Wernher Magnus Maximilian Freiherr von Braun (23 March 1912 – 16 June 1977) was a German-American aerospace engineer and space architect. He was the leading figure in the development of rocket technology in Nazi Germany and a pioneer of rocket and space technology in the United States. Von Braun is widely seen as either the "father of space travel", "father of rocket science" or "father of the American lunar program". He advocated a human mission to Mars.