Stephen H. Coester

07-14-1941Date of Birth | Rockledge, FL

PROGRAMS:

Apollo ProgramApollo ProgramU.S. Space Shuttle Program

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