George Economou

Optical Systems ExpertLos Alamos, NM

Trinity Site

Manhattan Project VeteranMilitary VeteranScientistTrinity Test Eyewitness

George Economou was an optical systems expert.

Economou graduated from Harvard University with a degree in astronomy. In 1944, he joined the Army and was assigned to the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos. He worked on photography, capturing photos for the Trinity Test.

After the war, he worked in private industry and became a world-renowned expert on large telescopes. For more information, please see his obituary.

Benjamin C. Benjamin (L) and George Economou (R) preparing Torpex charges for shock velocity determinations at the Trinity Site

George Economou inflating a balloon to be used to raise primacord at the Trinity Site

Benjamin C. Benjamin (L) and George Economou (R) setting up shock switches at the Trinity Site

Related Profiles

Arthur M. Ross

X-10 Graphite Reactor

Arthur M. Ross was born in Revere, MA. He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During the Manhattan Project, he served in the Special Engineer Detachment at Oak Ridge, TN at the X-10 Graphite Reactor.

E. Vincens

Y-12 Plant

E. Vincens worked for the Tennessee Eastman Corporation at the Y-12 Plant.

I. D. Hartman

Hanford, WA

R. V. Ward

Oak Ridge, TN

R. V. Ward worked for the J.A. Jones Construction Company.