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Lightning strikes in the distance as the Space Shuttle Discovery receives post-flight processing in the Mate-Demate Device
Lightning strikes in the distance as the Space Shuttle Discovery receives post-flight processing in the Mate-Demate Device (MDD), following its landing at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center in California. The gantry-like MDD structure is used for servicing the shuttle orbiters in preparation for their ferry flight back to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, including mounting the shuttle atop NASA’s modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. Space Shuttle Discovery landed safely at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California at 5:11:22 a.m. PDT, August 9, 2005, following the very successful 14-day STS-114 return to flight mission.
NASA/Tom Tschida

Space Shuttle Tacit Knowledge Capture Oral Histories

The NASA History Office gathers first-hand experiences through oral history interviews from a variety of individuals serving in the NASA and contractor work force, eliciting details of procedures, processes, methodologies, rationale, and background of operations.

The Space Shuttle Tacit Knowledge Capture Project interviews, conducted in 2008 at NASA Centers in Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, and Houston, are with former key members of the Space Shuttle Program and reflect details of critical program decisions, information on management tools and processes, and lessons learned from areas of expertise.

Titles listed reflect the positions that the subject held while involved with the program.

NameInterview DatePosition
Arnold D. Aldrich4/28/2008
Challenger Accident
Deputy Manager, Space Shuttle Program; Manager, Orbiter Project; Manager, Space Shuttle Projects Office; Manager, National Space Transportation System; Director, National Space Transportation System
John S. Chapman5/16/2008Manager, External Tank Project Office, Space Shuttle Propulsion Office
Robert C. Doremus7/2/2008Deputy Manager, Space Shuttle Safety and Mission Assurance Office
Arthur E. Goldman6/3/2008Deputy Center Director Stennis Space Center
N. Wayne Hale4/14/2008Deputy Associate Administrator, Strategic Partnerships
Michael D. Leinbach6/10/2008Space Shuttle Launch Director
John F. Muratore5/14/2008Manager, Space Shuttle Systems Engineering and Integration Office, Lead Engineer, Space Shuttle Program.
Donald S. Noah7/9/2008Manager, Space Shuttle Systems Engineering and Integration
Stephen S. Oswald5/20/2008Shuttle Astronaut, Deputy Associate Administrator, Space Operations
Steve M. Poulos6/17/2008Deputy Director, Engineering
Ronald D. Rigney6/3/2008Deputy Director, Stennis Space Center, Project Directorate
Ralph R. Roe4/29/2008Director, Engineering and Safety Center
Michael U. Rudolphi5/15/2008Director of Engineering, Marshall Space Flight Center
John P. Shannon4/16/2008Manager, Space Shuttle Program
Loren J. Shriver4/23/2008Space Shuttle Astronaut, Manager, Space Shuttle Program; Vice President, Engineering and Integration and Chief Technology Officer, United Space Alliance (USA).
Robert B. Sieck7/22/2008Director, Shuttle Processing; Member, Stafford-Covey Shuttle Return to Flight Task Group
Jerry W. Smelser5/15/2008Project Manager, Space Shuttle Main Engine and External Tank
John J. Talone6/11/2008Launch Pad Manager, Space Shuttle Program; Shuttle Operations Integration Manager & Flow Director
Rodney O. Wallace5/28/2008Chief Systems Engineer, Space Shuttle Systems Engineering & Integration Office
Rita G. Willcoxon6/10/2008Director, Launch Vehicle Processing
The transcripts available on this site are created from audio-recorded oral history interviews. To preserve the integrity of the audio record, the transcripts are presented with limited revisions and thus reflect the candid conversational style of the oral history format. Brackets and ellipses indicate where the text has been annotated or edited for clarity. Any personal opinions expressed in the interviews should not be considered the official views or opinions of NASA, the NASA History Office, NASA historians, or staff members.