Author
|
Topic: Don Black, Gemini s/c mechanic (1923-2015)
|
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 11-16-2015 07:50 PM
Don Black, who worked as a spacecraft mechanic in the Gemini white room and later on the Saturn V rockets, has died, the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation reported on Monday (Nov. 16) It is with saddened hearts that we share with you the news that Don Black, Gemini White Room Mechanic (Experimental Mechanic) and a long-time friend of ASF has passed away. He was a faithful participant and contributor in ASF's Autograph and Memorabilia Shows and auctions. He will forever be remembered for his work in the space program. Please join us in our condolences to his family and many, many close friends. Black, who was a collectSPACE member since 2008, was profiled in 2012 by The Ledger in Lakeland, Florida: A licensed pilot and aircraft mechanic and aircraft-engine technician, he went to work for McDonnell Douglas in the 1960s and moved to Titusville with Louise and their three children.There, he worked on the Gemini space program from Gemini 6 to Gemini 12 as a spacecraft mechanic. Gemini was between the Mercury program that sent the first American into space and the Apollo program that included the moon landings. Much of his work was in the White Room, a sterile environment from which astronauts were placed into the capsule for launch. "Yes, we wore those white bunny suits," he said. At the end of the Gemini program, Black was assigned to another McDonnell Douglas project in Maryland, working out a way to retrofit the F-4 jet fighter with Rolls Royce engines for the Royal Air Force and Navy. As he was leaving the Kennedy Space Center again at the beginning of the Apollo program, Black began collecting signatures of people he worked with... Years later, Black said, he auctioned off the autographs in a fundraiser for the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. ...upon completion of the [F-4] project, Black returned to the Kennedy Space Center to work on the massive Saturn V rockets used to launch the Apollo capsules. |
randy Member Posts: 2176 From: West Jordan, Utah USA Registered: Dec 1999
|
posted 11-16-2015 08:42 PM
. |
Jurg Bolli Member Posts: 977 From: Albuquerque, NM Registered: Nov 2000
|
posted 11-16-2015 08:51 PM
. |
SpaceAholic Member Posts: 4437 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 11-16-2015 08:52 PM
. |
David Carey Member Posts: 782 From: Registered: Mar 2009
|
posted 11-16-2015 09:36 PM
. |
David C Member Posts: 1015 From: Lausanne Registered: Apr 2012
|
posted 11-17-2015 01:30 AM
. |
mode1charlie Member Posts: 1169 From: Honolulu, HI Registered: Sep 2010
|
posted 11-17-2015 02:35 AM
. |
capoetc Member Posts: 2169 From: McKinney TX (USA) Registered: Aug 2005
|
posted 11-17-2015 04:01 AM
. |
minipci Member Posts: 365 From: London, UK Registered: Jul 2009
|
posted 11-17-2015 06:27 AM
. |
oly Member Posts: 905 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
|
posted 11-17-2015 07:11 AM
. |
Jeff Member Posts: 474 From: Fayetteville, NC, USA Registered: May 2009
|
posted 11-17-2015 07:16 AM
. |
Lunar rock nut Member Posts: 911 From: Oklahoma city, Oklahoma U.S.A. Registered: Feb 2007
|
posted 11-17-2015 07:48 AM
. |
Joel Katzowitz Member Posts: 808 From: Marietta GA USA Registered: Dec 1999
|
posted 11-17-2015 09:12 AM
. |
fredtrav Member Posts: 1673 From: Birmingham AL Registered: Aug 2010
|
posted 11-17-2015 09:53 AM
. |
mach3valkyrie Member Posts: 719 From: Albany, Oregon Registered: Jul 2006
|
posted 11-17-2015 10:27 AM
. |
Kite Member Posts: 831 From: Northampton UK Registered: Nov 2009
|
posted 11-17-2015 12:52 PM
. RIP |
JohnPaul56 Member Posts: 180 From: Montclair, NJ, USA Registered: Apr 2010
|
posted 11-17-2015 05:22 PM
. |
star51L Member Posts: 340 From: Vilano Beach, FL, USA Registered: Aug 2002
|
posted 11-17-2015 06:02 PM
. |
Ronpur Member Posts: 1211 From: Brandon, Fl Registered: May 2012
|
posted 11-17-2015 06:23 PM
. |
astrobar1 Member Posts: 112 From: Mishawaka, IN, USA Registered: Apr 2005
|
posted 11-18-2015 06:18 AM
. |
GACspaceguy Member Posts: 2476 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
|
posted 11-18-2015 08:11 AM
. |
Gilbert Member Posts: 1328 From: Carrollton, GA USA Registered: Jan 2003
|
posted 11-18-2015 03:05 PM
. |
dss65 Member Posts: 1156 From: Sandpoint, ID, USA Registered: Mar 2003
|
posted 11-18-2015 07:36 PM
. |
hlbjr Member Posts: 475 From: Delray Beach Florida USA Registered: Mar 2006
|
posted 11-22-2015 05:11 AM
. |
rgarner Member Posts: 1193 From: Shepperton, United Kingdom Registered: Mar 2012
|
posted 11-22-2015 05:42 AM
. |
astro-nut Member Posts: 946 From: Washington, IL Registered: Jan 2006
|
posted 11-28-2015 10:35 AM
. |