Early education in Germany, 1934-1957, including study at Kiel University. Move to U.S. and work at University of Maryland encompassing plasma spectroscopy, sounding rocket work, and theta pinch plasmas, 1957-1962. Completion of Ph.D., 1963; move to National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA-Langley) for work on plasma spectroscopy, 1963-1968. Expansion to galactic structure; first work with computers; declines job offer from German firm. Move to NASA and Washington, D.C.; mission of solar programs office; relations with outside astronomers. Insider's view of committee meetings using Orbiting Solar Observatory (OSO) I as an example. Also prominently mentioned are: Marc Felix, Harold Glaser, Hans Griem, Fred Singer, Albrecht Otto Johannes Unsl̲d; Allgemeine Elekrizitt̃s Gesellschaft, American Astronomical Society, Langley Research Center, Orbiting Solar Observatory, and Sputnik (Spacecraft).