posted 08-16-2020 03:28 PM               

There simply wasn't anyone better at solving complex engineering issues than Don Arabian. Don pursued every problem with a tireless energy until he found the correct/best solution, and he exhibited that skill as a vital player in the U.S. space program from its beginning. Don was a great guy who had a great life, and his contributions to the success of human space flight will always be remembered.

posted 08-18-2020 12:20 PM               

As a young engineer in the early 1950s, Don joined NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics), the forerunner to NASA. He had a long and distinguished career as a senior NASA engineer, working on all the major U.S. manned space programs from Mercury through Apollo.

He headed the Test Division at Johnson Space Center and was Chief of the Mission Evaluation Room (MER) responsible for solving in-flight problems throughout the Apollo Program. Don and the "Mer-men" as they liked to refer to themselves are best known for solving the problems on Apollo 13 that brought that crew home safely.