Author
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Topic: Karl Kachigan, Atlas rocket engineer
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FFrench Member Posts: 3161 From: San Diego Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-21-2009 12:14 PM
The San Diego Union Tribune is reporting that Atlas engineer Karl Kachigan passed away in late December. Karl Kachigan was known as a perfectionist in the Atlas missile program at Convair, the aerospace contractor that designed and assembled the vehicle.Mr. Kachigan had been instrumental in solving a sloshing problem with volatile hydrogen propellants that earlier had led to several spectacular rocket failures. If any little flaw came to light before a launch, Mr. Kachigan would bring everything to a halt rather than risk a problem after liftoff. He did allow himself one superstitious practice as a final precaution: At exactly T-minus 18 seconds in the countdown, Mr. Kachigan would cross his fingers for luck. Mr. Kachigan of La Mesa became the chief engineer and director of the Atlas program – ultimately a division of General Dynamics – leading hundreds of engineers and hundreds of launches for the military, NASA and private companies. Mr. Kachigan died Dec. 29 at a hospice in Palm Desert. He was 78 and had been battling cancer and pulmonary fibrosis. |
Lou Chinal Member Posts: 1306 From: Staten Island, NY Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 01-21-2009 12:34 PM
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NovaRob Member Posts: 242 From: Tucson, Arizona, USA Registered: Nov 2008
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posted 01-21-2009 12:35 PM
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LCDR Scott Schneeweis New Member Posts: From: Registered:
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posted 01-21-2009 12:48 PM
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Delta7 Member Posts: 1505 From: Bluffton IN USA Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 01-21-2009 01:00 PM
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Henk Boshuijer Member Posts: 450 From: Netherlands Registered: May 2007
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posted 01-21-2009 02:11 PM
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dss65 Member Posts: 1156 From: Sandpoint, ID, USA Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 01-21-2009 09:11 PM
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randy Member Posts: 2176 From: West Jordan, Utah USA Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 01-22-2009 02:40 AM
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Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 01-22-2009 03:31 AM
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ea757grrl Member Posts: 729 From: South Carolina Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 01-22-2009 05:55 AM
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kr4mula Member Posts: 642 From: Cinci, OH Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 01-22-2009 12:31 PM
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Lunar rock nut Member Posts: 911 From: Oklahoma city, Oklahoma U.S.A. Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 01-23-2009 05:25 AM
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NavySpaceFan Member Posts: 655 From: Norfolk, VA Registered: May 2007
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posted 01-23-2009 06:06 AM
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