Gene Kranz's personally-owned and -used spiral-bound NASA journal, 8.75 x 11, extensively used by Kranz as Flight Control Division chief at Houston's Manned Spacecraft Center from February 26th to June 16th, 1970. Consisting of handwritten meeting notes and agendas for the Flight Control Division, the journal covers a three-and-half-month period, and is intensively annotated in various colored ink by Kranz, who adds his surname in felt tip to the lower right of the front cover, which he has labeled: "Flight Control Division, 2/26/70 to 6/16/70, File." Of particular significance is the timeframe of the journal, which aligns with the Apollo 13 mission that took place between April 11-17, 1970. Additionally, the journal expounds on a variety of topics, including: various task and staff reviews, the ALSEP (Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package) and LCRU (Lunar Communications Relay Unit), a debriefing of Apollo 13 operations, a proposal for Apollo 14 simulation, the creation of the lunar rover system, and the status of the nascent Skylab project.
A small selection of the notes include:
March 16: "Edwards working on the Interface with the P. I.'s. Lunney—March 24th Tuesday, Flag, Suitcase, Griffin A-14,—Change roles for descent to establish limits for landability versus abortability."
March 23: "Proposal for the Shuttle Program office—needs summarizing…After A-13 need review LM LO level & say how we will use for A-14 & subsequent. Action s/b at Splash & 1 month."
April 27: "Briefing by ADA on the Cryo tank fixes—4 options & fact that we feel we need a cross gauging system. Note: we should address ourselves toward looking at similar situations in other systems…We are pressing on for Oct Launch to Littrow—GLEP Mtg is sked for Thurs & will try & resolve Fra Mauro/etc."
June 10: "Windler reviewed A-13 Action items for debriefing, see list on clipboard—…Skylab Data Mgmt., MSFC has taken FSD position that we will perform all data reduction…brief Bean on ATMDC Interface with crew."
June 15: LRV Systems, Review…stowed in Quad I (L of Ladder), Deployed as one sequence 1st step 45 degrees to LM Axis, second pull on D ring deploys the gear & allows the wheels to unfold…Start crew Tng—Oct. in 1G Trainer, Built by GM, Need work out the NAV procedures…LRV—Need delivery, 1 APR 71, First delivery, must be stowed @T-2 months." Journal also includes packets relating to training notes, a review of the LCRU, and a status report of Skylab CST.
In very good to fine condition, with wear to cover; inside pages remain relatively clean. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Farthest Reaches. After serving as a flight director for each of the Gemini missions, Kranz was selected as division chief for Flight Control in 1968, working in the same capacity for all odd-numbered Apollo missions, including both Apollo 11 and Apollo 13. As the leader of the ‘Tiger Team’ of flight directors, Kranz showed incredible resilience and ingenuity when confronted with the task of bringing the crew of Apollo 13 safely back to Earth. An amazing diary belonging to a man whom the entirety of the Kennedy Space Center looked to during one of the most harrowing moments in NASA history.
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