Preserving a Legacy Brick-by-Brick

By Megan Cotton, Redstone Rocket StaffJune 17, 2009

Space Pioneer
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

When her husband died in February, Jackie Dannenberg wanted to honor him and his work at Redstone.

Konrad Dannenberg was a member of Dr. Wernher von Braun's rocket team. He worked for Marshall Space Flight Center as the deputy manager of the Saturn program for 13 years. After his retirement, he helped initiate the Space Camp program at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. There he worked to teach students the importance of space exploration.

Dannenberg decided that dedicating a brick to his memory at the Apollo Courtyard outside the Davidson Center for Space Exploration at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center was the perfect way to honor her late husband.

"While I was there, I noticed there were a few von Braun team members who didn't have one, so I wanted to find a way to sponsor those who may not have been sponsored," she said about her project to raise funds for bricks for anyone who has worked for the space program. "Anyone can buy one but this is a special project I'm doing to make sure everyone has a chance to be honored.

"Everyone has been very supportive and we've been very successful so far," she said about already raising more than $6,000. The money for the brick donations will be used to help fund new museum exhibits in the Davidson Center.

To Dannenberg, preserving the legacy of the NASA program is important for Huntsville.

"Everyone here is so proud of the heritage NASA has and so supportive of it," she said. "NASA isn't just about going to the moon, it's also about progress. It keeps America moving with jobs, education and it's just a very positive thing that this country needs right now."

Anyone who wishes to donate should call Kelly Hatley at 864-7833 or go online to www.spacecamp.com/saturnv and choose Apollo Courtyard bricks.