Dr. Claus Wagner-Bartak, Graf Wagner-Bartach (9 September 1937) is a German -born polymath, physicist, chemist and aerospace engineer, and one of the leading experts in the development of space robotic technology in Canada.
Dr. Wagner-Bartak is an accomplished technology and business professional and executive with extensive international experience. He holds several academic degrees, including a Doctorate from the University of Munich, and has received numerous international awards in recognition of his professional accomplishments.
After his academic education, in his early 30s, Wagner-Bartak was involved in the aerospace industry in Germany with payload designs for sounding rocket programs, he then became responsible as Project Scientist for the integration of the ten active scientific experiments of the German-American HELIOS spacecraft system, and, after repeated technical failures of the EUROPA II ROCKET PROGRAM , he was called on board of the project team for the Third Stage (which was the German share of the rocket system) as expert troubleshooter, engineering manager and deputy project manager to ensure flightworthiness of the multinational rocket system for the anticipated next flight. The rocket was assembled and tested successfully on ground; however, the program was terminated by political decision.
Wagner-Bartak was offered an opportunity in Canada with the design, development and build of the Space Shuttle Remote Manipulator System, Canada’s contribution to the Post-Apollo Program.
In 1982 he received the Public Service Medal from NASA.
Dr. Claus Wagner-Bartak exceptional executive leadership has contributed significantly to the success of a diverse array of advanced technological developments, ranging from the aerospace industry where he was instrumental in the development of the remote manipulator systems for the space shuttle, to various computer systems, to pharmaceutical products such as novel drugs and vaccines.
CanadArm, Canada's most famous robotic and technological achievement, made its space debut on the Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-2) <http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/canadarm/flight.asp> on November 13, 1981. The design and building of the arm, also known as the Space Shuttle Remote Manipulator System, under the guidance of Dr. Claus Wagner-Bartak, marked the beginning of Canada's close collaboration with NASA in human space flight-a sterling example of successful international cooperation in space.
The Shuttle's CanadArm wrapped up 30 years of successful operations when it was retired along with the Space Shuttle program after mission STS-135, which
November 13, 1981 - NASA astronaut Richard Truly deploys the Canadarm from Space Shuttle Columbia's cargo bay for the first time. Occurring during Shuttle Mission STS-02, he describes it as “work(ing) beautifully.” Photo: NASA
Dr. Claus Wagner-Bartak was the founder and former chairman and chief executive officer of Diasyn Technologies from 1987 to 1998. He was designing and overseeing scientific developments in novel material sciences (diamond film coatings) and nanoparticulate based active structured biological for immune system activation (Nanotechnology). The scientific work marked the robotic arm's 90 th flight. The arm's legacy lives on, though, since it established Canada's international reputation for robotics innovation and know-how and generated the family of Canadian robotics on board the International Space Station, as well as future generations to come. Its excellent performance record has inspired several generations of scientists and engineers as they develop new technologies for industry, medicine, and other applications. The scientific work was performed under his direction and guidance at the University of California in Los Angeles. In 1999, the name of the development company was changed to Biosante Pharmaceuticals Inc., a publicly traded American biotechnology company, developing its proprietary calcium phosphate nanotechnology (CaP) for vaccine adjuvants and delivery technology for biodefense vaccines.
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