ALAMOGRODO, N.M. (AP) — A former NASA flight director who oversaw Apollo moon missions and helped bring three astronauts aboard Apollo 13 back to earth after the spacecraft was crippled has been inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame.
Gene Kranz was inducted into the hall during a Saturday ceremony staged at New Mexico State University-Alamogordo.
The Alamogordo Daily News reports that Kranz recounted his role following a 1967 launch pad fire that claimed the lives of astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chafee. That disastrous day led to the creation of the so-called "Kranz Dictum" among spaceflight managers - be tough and be competent.
By the time of the Apollo 13 crisis in 1970, Kranz says Mission Control had become a "championship, Super Bowl-quality team."
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Information from: Alamogordo Daily News, http://www.alamogordonews.com
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.