Plans to restore the NASA mission control room that served as the nerve center when man first reached the moon have been discussed for more than 20 years, but its restoration and preservation remain in limbo.
Officials at Johnson Space Center in Houston say the restoration of Mission Operation Control Room 2 is a priority, but note that NASA has other priorities too.
The room was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985 and retired seven years later.
The Houston Chronicle reports that last month, Gene Kranz, a flight director during NASA’s Gemini and Apollo missions, told a group of preservationists touring the room that it has been “worn of its heart and soul.” He said, “It’s time to start the battle for its restoration.”
(AP)
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The question is whether this restoration is intended simply to preserve a landmark for historical purposes are is the intention to put the facility back into operation?
In the latter case, much of the technology now in use requires much less room than what was in use during Mr. Kranz’s tenure. There have also been advances in consolidating and automating tasks that require fewer people in the control room during a mission.
So, the expense of restoring an Apollo-style mission control may reduced with a fresh approach.