The following image shows Rocketdyne contractors at KSC at a “Thank You” ceremony after the ASTP launch. Following the picture is a list of the individuals’ names.
If you feel that any of the people in the picture are incorrectly identified, please contact us, either by email (see the floating tab on the left side of the page) or by the online comments (see the bottom of the page). Include the number as well as the name. For instance, “1. is Arnold Schwartzennegger.”
Rocketdyne LVO Contractors
From left to right, the contractors are,
- NASA Paul Donnelly
- NASA Dr. Hans Gruene
- ROC Pete Rowland (F-1)
- NASA Isom “Ike” Rigell
- ROC Boyd Anderson (J-2)
- ROC James Jordan
- ROC Roscoe Nicholson (Base Manager)
- ROC John Pykiet
- ROC Andrew Kennedy
- ROC Al Lenz (J-2)
- NASA Walt Kapyran
Happy to see Roscoe Nicolson Rockedyne Base Manager of Mississippi Test Facility from 1966 till 1969!!!
This was for the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP), a joint mission between the USA and Russia, whose purpose was to lessen tensions between the two countries and to test out possible rescue scenarios. The photo was taken in July of 1975, after the launch.
Paul Donnelly was the Test Director for the project. Dr. Hans Gruene was Director of Launch Vehicle Operations (LVO) and was one of the Germans who came over with Dr. Von Braun. Ike Rigel was the Assistant Launch Director. Walt Kapyran was the Launch Director. The “F-1” and “J-2” mentioned above were the engines that the individuals worked on.
Thank you for the information. I dont suppose there is a record of the names of all the people in the photo?
I have a framed photograph similar to the one here but mine has some 80 people in it. The individuals in your photo are in this one too. Can you tell me more about it? Dates? People in it? Anything?