Dr. Wernher von Braun.
Image source: Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC).

In 1977 on this date, Wernher von Braun died. As the director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and the chief architect of the Saturn V launch vehicle, von Braun’s work was fundamental to the entire US space program until his retirement in 1972. His official biography can be found at NASA’s page here.