Dr. von Braun served as Marshall's first director from 1960 ... More

Wernher von Braun viewing a parade with Major General John Barclay

Wernher von Braun viewing a parade with Major General John Barclay

This photograph was taken about 1960 and shows Dr. von Braun viewing a parade with Major General John Barclay.

Wernher von Braun talks with KSC's Rocco Petrone

Wernher von Braun talks with KSC's Rocco Petrone

In this photograph at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Complex 37 Control Center, Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Director Wernher von Braun (right) talks with KSC's Rocco Petrone while awaiting the launch of SA-... More

Wernher von Braun in the Launch Control Center of the Launch Complex

Wernher von Braun in the Launch Control Center of the Launch Complex

This image depicts the tension in the Launch Control Center of the Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral, Florida, during the SA-8 on May 25, 1965. Pointing, center is Dr. Kurt Debus, Director, Launch Operations ... More

Bumper V-2 Launch, NASA history collection

Bumper V-2 Launch, NASA history collection

(July 24, 1950) A new chapter in space flight began in July 1950 with the launch of the first rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida: the Bumper 8. Shown above, Bumper 8 was an ambitious two-stage rocket program t... More

picryl logo

The World's Largest Public Domain Media Search Engine

PICRYL is the largest media source for public domain images, scans, and documents. PICRYL is an AI-driven search & similarity engine. PICRYL makes the world's public domain media fun to find and easy to use.

Get Archive LLC, creator of PICRYL, endeavors to provide information that it possesses on the copyright status of the content and to identify any other terms and conditions that may apply to the use of the content, however, Get Archive LLC offers no guarantee or assurance that all pertinent information is provided, or that the information is correct in each circumstance.

Permission for use, re-use, or additional use of the content is not required. GetArchive believes there are no usage restrictions or limitations put on content in the U.S. Get Archive LLC does not charge permission and license fees for use of any of the content on PICRYL, however, upon request, GetArchive can provide rights clearance for content for a fee.

Get Archive LLC is the owner of the compilation of content that is posted on the PICRYL website and applications, which consists of text, images, audio, video, databases, tags, design, codes, and software ("Content"). However, Get Archive LLC does not own each component of the compilation displayed and accessible on the PICRYL website and applications. If you have specific questions or information about content, the website, and applications, please contact us.

Developed by GetArchive, 2015-2025