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Topic: Bill Fink, Apollo LM PGNS (1933-2020)
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Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 44359 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-15-2020 05:27 PM
William Fink, an Apollo flight controller who worked on the lunar module primary guidance, navigation and control system (PGNS), died on May 2, 2020. He was 86. He was one of 150 Air Force members assigned to duty with NASA in 1968 in support of the space program. Bill worked in flight operations for six Apollo mission from 1968 and 1971. His role in the Apollo 11 mission earned him the Air Force Commendation Medal for outstanding achievement as a flight controller. His efforts included monitoring the primary guidance system for the lunar landing module and providing technical support as needed to the flight director.In the second to last duty assignment in the Air Force, Bill was assigned to the Air Staff Headquarters at the Pentagon with the primary responsibility for long range planning and coordination of major USAF space programs for intercontinental warning, communications and Air Force participation in the NASA Space Shuttle program. Bill retired from the Air Force after 22 years in 1978, but he did not retire for good. Bill spent a brief stint as a corporate pilot and then returned to NASA as a contractor with Ford Aerospace and United Space Alliance for another 20 years. During this second time at NASA, Bill worked in the Flight Director's office as a Senior Software Engineer and as a Payload Safety Specialist. |
ManInSpace Member Posts: 162 From: Brooklin, ON Canada Registered: Feb 2018
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posted 05-15-2020 05:29 PM
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capoetc Member Posts: 2205 From: McKinney TX (USA) Registered: Aug 2005
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SkyMan1958 Member Posts: 906 From: CA. Registered: Jan 2011
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randy Member Posts: 2272 From: West Jordan, Utah USA Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 05-15-2020 08:12 PM
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SpaceCadet1983 Member Posts: 270 From: Pacific NW, United States Registered: May 2012
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GACspaceguy Member Posts: 2569 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 05-16-2020 05:29 AM
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LM1 Member Posts: 708 From: New York, NY Registered: Oct 2010
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dss65 Member Posts: 1192 From: Sandpoint, ID, USA Registered: Mar 2003
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c670cj New Member Posts: 8 From: Renton, Washington Registered: Jul 2016
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posted 05-19-2020 08:33 AM
Knew Mr. Fink and his son Billy from El Lago days. He was a great man who loved his family more than anything. He worked tirelessly to ensure that his son Billy grew up knowing he was loved and accepted and as a result, Billy had a wonderful and full life. His family and the love he shared with them was his crowning achievement. |
Gilbert Member Posts: 1354 From: Carrollton, GA USA Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 05-19-2020 12:17 PM
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Madon_space Member Posts: 673 From: uk Registered: Sep 2002
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mode1charlie Member Posts: 1207 From: Honolulu, HI Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 05-19-2020 02:42 PM
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capoetc Member Posts: 2205 From: McKinney TX (USA) Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 05-19-2020 11:41 PM
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