Frederick Durant
Rocketry expert and CIA consultant; Robertson Panel secretary
- Born
- December 31, 1916
- Died
- October 21, 2015
- Roles
- Naval test pilot, chemical engineer, CIA consultant
- Space
- President, American Rocket Society (1953); Project Orbiter
- Later
- Assistant director, National Air and Space Museum, 1965–1980
Rocket expert who kept the minutes of the CIA's 1953 Robertson Panel and later helped build the Smithsonian's space collections.
What is Frederick Durant known for?
Frederick C. Durant III was an American chemical engineer, naval test pilot and spaceflight expert. He was president of the American Rocket Society in 1953, took part in Project Orbiter, an early US satellite proposal, and consulted for the Defense Department and the CIA.
At the CIA-sponsored Robertson Panel in January 1953, Durant was not a voting member but kept the record of the proceedings. His detailed report of the meetings is cited throughout the CIA's own history of its UFO work and is one of the main sources for what the panel said and recommended.
From 1965 to 1980 he was assistant director for astronautics at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. He wrote widely on rocketry and co-authored the 1983 space art book 'Worlds Beyond'. He died in 2015 at 98.
Secretary of the 1953 Robertson Panel, whose notes are the main record of it.
Mentioned on these pages
- Rabbit holeThe Robertson Panel
Sources
- Gerald K. Haines, 'CIA's Role in the Study of UFOs, 1947-90', Studies in Intelligence (CIA)Primary text
- Wikipedia, 'Frederick C. Durant III'Reference
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