**Eduard Stiefel** went from [characteristic classes](//zbmath.org/?q=an:0014.41601) and Lie group  [representations](//ams.org/mathscinet-getitem?mr=13163) and [topology](//zbmath.org/?q=an:0039.39901), to (early) [numerical programming](//zbmath.org/?q=an:0067.09806) and computation of orbits for [NASA](//ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19670016363).