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  Mercury - Gemini - Apollo
  50th anniversary Convair/Atlas

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Author Topic:   50th anniversary Convair/Atlas
KC Stoever
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Posts: 1012
From: Denver, CO USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 07-23-2007 03:56 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for KC Stoever   Click Here to Email KC Stoever     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
As it happens, the big Omega event in San Diego coincided with 50th anniversary celebration for the Convair folks nearby. Scott Carpenter joined the festivities, he told me this morning, and after his remarks to the group, he asked: "Is Tom O'Malley here?"

Thomas J. O'Malley was the Atlas team leader for Convair in the blockhouse, sitting next to Carpenter, the morning John Glenn was launched into space for his historic orbital mission.

As Scott uttered his "Godspeed John Glenn," O'Malley didn't miss a beat, adding, "And may the Good Lord ride with you all the way."

So, guess who was there in the crowd this weekend and came up front when Scott asked for him?

Tom O'Malley. They greeted each other, I am told, with some emotion.

Also in the crowd? The San Diego jeweler who at Convair's request in a matter ofof just days designed the iconic Mercury 7 symbol, fashioning it into a lapel pin, presenting each astronaut with one on their first group visit to the plant in mid-September 1959.

Kris

Lou Chinal
Member

Posts: 1332
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007

posted 07-24-2007 01:20 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Lou Chinal   Click Here to Email Lou Chinal     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Kris-
Great story! I love it.
"Zero G and I feel fine" is a hard act to follow. But when it comes to classic lines from the space program, Scott did it.
-Lou

SpaceCat
Member

Posts: 151
From: Florida, US
Registered: May 2006

posted 07-24-2007 04:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SpaceCat     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks for noting the anniversary and relaying the story, Kris--
Just so happens at the moment I'm about half way through the Apogee Books history of the Atlas- a great 'warts and all' look at Convair getting our first ICBM designed, tested and through production. Their innovative technology and management certainly formed a backbone for all spaceflight efforts to this day.

Darron

All times are CT (US)

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