On Friday, after visiting HP40, I had a date with Telemetry scientist Brooks Moore. Mr. Moore, handsome at 80, was a fantastic host. He gave me a personal tour of the musuem, adding personal vignettes as we walked around the compound.
I learned a great many things about our early space program. He shared his views on working for Werner Von Braun, under the Kennedy administration. He said that no dollar was spared. Research was of utmost importance. While I’m insanely jealous of scientists during that time period, I’m also amazed at their achievements. Just look at the size of these rockets! To be standing directly under the rockets is breathtaking.
Mr. Brooks also spoke lovingly of his home state of Alabama. I could tell how much he truly loves living there, and also of his wife whom he said was much more interested in the social aspects of the NASA team. I asked about how it was to work with the German scientists-we brought over 160 scientists at that time-and he said it was fine. They had to speak English at work (according to Mr. Von Braun), and so communicating wasn’t really a problem. He said the Germans were very hard working, and didn’t socialize as much as their American counterparts.
When I asked about living in Huntsville in the midst of the civil liberties movement, Mr. Brooks got a big smile on his face. He said that Huntsville, with it’s scientists and engineers having a higher education level than other places in Alabama, didn’t experience the dramatic displays of violence. He did admit that there was rampant discrimination in the workplace during that time, but he didn’t personally witness a single demonstration. Then, he admitted he spent a lot of time at work during those days.
If you are in Huntsville, I would highly suggest visiting the US Space and Rocket Musuem. If you show up after 4pm, then the admission is free. And, that leaves you a hour to walk around…not nearly enough time to see everything but maybe better than forking over the 20 bucks (?)