How about we celebrate the birthplace of a man who reached for the stars Jesco von Puttkamer. This plaque commemorates the Geburtshaus birthplace of Jesco von Puttkamer. It honors a local boy who became an aerospace engineer a NASA senior manager and a science fiction writer.
Jesco von Puttkamer was born right here in Leipzig on September 22 1933. The plaque on this building marks the spot. It’s more than just a historical marker. It’s a tribute to a life dedicated to space exploration and scientific advancement.
The inscription reads Prof. Dr. Jesco von Puttkamer 1933-2012 Geburtshaus. It also calls him an author engineer and visionary son of Leipzig. The plaque notes his involvement in Apollo Skylab Star Trek Space Shuttle and the ISS. It’s dedicated by the International Space Education Institute Leipzig on his 80th birthday.
His father Baron Jesco von Puttkamer worked as an editor at the Reclam publishing house across the street. His mother was 20 years old and stayed home with him. The family who owns this house rented it to the Puttkamers.
Von Puttkamer’s career took him far from Leipzig. He studied mechanical engineering. In 1962 he moved to the United States. He joined Wernher von Braun’s rocket team at NASA in Huntsville Alabama. He became a US citizen in 1967.
He worked on the Apollo program. He calculated flight paths at the dawn of the computer age. Von Puttkamer contributed to the hypothetical theory behind the faster-than-light space warp drive in Star Trek. DeForest Kelley nicknamed him Jessie.
Jesco von Puttkamer’s expertise extended beyond engineering. He was an honorary professor at FH Aachen. Saarland University awarded him an honorary Doctorate in Philosophy. He consulted with President George W. Bush on space exploration.
Von Puttkamer considered his contributions to the Apollo program among his greatest achievements. He helped recover America’s Skylab space station after its troubled launch. He ensured the backup Skylab was displayed at the National Air and Space Museum.
He wrote over a dozen books on space flight and numerous science fiction short stories. His story The Sleeping God appeared in the anthology Star Trek The New Voyages 2. He humanized space making it more understandable.
The Jesco von Puttkamer Gesellschaft e.V. was founded after his death. It preserves his scientific network. It supports international youth projects. There is also a Jesco von Puttkamer Society in the USA and Russia.
He received the NASA Exceptional Service Medal in 2004. In 2007 he received the NASA Honor Award. The German-American Heritage Foundation honored him as Distinguished German-American of the Year in 2008. Asteroid 266725 Vonputtkamer is named after him.
Jesco von Puttkamer died on December 27 2012 in Alexandria Virginia. He was 79 years old.
The Gedenktafel plaque here is a reminder of Jesco von Puttkamer’s remarkable journey. It symbolizes his dedication to space his creative mind and his connection to Leipzig. It’s a fitting tribute to a man who inspired generations to look up at the stars.