Space legend returns to Holloman

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Colin Cates
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Gene Kranz, retired NASA flight director, returned to Holloman AFB March 8 after 52 years to revisit the 46th Test Group, where he researched and tested Surface-to-Air and Air-to-Ground missiles in the late 1950s.

"I worked at Holloman from 1958 to 1960 with the Quail program, where the principle mission was the development of decoy missiles," said Kranz.

The 46th Test Group's present day mission is to operate world-class test facilities for high speed sled track testing, navigation and guidance system testing, radar signature measurements, and weapon systems flight testing.

"The changes I saw were a very subtle set of changes," said Kranz. The majority of Holloman's programs are less visible to the public. "When I was at Holloman, we had air frames from all over the world and we were adapting various weapons systems to fit those air frames."

Kranz said it was an era of very high excitement for Holloman AFB. The activity here still brings excitement today, but with a very different focus. Today's technology and development is cutting edge.

"The change in roles and missions reflects how Holloman AFB has grown since my time," said Kranz. "In addition, the majority of the technology that is being developed now is more of an aviator electronic capability, whereas the systems we had then would be obsolete by today's standards."

Kranz also visited the 846th Test Squadron's High Speed Test Track, which simulates selected portions of the flight environment under accurately programmed and instrumented conditions. This capability fills the gap between laboratory investigations and full scale flight tests.

"I can spend all kinds of time out here, this is really fun stuff," said Kranz.
Along with his work with Holloman AFB, Kranz worked at NASA for over 30 years and was the flight director during the famous Apollo 13 mission.

Kranz was inducted to the International Space Hall of Fame on March 10 at a ceremony held in New Mexico State University-Alamogordo's Tays Special Events Center. He is the 154th member to be inducted into the hall, and the first since 2004.

Kranz's personal mission is to aim high and never surrender. His advice is to establish goals, and along each step of the way, keep pushing the bar higher so complacency never takes over.