NationMaster - Encyclopedia: James C. Fletcher

James Chipman Fletcher (June 5, 1919 - December 22, 1991) served as the 4th and 7th Administrator of NASA, first from April 27, 1971, to May 1, 1977, and again from May 12, 1986, to April 8, 1989. June 5 is the 156th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (157th in leap years), with 209 days remaining. ... 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... December 22 is the 356th day of the year (357th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1991 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which was established in 1958, is the agency responsible for the public space program of the United States of America. ... April 27 is the 117th day of the year (118th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 248 days remaining. ... 1971 is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ... May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... 1977 was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1977 calendar). ... May 12 is the 132nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (133rd in leap years). ... 1986 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 8 is the 98th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (99th in leap years). ... 1989 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Born in Millburn, New Jersey, Fletcher earned an undergraduate degree in physics from Columbia University and a doctorate in physics from the California Institute of Technology. After holding research and teaching positions at Harvard and Princeton Universities, he joined Hughes Aircraft in 1948 and later worked at the Guided Missile Division of the Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation. In 1958, Fletcher co-founded the Space Electronics Corporation in Glendale, California, which, after a merger, became the Space General Corporation. He was later named systems vice president of the Aerojet General Corporation in Sacramento, California. In 1964, he became president of the University of Utah, a position he held until he was named NASA Administrator in 1971. Full Description: Dr. James C. Fletcher served as NASA Administrator from April 27, 1971, to May 1, 1977, and from May 12, 1986, to April 8, 1989. ... Millburn is a township located in Essex County, New Jersey. ... Columbia University is a private university in New York City. ... The California Institute of Technology (commonly known as Caltech) is a private, coeducational university located in Pasadena, California, in the United States. ... Harvard University is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, and a member of the Ivy League. ... For other Princetons, see Princeton. ... Hughes logo adopted after his death Hughes developed the AIM-120 AMRAAM, one of the worlds most advanced air-to-air missiles Hughes Aircraft Company was a major defense/aerospace company founded by Howard Hughes. ... 1948 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... County Los Angeles County, California Area - Total - Water 79. ... City nickname: The Big Tomato Location of Sacramento in California County Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo Area â€“Land â€“Water 99. ... 1964 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The University of Utah (also The U or the U of U) was established by Mormon leader Brigham Young. ... 1971 is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ...

During his first administration at NASA, Fletcher was responsible for beginning the Space Shuttle effort, as well as the Viking program that sent landers to Mars. He oversaw the Skylab missions and approved the Voyager space probes and the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. The Space Shuttle Columbia seconds after engine ignition, 1981 (NASA). ... NASAs Viking program consisted of two unmanned space missions to Mars, Viking 1 and Viking 2. ... Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the solar system, named after the Roman god of war (the counterpart of the Greek Ares), on account of its blood red color as viewed in the night sky. ... Drawing of Skylab with components labelled Americas first space station, the 75 metric ton Skylab, was in Earth orbit from 1973-1979, and visited by crews three times in 1973 and 1974. ... The Voyager spacecraft Launch of Voyager 2 Voyager is also the name of a planned series of unmanned probes to Mars, cancelled in 1968. ... The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project was the first joint flight of the US and Soviet space programs. ...

When he left NASA in 1977, Fletcher became an independent consultant in McLean, Virginia, and served on the faculty of the University of Pittsburgh. During the nine years between his terms as NASA Administrator, Fletcher was active as an advisor to key national leaders involved in planning space policy. Among other activities, he served on advisory board involved in developing the Strategic Defense Initiative. McLean is an unincorporated community located in Fairfax County, Virginia. ... The University of Pittsburgh is a state-related, doctoral/research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. ... For the computer game, see S.D.I. The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) is a system proposed by U.S. President Ronald Reagan on March 23, 1983 to use space-based systems to protect the United States from attack by strategic nuclear missiles. ...

During his second administration at NASA, Fletcher was largely involved in efforts to recover from the Space Shuttle Challenger accident. With the accident, the Shuttle program went into a two-year hiatus while NASA worked to redesign the solid rocket boosters and revamp its management structure. Fletcher ensured that NASA reinvested heavily in the program's safety and reliability, made organizational changes to improve efficiency, and restructured its management system. He oversaw a complete reworking of the components of the Shuttle to enhance its safety and added an egress method for the astronauts. He was in charge of the agency when the Space Shuttle finally returned to flight on September 29, 1988. While administrator, he also approved the Hubble Space Telescope program. STS-51-L was the 25th launch of a Space Shuttle and the tenth launch of the Challenger. ... September 29 is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years). ... 1988 is a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Hubble Space Telescope is a telescope in orbit around the Earth. ...

Fletcher died in December 1991 of lung cancer at his home in suburban Washington, DC. The incidence of lung cancer is highly correlated with smoking. ...

References

The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ...

Thomas O. Paine (November 9, 1921 - May 4, 1992), American scientist, was the third Administrator of NASA, serving from March 21, 1969 to September 15, 1970. ... Robert A. Frosch (born May 22, 1928), American scientist, was the fifth Administrator of NASA from 1977-1981 during the Carter administration. ...

James Montgomery Beggs (born January 9, 1926) served as the 6th Administrator of NASA. Nominated by President Reagan on June 1, 1981, Beggs took his oath of office and entered the post on July 10, 1981, serving until December 4, 1985. ... Richard H. Truly Richard H. Truly (born November 12, 1937) is a retired Vice Admiral in the United States Navy, former astronaut, and was the 8th Administrator of NASA from 1989 to 1992. ...

Categories: 1919 births | 1991 deaths | NASA administrators The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which was established in 1958, is the agency responsible for the public space program of the United States of America. ... Download high resolution version (800x685, 100 KB)http://www. ... Thomas Keith Glennan (September 8, 1905 - April 11, 1995) was the first Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, serving from August 19, 1958 to January 20, 1961. ... James Edwin Webb (October 7, 1906 - March 27, 1992) was the second administrator of NASA, serving from February 14, 1961 to October 7, 1968. ... Thomas O. Paine (November 9, 1921 - May 4, 1992), American scientist, was the third Administrator of NASA, serving from March 21, 1969 to September 15, 1970. ... Robert A. Frosch (born May 22, 1928), American scientist, was the fifth Administrator of NASA from 1977-1981 during the Carter administration. ... James Montgomery Beggs (born January 9, 1926) served as the 6th Administrator of NASA. Nominated by President Reagan on June 1, 1981, Beggs took his oath of office and entered the post on July 10, 1981, serving until December 4, 1985. ... Richard H. Truly Richard H. Truly (born November 12, 1937) is a retired Vice Admiral in the United States Navy, former astronaut, and was the 8th Administrator of NASA from 1989 to 1992. ... Daniel Saul Goldin (born July 23, 1940) served as the 9th and longest-tenured Administrator of NASA from April 1, 1992, to November 17, 2001. ... Sean OKeefe (born January 27, 1956) was the 10th Administrator of NASA, leading the space agency from December 2001 to February 2005. ... Michael D. Griffin Dr. Michael D. Griffin (born in 1949 in Aberdeen, Maryland) is the current NASA Administrator. ...