February 1997

GUENTER F. WENDT
PAD LEADER DURING MERCURY, GEMINI, AND APOLLO PROGRAMS
ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL
JOHN F. KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLORIDA

Guenter F. Wendt was born and educated in Germany. He came to the United States in 1949 and became an American citizen in 1955. He was responsible for spacecraft launch preparations for all Mercury and Gemini flights.

In 1967, after the Apollo fire, he accepted a position with the Rockwell International Corporation at the Kennedy Space Center and was responsible for spacecraft launch preparations for all manned Apollo, Skylab and ASTP flights. He was the last man seen by the flight crews prior to liftoff.

He looked out for the flight crew safety during the Shuttle ALT program and the orbital flights of the Space Shuttle. Prior to his retirement in 1989, he helped in the development and installation of the Flight Crew Escape System.

He is a confidant and personal friend of most astronauts and the recipient of NASA's "Letter of Appreciation" award, several Group Achieuement Awards and the "Silver Snoopy."

He was featured in newspapers, magazines and books and appeared on radio and television here and in Germany. He effectively presented the American offer of opportunities via "Radio Free Europa" and the "Voice of America" broadcasts. He is presenting the case for an ongoing space program to students and civic groups on many continents.

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