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Author
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Topic: Top 5 NASA managers during the Apollo program
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NukeGuy
Member Posts: 55
From: Irvine, CA USA
Registered: May 2014
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posted 11-28-2014 07:41 PM
  
Who would you include in a list of the top five NASA managers critical to the success of Apollo? My list (in no particular order): - George Mueller - All-up testing of the Saturn V.
- George Low - Nursed Apollo through the STG and recovered the Apollo Spacecraft program after Apollo 1.
- James Webb - Skillfully provided political support for Apollo.
- Joe Shea - Got the first manned Apollo to the launch pad.
- Samuel Philips - Responsible for significant behind-the-scenes troubleshooting for Apollo and Saturn.
Others that should be considered: von Braun, Chris Kraft, Rocco Petrone, Bob Gilruth.There could also be a list of NASA engineers and contractor engineers. Those could be another thread. |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 11-30-2014 03:03 AM
Where would you put Abe Silverstein? |
onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1310
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 11-30-2014 07:35 AM
And don't forget Jim McDivitt, who moved over to management after Apollo 9, and Dr. Kurt H. Debus, first director of the Kennedy Space Center from 1962-1974. |
Larry McGlynn
Member Posts: 1255
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 11-30-2014 02:13 PM
Robert Seamans: Deputy Administrator who made the decision to back LOR. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 2915
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 11-30-2014 03:41 PM
Perhaps Thomas O'Paine, the NASA Administrator following Webb, should be included along with (some already mentioned here) George Mueller, Sam Phillips, George Low, Chris Kraft, George Hage, Wernher von Braun, Robert Gilruth, John Clark, Chester Lee, Tom McMullen, George Chandler, James Humphreys, Ken Kleinknecht, Carroll Bolender, Charles Berry, Kurt Debus, Rocco Petrone, Charles Mathews, Lee James, Edmund O'Connor, R. O. Middleton, Deke Slayton, Gerald Truszynski, and David Jones, but there are others.... |
NukeGuy
Member Posts: 55
From: Irvine, CA USA
Registered: May 2014
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posted 11-30-2014 08:34 PM
It's tough (probably impossible) to limit the list to five. Abe Silverstein was certainly "present at the creation" of Apollo. However, once the program was underway, his role was somewhat diminished (correct me if I'm wrong).Seamans would be a great choice. All the other names tossed out would also be good choices. I was particularly intrigued to see Chuck Mathews name. Mathews stepped in when Gemini was in trouble and certainly can be given much credit for it's success. He was also involved in the early stages of what would be Flight Control. In Murray and Cox's Apollo, Mathews was the first choice to replace Joe Shea after Apollo 1. However, Mathews had just moved to Washington following Gemini and promised his wife that they would stay put for a while. Mathews deserves much more recognition than he received. | |
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