Otto Hirschler, a German rocket scientist who helped develop equipment to simulate missile trajectories in a laboratory, died at his home. He was 87.

Hirschler, who died Friday, was a member of the team headed by the late Wernher von Braun, whose engineers developed the rockets that sent Americans to the Moon.

Team member Ernst Stuhlinger said Hirschler worked with Helmut Hoelzer to develop an electronic system that could simulate missile flight under the forces of thrust, gravity, aerodynamic effect and control actions.

After coming to the United States with almost 120 top scientists who worked on Hitler's rocket program, Hirschler went to work for the U.S. Army and later NASA.