On this day in Alabama history: Sonny Morea inducted into Aviation Hall of Fame
(2 Aug 1971) - This view is the second of a series of three mosaic photographs that compose a 360-degree panoramic view of the Apollo 15 Hadley-Apennine landing site, taken near the close of the third and final lunar surface extravehicular activity (EVA) by astronauts David Scott, commander, and James Irwin, lunar module pilot. This group of photographs was designated the Rover “RIP” Pan because the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) was parked in its final position prior to the two crew men returning to the Lunar Module. (NASA)
August 27, 2016
Scientist and aviator Sonny Morea was inducted into the Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame. A native of New York, Morea worked as a scientist under Dr. Werner von Braun at the U.S. Army’s Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. While at Redstone and later at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, Morea worked in the field of rocket propulsion. He developed the most powerful liquid rocket engine ever made with the F-1 engine, redesigned the J-2 engine that would send astronauts to the moon, and developed the lunar roving vehicle that astronauts used to move around the surface of the moon. Morea received the NASA Exceptional Service Medal on two occasions.
Read more at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.
For more on Alabama’s Bicentennial, visit Alabama 200.
