Wernher von Braun was a German-American aerospace engineer and space architect, best known for his role in developing rocket technology. Born on March 23, 1912, in Germany, he initially worked on the V-2 rocket during World War II. After the war, he moved to the United States as part of Operation Paperclip, where he contributed to the NASA space program. In the U.S., von Braun played a crucial role in the development of the Saturn V rocket, which enabled the Apollo 11 mission to land humans on the Moon in 1969. He became a prominent figure in the space race and advocated for space exploration throughout his life.