Just remembering

AZ Jim

AZ Jim

R.I.P. With Us In Spirit Only
Location
SURPRISE, ARIZONA
My days as a photographer with General Dynamics. Here is fellow photographer Bob Craft and me holding a piece of Atlas missile skin (ship # 103) which was John Glenns ride into space. The reason we had the skin (which was was recovered in Africa) was so scientists could study the meteor hits on it. That was an exciting period in my life. I was 25...In the photo I was on the right....

Jim w 109D skin.JPG
 

I would find that exciting too. I was fascinated by that period of space exploration.
I was a 14 yr old in high school when the first Sputnik satellite was launched (1957) and I was mad keen on science.
As a female in Australia my prospects in that regard were very limited. I became a science teacher.
 
I really liked the space program as it originally existed. Everything was so new and exciting, then. I'd bring my transistor radio to school, on mission days, and the teachers allowed me to give updates to the class, throughout the day.
 

It was an exciting period. I had a secret clearance so I saw some very interesting things. At that time General Dynamics had the only space booster, the Atlas. It was great.
 
That is really neat Jim. My hubby worked as a cost accountant for a company that had parts in the shuttle. Most likely he priced some items out. Once they ordered a valve of some sort for the crane they used for the shuttle and it didn't work. His company went to the site and found they had installed it upside down.
 
What a wonderful opportunity for you, Jim! You've seen some exciting times and if you have other stories you'd be willing to share, I'm sure many of us would be interested!
Years ago I applied for a research job with NASA in Huntsville. I didn't even get an interview, but it was sure an exciting prospect at the time. :jumelles:
 
Ruth n Jersey said:
That is really neat Jim. My hubby worked as a cost accountant for a company that had parts in the shuttle. Most likely he priced some items out. Once they ordered a valve of some sort for the crane they used for the shuttle and it didn't work. His company went to the site and found they had installed it upside down.
Click to expand...
Our government did THAT?? Why, I'm shocked, Rose! Shocked! :lofl:
 
Thanks for the glimpse into your past.

It sounds like a very interesting career to be able to get a glimpse of the space program from the inside at such a young age.

Your photo at 25 makes me think about how fast the years have flown by for all of us.

"Yesterday, when I was young the taste of life was sweet as rain upon my tongue..." - Charles Aznavour / Fred Ebb
 
That truly is exciting Jim, to be involved in the space programs. I even recognized you before you wrote which one was you.
 

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