Stephen H. Coester
07-14-1941 | Rockledge, FL
PROGRAMS:
COMPANIES:
LOCATIONS:
KSC CCAFS
POSITIONS:
Apollo Saturn V LH2/RP1 Propellant Loading; General Dynamics-Convair Centaur Pneumatics; Space Shuttle Main Propulsion Supervisor and System Specialist
COMMENTS:
Apollo Program: LH2 and RP1 Propellant Loading on all Saturn Vs.
Space Shuttle: CMPS for STS-1 and subsequent to STS-88. Supervisor of Main Propulsion System. MPS System Specialist.
I tested and launched rockets at Kennedy Space Center and Canaveral Air Force Station from 1964 until 1997 for Boeing, General Dynamics, Rockwell and Boeing again. . My specialties were propulsion and pneumatics, as well as the associated electronics, instrumentation and computer software. In 1972, I got my MBA from Florida State University. I worked on the Apollo/Saturn V, Skylab, Atlas-Centaur, Titan-Centaur, and Space Shuttle programs. Biggest work thrill was launching Apollo 11 to the moon and the biggest challenge was preparing the Shuttle Main Propulsion System for its first launch. I was the Supervisor of Space Shuttle Main Propulsion Engineering and CMPS in the Firing Room. After contract transition I became a MPS System Specialist. I helped to launch 115 missions from the launch control firing room or blockhouse during my career. I retired in 1997.
I received the Manned Spaceflight Safety Award for finding and resolving a potentially catastrophic problem on the Space Shuttle. The story is at http://www.usna63.org/tradition/memories/SpaceShuttle.pdf
In this Apollo Firing room photo I am the second one in. During Apollo 11 launch countdown we experienced a serious liquid hydrogen leak on the launch tower. The story of how I helped solve that problem and preserve the 7/16/69 liftoff is found here: http://www.usna63.org/tradition/memories/Apollo11.pdf.
The launch countdown for STS-51L, the Challenger disaster is the only Space Shuttle launch that I was not in the Firing Room. I was, however, deeply involved in the post explosion investigation. My perspective is at http://www.usna63.org/tradition/memories/SpaceShuttleChallengerDisaster.pdf