Jack King

Legendary Countdown Preceded the First Moon Landing Mission

By Bob Granath | February 8, 2024

A countdown first was used as part of a rocket’s launch to the Moon in the 1929 science-fiction movie “Frau im Mond” (Woman in the Moon). Ironically, a countdown led to the voyage of Neil Armstrong, Mike Collins and Buzz Aldrin completing the first mission to actually land humans on the Moon 40 years later. The day Apollo 11 lifted off on its extraordinary flight, July 16, 1969, hundreds of millions on every continent around the world watched and listened on live television to what became the most famous countdown.

Veteran Communicators Honored with ‘Chroniclers’ Recognition

By Bob Granath | May 1, 2023

Three veteran space program communicators recently were honored at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center for their contributions delivering U.S. space exploration news and information to the American people and the world. During the May 1, 2023 ceremony at the Florida Spaceport’s News Center, the names of Bob Granath, Red Huber and Mark Kramer were added to the facility’s “Chroniclers wall” — a communicators’ “hall of fame.”

Gemini IV: What’s it Like to Walk in Space?

By Bob Granath | October 1, 2019

Building on the success of the first piloted Gemini mission, NASA prepared to launch its most ambitions flight to date – Gemini IV. During June 1965, two astronauts would not only stay in orbit four days, one would attempt America’s first spacewalk. It was another example of advancing technology enabling new avenues of exploration.

Early Project Mercury Media Event Ends with Astronaut Prank

By Bob Granath | July 30, 2019

In the summer of 1969, the voice of Jack King was immortalized as he provided the countdown for the liftoff for the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission. He was selected as the first chief of Public Information at the Florida spaceport in 1960. During a news media event just prior to the flight of America’s first person in space, King was witness to a prank by one of NASA’s Project Mercury astronauts.

Apollo 4 was First-Ever Launch from Kennedy Space Center

By Bob Granath | July 2, 2019

Near the end of 1967, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center experienced the roar of a rocket from Launch Complex 39 for the first time. The 363-foot-tall blasted off, shaking the ground and surrounding buildings.

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