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Author
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Topic: Retrenched space workers
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Chris Dubbs
Member Posts: 145
From: Edinboro, PA USA
Registered: Nov 2004
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posted 10-12-2006 06:20 PM
   
Looking over a NASA Historical Data Book the other day. In talking about the post-Apollo budget cuts, it had this line. “Between 1969 and 1978, the number of NASA in-house employees was reduced by almost 10,000, or by about a third of what it was in 1969.”My question is, where did they all go? What did they do? You can’t unleash 10,000 rocket people on an economy without seeing some sort of impact. Were a lot hired by defense contractors? Were there a lot of start-up companies about this time doing space-related contract work?
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mzieg
Member Posts: 72
From: Seneca, PA USA
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-12-2006 07:35 PM
Well, there were a lot of over-qualified high school science & math teachers during that period - that accounted for some of them.mzieg ------------------
M Ziegler |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1512
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 10-12-2006 08:26 PM
The early 1970's were disastrous for the whole aerospace industry with Apollo winding down, Vietnam over, and the fuel crisis putting the squeeze on the airlines (the latter sounds like deja vu, doesn't it?). The industry folks were getting laid off as well as the NASA folks. It was bad enough that at least one aspiring aerospace engineer actually went into a different major just to have more job security. Fortunately he regained his senses after graduation...  |
Stephen Clemmons
Member Posts: 108
From: Wilmington, NC, New Hanover
Registered: Aug 2004
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posted 10-17-2006 11:05 AM
Good question.
Most of us that were laid off or furloughed in 1970 after Apollo 13, particular those in the technical field went into private industry.
In the months after being laid off, it was hard to get a good position because they said we were over qualified, besides there was no one else building rockets.
Most of the Engineers were picked up by Large companies all over the country.
I wound up a year or so later working for Brown and Root at the Brunswick County, NC Nuclear Plant. Many of my friends scattered to the winds, most going back home and getting local jobs.
Several of my buddies went into teaching at our local community college, and two went to work for General Electric Aircraft Divison in Wilmington.
Some of us still stay in touch, those of us that are still living.
Eventually, some companies found out that they could utilize our training and experience, leading me to become a Plant Construction Manager two years later. I declined the opportunity to go back to the Cape, instead spent the next thirty one years as a Project Superintendent building new industrial plants throughout the USA.
But I still missed the program. |
Sy Liebergot
Member Posts: 501
From: Pearland, Texas USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted 10-17-2006 01:24 PM
I just heard from one of the original NAA-Downey Apollo Trainng guys. They keep in touch through their website: http://www.apollotrainingteam.com/
Voice from the dim past, for sure.
Sy |
Lola Morrow
Member Posts: 40
From: Denver Co USA
Registered: Jun 2006
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posted 10-27-2006 01:00 AM
One of the guys meet with Nxon and was told early on that Nixon would be cutting back the Apollo launches. The Vietnam war was draining resoures and Quote "We can't afford the Vietnam war and the Space Program". Upon hearing this, the astronaut told a few of the guys who had prior job offers to take it before the word gets out and they would not be able to command the high salary offers. I was also told, "That you should be looking too as you have 3 kids to put thru college" and it was suggested that I look for a public relations job. "You would do well in that field".So with the guys help and recommendations, I landed a well paid position in Coral Gables, Florida. Some of the newer guys were not so lucky. Years later, one revealed to me that he became a tour bus driver. I also know that many of the engineers etc ended up as truck drivers for national moving vans companies. Seems there was an article, if I remember correctly, in the news that mentioned that many of the space workers worked gas stations etc... low level jobs. What a waste! Stephen and Sy were very lucky to land good positions and I'm sure there were others as well. But many, many more did not and were hurt financially but still proud of the space program and their efforts. I met several "space pioneers" down the road that relayed their sad stories to me. I'll address more of that in my book. |
dss65
Member Posts: 1156
From: Sandpoint, ID, USA
Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 10-27-2006 09:31 PM
"What a waste" is right. These people were not only national heroes, they were the very spearhead of humankind's pursuit of its destiny. They deserve to be revered as such.------------------
Don |
Jan Wiseman
New Member Posts: 3
From: Salisbury, MD
Registered: Oct 2006
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posted 11-01-2006 08:26 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Lola Morrow:
One of the guys meet with Nxon and was told early on that Nixon would be cutting back the Apollo launches. The Vietnam war was draining resoures and Quote "We can't afford the Vietnam war and the Space Program". Upon hearing this, the astronaut told a few of the guys who had prior job offers to take it before the word gets out and they would not be able to command the high salary offers. I was also told, "That you should be looking too as you have 3 kids to put thru college" and it was suggested that I look for a public relations job. "You would do well in that field".So with the guys help and recommendations, I landed a well paid position in Coral Gables, Florida. Some of the newer guys were not so lucky. Years later, one revealed to me that he became a tour bus driver. I also know that many of the engineers etc ended up as truck drivers for national moving vans companies. Seems there was an article, if I remember correctly, in the news that mentioned that many of the space workers worked gas stations etc... low level jobs. What a waste! Stephen and Sy were very lucky to land good positions and I'm sure there were others as well. But many, many more did not and were hurt financially but still proud of the space program and their efforts. I met several "space pioneers" down the road that relayed their sad stories to me. I'll address more of that in my book.
Can't wait to see your new book. I've heard that you have really great first-person stories from the 1960s!!
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