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Author
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Topic: From NasaDepAdmn F GREGORY, Ksc Dir J KENNEDY
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capejeffs
Member Posts: 265
From: cape canaveral, fl, usa
Registered: Dec 2004
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posted February 12, 2005 05:20 PM
   
Though there are various sources available, "Acting" [ thanks for the VERY early discussion on this, to CollectSpace owner Robert Pearlman, and David & others ] NASA Administrator Fred Gregory has this direct quote on an earlier raised question about Dick Covey being the capcom for STS 51-L. Admn. Gregory explains that he was a capcom team lead for the launch of 51-L . . . .
"[ Sirs, ] I was on console during the Challenger disaster. I was the Lead Capsule Communicator sitting next to Dick Covey. For this mission, Dick was the communicator and I assisted him by gathering and passing weather information to him, handling issues that were not directly associated with the actual countdown, and as part of the role that I had as Lead Capcom, monitored the performance of Covey…though obviously he did not require supervision. Having a second Capcom on console, the role that I was playing was a standard procedure for both training and mission operations. Both Dick and I remained in Mission Control throughout the rest of the day as Jay Green, the Flight Director and the rest of the team attempted to determine, based on the information that was available, whether there could have been some action that we could have taken.... We also ran the contingency checklist that required records to be sealed, contingency forces to be deployed, notifications to be made, families to be isolated, etc. [ Sirs, ] it was a very bad day..." Space Coast individuals who were discussing this very sensitive, very emotional issue, and had in that spirit brought this topic to officials of Admn. Gregory's office, were moved by the rapid response directly from Admn. Fred Gregory himself. Regarding hopes for Gregory to become the full fledged chief of NASA, Col. Gregory began, "P.S. Thanks for your confidence..," and then went on to intimate that he felt a better choice might be found, also saying (perhaps hinting at the perspective & feelings of America's astronauts) that he liked being on the "inside."
I wonder if others feel that THIS would be a good man, an astronaut, a
likeable & rich man, a great role model, to stay as full chief of NASA, and if this could happen. Fred Gregory has been within these offices for a long period.
Must we have more extreme administrative credentials/political attributes?
See: www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum23/HTML/001414.html , prev. disc'n.
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Pleiades/cometstreams,Jan05 ."..When I consider the heavens..." Beautiful, from
wkly 'observe' sec. S.Seip. http://SKYandTELESCOPE.com/mm_images/7756.jpg
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[This message has been edited by capejeffs (edited February 21, 2005).] IP: Logged |
OV-105
Member Posts: 290
From: Ridgecrest, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted February 13, 2005 12:05 AM
The explains everything then with Mr. Gregory's comments during the memorial. It was just kind of weird to hear him say that after seeing all of the videos that day back in 1986 from the MCC of Dick Covey at the desk. When I got to meet Dick Covey in 1991 I was going to ask him to sign a STS-51L cover with 51L CapCom on it I could not do it.IP: Logged |
capejeffs
Member Posts: 265
From: cape canaveral, fl, usa
Registered: Dec 2004
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posted February 18, 2005 03:28 PM
Thanks again, Joe. I think your action above was the proper & admirable choice. I apologize to any readers for the long delay in finally adding the following items, and hope to post an item in upcoming days on one additional Space Coast gathering. Thanks go to Dir. Kennedy, and Admn. Gregory as well. With NO NEWSPAPER COVERAGE back during the time of the memorials (except 3 photos in Florida Today, including good photo of Bob Seik & wife), reading the Titusville Memorial post, only CollectSpace readers will recall that Dir. Kennedy had praised Admn. Gregory for what Kennedy described as Gregory's deep expression of emotion, during a previous NASA memorial at which Gregory was a keynote speaker. KSC Director James Kennedy provided a follow-up for CollectSpace visitors. There had been a mix-up on Dir. Kennedy's mentioning of Aaron Cohen's plaque related to the Apollo One tragedy. It was unclear whether it was as a youth back in 1967 that Kennedy had seen this plaque. Kennedy explained about this detail, and shared some other thoughts with us . . . ."Aaron Cohen was Director of JSC when speaking at a Leadership Class I attended, at Wallops Is training facility. He described.. “Ships in the harbor are safe, but that’s NOT what ships are made for” with such eloquence that I never forgot it and indeed, my children gave me a picture of a Ship in rough water with the same caption…. one of my pride & joys. I did visit my dad’s workplace(s) over the years. He was with RCA, with Convair, with Radiation (predecessor to Harris Corp) and also taught at FIT. Cannot recall who he worked for on Jan 27, 1967 but know he was part of the "family”. PS: Charlie Mars took me and my wife & mother on a tour of Titusville Memorials to Gemini/Mercury and I am buying a “brick” for my dad to permanently enscibe his name name in our community’s history. Thanks for your interest in my life/career." A couple of PERSONAL NOTES could be added, on the special qualities that could be observed in Dir. Kennedy's appearance. It was touching for him to choose to begin by saying he was proud of the show of emotion by "temporary" Admn. Gregory , and, though Sean O'Keefe was merely the outgoing Admn., Kennedy also took moments to praise O'Keefe. The audience would gladly have listened far longer, but Kennedy apologized that his remarks weren't more brief & pushed their last portion. He appeared as a genuine man, what some might more aptly call a "regular guy," perhaps -- a local man for the space center, having grown up here on the space coast. After his remarks he took time for a caring, one on one visit with an elderly ex-technician from KSC. But Director isn't Kennedy's 1st position at KSC. That would be as a co-op ed student in the early 70's, before rising to high positions elsewhere in NASA, and now coming full circle. To return & serve in the place of his youth, at this important time. [This message has been edited by capejeffs (edited February 21, 2005).] IP: Logged |
AscentFive
Member Posts: 62
From: usa
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted February 27, 2005 10:30 PM
We found a video. Its of Fred's serious talk
Go to www.video.msn.com , type his name in the search box, it will come up.IP: Logged | |
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