posted 03-25-2024 09:30 AM               

George W.S. Abbey, 1932-2024

Our devoted father, mentor, guidepost, and hero, George W. S. Abbey, passed away last night after an illness. He was 91.

He has been called the father of modern spaceflight, but we called him Dad, Grampa, and Uncle George. He was a quiet man, brilliant, humble, and very private. The world will be so much emptier without him. He had hundreds of friends and associates from all over the world who will miss him. His long life was notable for accomplishments as a pilot, engineer, manager, educator, and father.

Born in Seattle in 1932, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1954, then served in the Air Force, where he became a helicopter pilot and engineer. His career in spaceflight began with the Dyna-Soar program in 1959, but truly blossomed with his assignment to NASA in Houston in late 1964. He would go on to make major contributions to the Apollo program before moving into leadership at the Johnson Space Center.

There, beginning in 1976, he served as director of flight operations, leading the selection of America's first Shuttle astronauts — and several subsequent classes — through the triumphant first flights in the program as well as the tragic Challenger accident.

In 1987 he transferred to NASA Headquarters in Washington D.C., where he served in key roles in human spaceflight, also working on The Synthesis Group, charting future paths for America's space programs, and on the National Space Council.

He returned to Johnson Space Center in 1994, first as deputy director, then director, leading the development and launch of the International Space Station.

Following his retirement from NASA in 2003, he became Space Fellow at the James A. Baker Institute at Rice University while assisting with the development of charter schools and other educational institutions.

He was a Fellow of Swansea University in Wales, his mother's home town. He brought Texas Longhorns back to Johnson's Space Center.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, he was a man of deep faith, fond of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, classic cars, Celtic music attending the annual festival in Brittany, fine wines, and friendships.

He is survived by his five children, his eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and by so many whose space careers he launched and nurtured.