Glynn Lunney Mission Control Apollo 8

Glynn Lunney

Flight Director

Glynn Lunney, born November 27th, 1936, was involved with NASA since its inception in 1958. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering and became a part of the Flight Operations Division. He wrote the mission rules for Project Mercury, was a part of Project Gemini, and moved right into the Apollo Project at the very beginning.

Lunny became the lead flight director for Apollo 7, demonstrating a level of diplomacy when dealing with difficult members of the Apollo team. He was also responsible for leading the team that turned on the Lunar Module on Apollo 13 and transferred the guidance and navigation data to the computer.

By 1973, he was the manager of the Apollo Spacecraft Program Office. He was responsible for overseeing the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP). After Apollo, Lunney managed the Shuttle Payload Integration and Development Program and was Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Flight at NASA.

He left NASA in 1985 and moved to Rockwell International. He is a fellow of the American Astronomical Society and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He received NASA’s group Achievement Award three times, the Exceptional Service Medal twice, and the Distinguished Service Medal three times. He also received the Elmer A. Sperry Award in 2008 for his work on the ASTP.