Gene Kranz

NASA Flight Director and manager

Eugene Francis "Gene" Kranz (born August 17, 1933) is an American aerospace engineer. He was a NASA Flight Director and manager. Kranz was NASA's second Chief Flight Director. He was in charge of the Gemini and Apollo programs. He was born in Toledo, Ohio.

Gene Kranz
Kranz c. 2005
Born
Eugene Francis Kranz

(1933-08-17) August 17, 1933 (age 90)
NationalityAmerican
Alma materSaint Louis University's Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology, B.S. 1954
Occupation(s)Flight director during Gemini and Apollo programs; Director of NASA Mission Operations
Years active1960–1994
EmployerNASA (Retired)
Known for
PredecessorChris Kraft (first Lead Flight Director)
SpouseMarta Cadena
Children6
ParentLeo Peter Kranz (father)
Awards

Kranz is a recipient of a Presidential Medal of Freedom, given in 1970 by President Richard Nixon.[1]

In 2010, Kranz was listed as the #2 most popular space hero by the Space Foundation.[2]

References change

  1. "Remarks on Presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Apollo 13 Mission Operations Team in Houston. | The American Presidency Project". www.presidency.ucsb.edu.
  2. "Space Foundation Survey Reveals Broad Range of Space Heroes". Archived from the original on 2012-07-23.