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Commemoration of 110th birth anniversary of Professor Mieczysław G. Bekker (1905 – 1989)
In 2015 we are commemorating 110th birth anniversary of one of the most prominent graduates of Warsaw University of Technology, professor Mieczysław G. Bekker – a leading engineer and scientist strongly involved in the field of Terramechanics and a co-author of LRV (Lunar Roving Vehicle) designed for Apollo space programme enabling U.S. astronauts to shuttle across the moon in the 1970s.
In 1960s Professor Mieczysław Bekker moved to California, working at General Motors Corporation AC research laboratory and running land and lunar vehicles construction activities. It resulted in the design and construction of LVR (Lunar Roving Vehicle), undoubtedly his most spectacular achievement. Thanks to professor’s Bekker theories and calculations, the company was awarded a NASA contract to design and build a lunar vehicle for Apollo programmes. Three of those vehicles were used by the U.S. astronauts during their missions of Apollo 15,16 and 17. This astounding accomplishment brought professor Bekker numerous awards and immense recognition. He was awarded with the title of Doctor Honoris Causa of higher institutions and his name can be found among those engraved in Space Walk of Fame.