Touch Down

Touchdown of Apollo 11 had many unknowns for the first lunar landing. Dodging the craters and boulders on the moon to land on a firm surface without totally running out of fuel for the return to Earth was a breathtaking experience. The author recounts his press briefing to the world's journalists prior to the 1969 launch at Cape Kennedy, followed by how he became an aerospace engineer. Building a suit to protect the astronauts from the unknowns encountered in the extremes of space and on the lunar surface was an ongoing challenge. Details such as the effects of cosmic rays, thermal extremes and micro-meteoroids on the human body were addressed as they were discovered over the eight-year period following JFK's challenge. Key engineering changes to meet the new requirements for the space suit that had to be tested and implemented before each mission are described. Applications of the new technologies, materials and processes developed in the space programs adapted to industrial and consumer products are also delineated.

The author grew up on a farm in rural western Massachusetts. He worked his way through college, majoring in chemical engineering. A career in military, aerospace, government programs and industrial products followed, which included working at all levels of engineering and management. Because of his broad base in high performance materials and process techniques, he has extensive capabilities at resolving challenges in a variety of demanding applications. Recovering from a life-changing accident, he started a new career as a writer. By combining his diversified background and experience at solving problems, he was able to provide unique approaches to writing mysteries. Here, he describes the technological advances he made possible in aerospace and several diverse industries.