Letter from General Ben I. Funk to Dr. Calvin D. Fowler (May 14, 1963)
Alternative Title
Letter from Gen. Funk to Dr. Fowler (May 14, 1963)
Subject
Cape Canaveral (Fla.)
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (Fla.)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (U.S.)
NASA
Air Force
Project Mercury (U.S.)
Description
After the successful completion of the final manned Mercury-Atlas flight (MA-9), General Ben I. Funk (b. 1913), who was the U.S. Air Force general in charge of manned rocket development, sent this letter of commendation to Dr. Calvin D. Fowler, who was the manager and the Launch Conductor for Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14 (LC-14) on the final three Project Mercury flights. Dr. Fowler was tasked with pushing the button in the blockhouse to initiate the rocket's ignition. He was also responsible for the rocket's preparation and safety. Astronauts Scott Carpenter (1925-2013), Wally Schirra (1923-2007), and Gordon Cooper (1927-2004) successfully completed their missions because of Dr. Fowler's General Dynamics/Astronautics team preparation.
Creator
Funk, Ben Ivan
Source
Original 1-page typewritten letter from Ben I. Funk to Dr. Calvin D. Fowler, May 14, 1963: Private Collection of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.
"Project Mercury Overview." John F. Kennedy Space Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration. http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/history/mercury/mercury-overview.htm.
Document Item Type Metadata
Original Format
1-page typewritten letter on Headquarters Space Systems Division, Air Force Systems Command, United States Air Force letterhead
Major General Ben Ivan Funk Presents Award Citations to T. J. Joseph O'Malley and Dr. Calvin D. Fowler
Alternative Title
Maj. Gen. Funk Presents Award to O'Malley and Dr. Fowler
Subject
Cape Canaveral (Fla.)
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (Fla.)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (U.S.)
NASA
Air Force
Description
Major General Ben Ivan Funk (1913-2012), of the U.S. Air Force, presents citations noting service to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) space program to aerospace engineer T. J. Joseph O'Malley and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14 (LC-14) Manager Dr. Calvin D. Fowler. Photographed, from left to right, is O'Malley, Maj. Gen. Funk, and Dr. Fowler.
Source
Original black and white photographic print: Private Collection of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.
"MAJOR GENERAL BEN IVAN FUNK." U.S. Air Force. http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/Biographies/Display/tabid/225/Article/105000/major-general-ben-ivan-funk.aspx.
Transcript
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]]>https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/6393Sigma 7, into orbit on October 3, 1962. Mercury-Atlas 8 (MA-8) was the fifth manned space mission and was launched as part of Project Mercury.General Dynamics Astronautics, the firm which conducted the launch, had the key gold-plated and engraved with the following message: "Wally Schirra, MA-8 Orbital Launch, 10-3-62 7:15 a.m." The opposite side of the key stated: "Atlas, Launch Console Arming Key, Mercury Sigma 7, General Dynamics Astronautics."]]>2015-11-30T16:04:35+00:00
Dublin Core
Title
Schirra Presented with Launch Key from Atlas Crew
Alternative Title
Schirra Presented with Launch Key from Atlas Crew
Subject
Cape Canaveral (Fla.)
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (Fla.)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (U.S.)
NASA
Atlas (Missile)
Astronauts--United States
Project Mercury (U.S.)
Description
A newspaper article and photograph showing Dr. Cal Fowler (1929-2013), on the left, presenting the launch key to astronaut Wally Schirra (1923-2007) Dr. Fowler, the Launch Conductor at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS)'s Launch Complex 14 (LC-14) in Cape Canaveral, Florida, used the key to launch Schirra's spacecraft, Sigma 7, into orbit on October 3, 1962. Mercury-Atlas 8 (MA-8) was the fifth manned space mission and was launched as part of Project Mercury.General Dynamics Astronautics, the firm which conducted the launch, had the key gold-plated and engraved with the following message: "Wally Schirra, MA-8 Orbital Launch, 10-3-62 7:15 a.m." The opposite side of the key stated: "Atlas, Launch Console Arming Key, Mercury Sigma 7, General Dynamics Astronautics."
Source
Original newspaper article, 1962: Private Collection of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.
"Mercury Atlas 8." National Space Science Data Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration. http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1962-052A.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (U.S.)
NASA
Page, George
Description
Dr. Cal Fowler (1929-2013), Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS)'s Launch Complex 14 (LC-14) Manager, accepting the Sapley Award for the "Best (Safest Complex during 1962)" on January 23, 1963. Photographed with him, from the left to right, are Ned Mullins, Complex Foreman; an unidentified Sapley representative; Jim Stackey, Complex engineers; George Page, Missile engineers; Dr. Fowler; and B. G. MacNabb, Operations Manager.
Source
Original black and white photographic print, January 23, 1963: Private Collection of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.