Met Gene Kranz today

[Tex_Mike]

I was fortunate enough to meet Gene Kranz today.
My Bro-in-law goes to church with Gene and he invited us on a tour of Johnson Space Center. I can tell you that there is nothing like having Gene Kranz give you a personal tour of NASA. Other than meeting Gene the coolest thing was being able to take a picture with him standing behind the "Flight Director" console in the old mission control room. That is one picture I will frame and keep forever.

I was totally impressed with this man. He is 80 years old and spits out facts and figures like a 30 year old. The guy is amazing. He had stories from mercury missions all the way through shuttle missions. I was able to get a pretty good lessons on rocket engine design when we toured the Saturn V.
I also learned a bit about how to break the sound barrier in a F-86. Now that was an unexpected conversation!

 

[Brad Z]

Now that's pretty cool. Was he wearing a white vest too?

 

[comanchepilot]

Sierra Hotel

 

[LDJones]

Now that's pretty cool. Was he wearing a white vest too?

I think his wife made him one for each mission. Met him a few years ago at a corporate event. A couple years before that the company had brought in Jim Lovell for a corporate retreat. That was an experience, too.

 

[Doggtyred]

I worked for his daughter in healthcare for many years.. lots of stories told in the office.. met him a few times.. but have to admit I have NOT gotten the guided tour..

And lest anyone think I'm dropping names, I'm just a face in a crowd to him.

 

[dukeblue219]

Wow, what an incredible opportunity! Very jealous.

 

[RussR]

He also wrote an autobiography, "Failure is Not An Option". Highly recommended. A great look into lots of behind-the-scenes action at NASA.

 

[nddons]

He also wrote an autobiography, "Failure is Not An Option". Highly recommended. A great look into lots of behind-the-scenes action at NASA.

I was just going to come back to this thread asking if he wrote a book. Thanks for answering my question!

 

[airguy]

He also wrote an autobiography, "Failure is Not An Option". Highly recommended. A great look into lots of behind-the-scenes action at NASA.

Second that - I just finished reading it last week, excellent book, covers a lot of the "behind-the-scenes" stuff for the early space program.

 

[Tex_Mike]

I was just going to come back to this thread asking if he wrote a book. Thanks for answering my question!

Gene was signing a stack of books after our tour. I am pretty sure they will be for sale in the gift shop. You might be able to give Space Center Houston a call and get a signed copy.

 

[wby0nder]

very very cool

 

[DavidWhite]

Gene Kranz and my grandfather were friends - I met him briefly at his funeral but didn't at the time understand who I was meeting.

 

[docmirror]

I've met him twice. Once with my kids when he gave the Apollo 13 revisited talk. I have a pic with my kids and Gene from that trip. I also met him when he spoke at our convention about 10 years ago. Being a pilot, I asked if I could stay after the event and we spoke briefly. Super nice guy, and willing to spend the time with almost anyone.

He can be booked to speak through the agency for a modest fee.