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Willy Ley ( October 2 1906 - June 24 1969) was a science writer and space advocate who helped popularise rocketry and spaceflight in Germany and the United States in the early-mid twentieth century.

Ley was born in Berlin and studied to become a paleontologist. However, he developed an interest in spaceflight after reading Hermann Oberth's book Die Rakete zu den Planetenraumen ("By Rocket into Interplanetary Space"). He soon published his own book on the subject, Die Fahrt in den Weltraum ("Travel in Outer Space") in 1926.

In 1927, he became one of the first members of Germany's amateur rocket group, the Verein für Raumschiffahrt (VfR - "Spaceflight Society") and wrote extensively for its journal, Die Rakete ("The Rocket"). With Oberth, he also acted as a consultant on Fritz Lang's film Frau im Mond ("Woman in the Moon")

The VfR disbanded in 1933 amidst controversy within its membership over the interest the military was taking in their activities. Ley decided to flee the Nazi regime and went to the United States in 1935Events January January 1 Italian colonies of Tripoli and Kyrenaika are joined together as Libya January 7 World War II: Italian premier Benito Mussolini and French foreign minister Pierre Laval conclude agreement in which each power undertakes not to oppo, where he became a citizen in 1944Events World War II January January 4 The Battle of Monte Cassino begins. January 5 Murder of Danish playwright Kaj Munck January 17 British forces, in Italy, cross the Garigliano River. January 20 The Royal Air Force drops 2,300 tons of bombs on Berlin;.

He continued to write extensively on spaceflight in terms that the lay person could understand. His works from the 1950s and 60s are regarded as classics of popular science and include The Conquest of Space ( 1950Events January January 5 US Senator Estes Kefauver introduces a resolution calling for examination of organized crime in the USA January 6 The United Kingdom recognizes the People's Republic of China. The Republic of China severs diplomatic relations with), The Conquest of the Moon (with Wernher von BraunMarshall Space Flight Center desk in Huntsville, Alabama with models of rockets developed and in progress. Wernher Magnus Maximilian Freiherr von Braun ( March 23 1912 June 16 1977) was a Nazi German scientist, SS officer, and one of the leading figures i and Fred Whipple, 19531953 is a common year starting on Thursday (click on link for the calendar). Events January events January 7 President Harry S. Truman announces the United States has developed a hydrogen bomb. January 13 Marshal Josip Broz Tito chosen President of Yugosl), and Beyond the Solar System ( 1964Events January January 1 Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved. January 3 Senator Barry Goldwater announces that he will seek the Republican nomination for President. January 5 In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Ort). He also acted as science consultant for the Tom Corbett series of children's science fiction books and TV series.

Ley died in Jackson Heights, Queens sadly just a month before the first men set foot on the moon.