PROGRAMS:

COMPANIES:

• Boeing
• McDonnell Douglas

LOCATIONS:

Florida, Virginia, and Japan

POSITIONS:

Quality Assurance Inspector

COMMENTS:

Began work with the McDonnell Douglas company in 1989 as a Quality Assurance Inspector on SPACELAB and other items that flew post 51L accident.  I worked on building equipment to go inside the modules, testing them, closing them for flight, lifting and taking them to the OPF’s for loading them into the shuttle.  I also worked with the Hubble people on their first mission to send the telescope into space.  Unbelievable!!  I began working at the SSPF when it was completed and worked with Russian counterparts to build a docking port for the shuttle to hook to Mir.  We then began, with a very small group, the initial setup for Space Station.  We worked with the first Node and PMA.  As time went on, I was used to offload aircraft that had modules and other equipment for the station.  I did build-up, testing, lifting, weighing, and finally securing into the canister for transportation to the pad.  We did the lifting of the canister to the pad, assisted in transfer from the canister to the pad, inspections, testing, and all other items necessary before it was put in the cargo bay.  Did testing again from the LCC.  Served on several launches from the LCC for the shuttle flights.  Was qualified on servicing satellites and did so mostly in Florida but went to other states also.  Worked with many foreign countries and made some friends for life.  Went to a tiny island off of Japan where they launch their rockets from and did some payload work and uploading in their spacecraft.  I could go on about my job out there but the best to say, it was an experience that not many people would have ever had and I thank the Lord for giving me the ability to do that kind of work.  Not bad for a guy that almost flunked geometry.  I was laid off after we has all of the payload from STS-135 was offloaded and back in the SSPF.  Quite a lot of us got the pink slip and it was a sad day.  I am now a volunteer guide for the Air Force museums where I tell stories about my job and about the early space program.  A great job and I visit ATLANTIS as much as possible and relive memories of days gone by.  I especially pay homage to the room that holds the items from the two crews that were lost and to the two pieces from the shuttles that did not return.  I look forward to hear about more medical breaks  from all the tests that are done on the station.  It has served mankind beyond belief!! My name is up in one of the modules so as it passes, I will always be a part of it.  To all the people on the ground, from all the countries, to the astronauts that work in space to build the Station and keep it going, I salute you.  We made something that FANTASTIC and a tribute to all mankind.