Topic: Ed Buckbee, Rocket Center director (1936-2026)
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 56368 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-06-2026 10:26 AM
It is with sadness that I note the death of Edward "Ed" Buckbee, the first director of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama and founder of U.S. Space Camp. He died on Sunday, April 5, 2026 at the age of 89.
An author, lecturer and space expert, Ed Buckee has been associated with the U.S. space program for four decades. Buckbee began his NASA career in 1959 when America's first Mercury astronauts were selected. He attended the launches of Alan Shepard and John Glenn and was present when the Apollo astronauts lifted-off for the moon landings.
In 1970, he was selected by Wernher von Braun to be the first director of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Buckbee assembled and managed what at one time was the world's largest space and rocket exhibition and founded the U.S. Space Camp and Aviation Challenge programs.
Retiring from the U.S. Space & Rocker Center in 1994, Buckbee continued to work as an advisor and consultant to NASA. He produced and hosted numerous space anniversary events acknowledging famous firsts in human space flight, honoring astronaut John Glenn and moonwalkers Alan Shepard, Alan Bean and Gene Cernan.
GACspaceguy Member
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posted 04-06-2026 11:11 AM
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Jeff Member
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posted 04-06-2026 11:24 AM
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Grounded! Member
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posted 04-06-2026 11:47 AM
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Kite Member
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posted 04-06-2026 11:54 AM
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Kevin T. Randall Member
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posted 04-06-2026 11:54 AM
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lspooz Member
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posted 04-06-2026 12:03 PM
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bthumble Member
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posted 04-06-2026 01:46 PM
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sts205cdr Member
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posted 04-06-2026 01:47 PM
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cddfspace Member
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posted 04-06-2026 02:21 PM
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MartinAir Member
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posted 04-06-2026 02:27 PM
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SkyMan1958 Member
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posted 04-06-2026 04:36 PM
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GT76 Member
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posted 04-06-2026 05:14 PM
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David Carey Member
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posted 04-06-2026 06:27 PM
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dss65 Member
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posted 04-06-2026 06:41 PM
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SpaceCadet1983 Member
Posts: 578 From: Pacific NW, United States Registered: May 2012
posted 04-06-2026 07:52 PM
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Blackarrow Member
Posts: 3953 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
posted 04-06-2026 09:02 PM
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tedc Member
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posted 04-06-2026 10:13 PM
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rjb1elec Member
Posts: 450 From: Merseyside, England Registered: Oct 2004
posted 04-07-2026 09:47 AM
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mode1charlie Member
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posted 04-07-2026 03:01 PM
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capoetc Member
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posted 04-07-2026 07:19 PM
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MSS Member
Posts: 1138 From: Europe Registered: May 2003
posted 04-08-2026 09:10 AM
Edward Odell RIP.
davidcwagner Member
Posts: 1188 From: Albuquerque, New Mexico Registered: Jan 2003
posted 04-08-2026 10:50 AM
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Philip Member
Posts: 6388 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Jan 2001
posted 04-09-2026 07:10 AM
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hlbjr Member
Posts: 605 From: Delray Beach Florida USA Registered: Mar 2006
posted 04-09-2026 04:09 PM
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Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 56368 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-09-2026 05:45 PM
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Visitation begins at 4:00 p.m.
Donbl Member
Posts: 56 From: Frederick, MD Registered: Jun 2013
posted 04-11-2026 01:33 PM
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MCroft04 Member
Posts: 1901 From: Smithfield, Me, USA Registered: Mar 2005
posted 04-12-2026 05:27 AM
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Altidude Member
Posts: 152 From: Registered: Jan 2016
posted 04-14-2026 08:18 PM
He was an incredible person and was the force behind the space center and space camp.
On a personal note, when he found out that I was interested in the NASA, he took the time to help me in my interest and introduced me to many of the Apollo astronauts, including Alan Shepard and Alan Bean (who both became mentors) and multiple others including the Apollo 11 crew. I still have the Apollo 11 portrait photo they signed for me hanging on my wall.
posted 04-06-2026 10:26 AM
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