posted 10-07-2003 11:19 AM            

I just finished reading Sy Liebergot’s book and it was fantastic. Chris Kraft and Gene Kranz have written wonderful books but they were writing from a different perspective. They were writing as flight directors and managers. Sy’s book let’s us know what it was like to be a flight controller. This point of view is essential to fully understand what made Apollo work so well.

My only criticism of Apollo EECOM is at just over 200 pages it could have been longer. I would have liked more detail on the lunar missions as well as Skylab.

P.S. I had no idea that flight controllers would pull pranks on astronauts. Posting signs so the CAPCOM could find his way to his seat and then marking the seat with “front, back, left and right” so he’d know witch way to face! WOW!

posted 10-09-2003 10:23 AM               

I must confess to not having yet bought a copy of your book, but do intend to rectify that very soon! I believe it is available from a number of sources over here in the UK.

Just curious, the EECOM position aside, do you know if any of the other former controllers are writing or considering writing a book looking at the space programme from their perspective.

Which of the controllers positions do you think would have generated the best 'material' for a book?

Your thoughts appreciated

posted 10-09-2003 10:51 AM               

re other flight controller books: Hopefully, my friend Bob Legler, a former LM EPS Flight Controller recently retired and hopefully will now write his book. The LM flight controllers’ story has not been told, especially their heroics during Apollo 13, and Bob hopefully will recount the many anecdotes in his book. I have no idea at what stage he is. However, Bob is 76 and I have admonished to “get with it.” But that’s it, most all the former Apollo flight controllers are retired and moved away, and I’ve not heard of anyone else planning a book. So my “Apollo EECOM: Journey of a Lifetime” and Legler’s book may be all there will be. Sorry.

re which flight controller position would have generated the best book material?: why mine, of course! ;-)