Highways Into Space: A first-hand account of the beginnings of the human space program by Glynn S. Lunney
Authors: Glynn S. Lunney
Tags: General Non-Fiction
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They were then negotiated with the ground systems organization for implementation at the Goddard Space Flight center. Before that Center was fully open for business, their contractor, IBM, was using a computer system seen through the front windows of an office on Pennsylvania Avenue between the Capitol and the White House. Eventually, GSFC housed the computing system for all of the launch and orbital mechanics processing in support of the MCC at the Cape. And this was our beginning in learning how to use this new technology – computers – in our control center. And later, when the time came, John supported me for the flight dynamics officer position, first at Bermuda and later at the MCC at the Cape, even though it meant I would transfer to a different branch from his. Not all managers are so kindly disposed.
The mission analysis, or planning, function was an early incubator for the flight dynamics operator positions. John’s deputy, Carl Huss, became the first console “Retro.” Carl worked that position for all the Redstone and Atlas flights and set the standards for that position, passing them on to John Llewellyn, starting with MA-7. And that was an interesting process to watch. Carl was Mr. Rigorous and John, for all his desire to pursue advanced degrees, was not. By the time preparations for Gemini began in earnest, Carl’s duties as a manager of the mission analysis were such that he could not also serve as a console operator. John Llewellyn moved from a remote site capsule communicator to a Retro-in-training during the manned orbital Mercury flights.
The re-entry analysis I started with lead to trajectory studies of the retro fire and entry phase of a mission as the spacecraft was returned from orbit to the earth. This return-to-earth function became an integral part of the two and, later, three console operator positions that supported the flight dynamics decision-making in MCC then, and to the present day. It used the call sign “Retro.” By this time, our studies included the launch phase of the Redstone and Atlas launch vehicles, which boosted the Mercury spacecraft into orbit. This brought me into the world of launch vehicle trajectory, reliability of our launch vehicles, launch phase monitoring as it might be done from a control center and the ground-based guidance system that was used for the Atlas vehicle.
John Llewellyn
John S. Llewellyn started with STG in about December 1958. I write these notes about John fully realizing that I can hardly do justice to his story. John is a larger-than- life character and the preeminent legend in the ranks of early (and probably all) of flight operations controllers. There are more John Llewellyn stories than any other ten guys combined. Just to give you an example of one of John’s stories, it goes as follows. When John was going to William & Mary, he was married to Olga and had two daughters, Lane and Vivien. John was sent on assignment to the grocery store and, on the way, ran into his drinking buddies from school. They were headed to Florida where the sun was shining and they intended to spend several days there. They invited John to go along, and so he did. He did not think to call Olga at any time during this jaunt. He was just AWOL from the family for the next few days. Somehow he survived his return.
John was born and raised in the Tidewater region of Virginia, in the small town of Dare. He grew up boating on the Yorktown River, helping his dad with the farm and loving the game of football. His mom was a schoolteacher and emphasized that point of view on his upbringing.
Before college, John had volunteered to serve his country in the United States Marine Corps. His service put an indelible stamp on this big, strong, gung ho soldier and, as the wheel of history turned, John found himself in far North Korea, and soon at a place called the Chosin Reservoir. John never did talk at all about his experiences in Korea, but like the rest of the 1st Marine
The mission analysis, or planning, function was an early incubator for the flight dynamics operator positions. John’s deputy, Carl Huss, became the first console “Retro.” Carl worked that position for all the Redstone and Atlas flights and set the standards for that position, passing them on to John Llewellyn, starting with MA-7. And that was an interesting process to watch. Carl was Mr. Rigorous and John, for all his desire to pursue advanced degrees, was not. By the time preparations for Gemini began in earnest, Carl’s duties as a manager of the mission analysis were such that he could not also serve as a console operator. John Llewellyn moved from a remote site capsule communicator to a Retro-in-training during the manned orbital Mercury flights.
The re-entry analysis I started with lead to trajectory studies of the retro fire and entry phase of a mission as the spacecraft was returned from orbit to the earth. This return-to-earth function became an integral part of the two and, later, three console operator positions that supported the flight dynamics decision-making in MCC then, and to the present day. It used the call sign “Retro.” By this time, our studies included the launch phase of the Redstone and Atlas launch vehicles, which boosted the Mercury spacecraft into orbit. This brought me into the world of launch vehicle trajectory, reliability of our launch vehicles, launch phase monitoring as it might be done from a control center and the ground-based guidance system that was used for the Atlas vehicle.
John Llewellyn
John S. Llewellyn started with STG in about December 1958. I write these notes about John fully realizing that I can hardly do justice to his story. John is a larger-than- life character and the preeminent legend in the ranks of early (and probably all) of flight operations controllers. There are more John Llewellyn stories than any other ten guys combined. Just to give you an example of one of John’s stories, it goes as follows. When John was going to William & Mary, he was married to Olga and had two daughters, Lane and Vivien. John was sent on assignment to the grocery store and, on the way, ran into his drinking buddies from school. They were headed to Florida where the sun was shining and they intended to spend several days there. They invited John to go along, and so he did. He did not think to call Olga at any time during this jaunt. He was just AWOL from the family for the next few days. Somehow he survived his return.
John was born and raised in the Tidewater region of Virginia, in the small town of Dare. He grew up boating on the Yorktown River, helping his dad with the farm and loving the game of football. His mom was a schoolteacher and emphasized that point of view on his upbringing.
Before college, John had volunteered to serve his country in the United States Marine Corps. His service put an indelible stamp on this big, strong, gung ho soldier and, as the wheel of history turned, John found himself in far North Korea, and soon at a place called the Chosin Reservoir. John never did talk at all about his experiences in Korea, but like the rest of the 1st Marine
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