Posted by Ray Katz in NASA, current, history, moon
Voice of mission control silenced
Paul Haney: his voice is history
Paul Haney, in the early years known as “the voice of mission control” has died at 80.
From 1965 through 1969, Haney’s voice was featured on live broadcasts of NASA manned space launches.Working in the public affairs department of the space agency, Haney promoted openness. Sometimes, he clashed with the top brass.
Disagreements and split
Haney continued his broadcasts through the 1969 mission, Apollo 9—the first manned flight of a lunar module.
He quit before the first moon landing after a disagreement with management. He wanted journalists to have access to a training exercise being performed by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, in preparation for the first moon landing. Management was opposed to having the journalists at the exercise, but went along with Haney’s request.
Afterward, Haney was reassigned. Rather than take a less desirable job, he quit.
A part of history
Still, Paul Haney’s voice is forever linked with the transmissions of the early launches, as American’s began reaching for the moon.
