iufirt4iuupn Ciumty Kiuturij
The NEW BERN
PUiLISHBD WEEKLY
. IN THE HEART OP
'fTERN NORTH
NEW BERN. N. C., FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 28. 1989
New Bern's Robert E. (Bob)
Ernul. 33, doesn't make head
lines, but the crews of Apollo
11 and Apollo 12 know how vital
his role was In helping them
reach the moon.
Assistant chief of the mis
sion analysis branch at the
NASA Manned Spacecraft Cen
ter in Houston, his contribu
tion to the cause has been of
such Importance that he was
singled out by Dr. Robert Gll-
ruth, the director, to receive
the program's Superior
Achievement Award.
Bob Is no newcomer, hav
ing been Identified with the
NASA effort for more than 10
years. His duties are even
more complicated Uian the
wording on his coveted award,
and those words are complicat
ed enough for those of us who
lack his scientific training.
The certificate reads; "For
his exceUent leadershipInsiq)-
port of the trajectory related
Real Time Computer Complex
through development of logic
formulation and verification of
RTCC processors for Apollo 8,
the first manned moon orbital
mission."
Ernul has 60 people working
with him in the analyslsbranch
and rest assured there are no
novices In these key positions.
During an actual mission, he
and his associates are assign
ed to the mission control cen
ter and the staff support room.
Trajectory and guidance for
moon flights Is unbelleveably
complex. It took years for men
and computers to work out the
general system now In use,
which can be geared to specif
ic missions and purposes.
For example, should an
embergency occur at any point
on a translunar fU^t, and the
mission would have to be abort
ed, what Is the best method of
getting the vehicle and crew
back to earth with the safety of
the crew and optimizing fuel
reserves being the major con
sideration?
Bob and his men have to
know the answers and activate
a plan within minutes or sec
onds of such an emergency,
and begin It from any point
on the space vehicles trajec
tory. Their plan must be fast,
precise and workable. The plan
already exists In detail. It Is
a matter of coordinating It with
the vehicle's exact location at
the time the emergency arises.
Constant, repetitious and
elaborate checks are made on
all the critical systems for
weeks and months before a
manned launch. Ernul says In
his 10 years with the space pro
gram only one serious unfore
seen error has come up in the
middle of a flight. This result
ed In a splashdown miss of 200
miles or so ftom the target.
Bob and his associates often
work a 70 or 80 hour week.
The work holds such fascina
tion there Is little turnover in
personnel, once the newcomer
becomes acclimated to condi
tions. "They are a dedicated
bunch ofpeople," the still young
New Bernlan says, "and I sa
lute them."
Ernul adds that this work Is
not nearly so glamorous as
launching and flying, but he says
the support and back-up staffs
realize their Importance in the
program and take great pride
In the accomplishments.
"You should have seen the
(Continued oh Page 8)
HAPPY ROYALTY — Determined to be as dignified
and regai as any monarch couid be, whiie posing
for the camera, the two first graders and two sixth
graders seen here were crowned at Oaks Road
School’s Indian Summer Jubilee. In the center are
King Warren Earl Sumrell and Queen Joan Carol
Jones, pupils of Mrs. Robert L. Clement. Flanking
them are Prince Anthony Jerome Lafond and Prin
ces Diana Lea Broome, pupils of Miss Brenda
Thigpen. Amanda Hodges is principai.—Photo by
Chick Nateiia. '
hofizon that gave the famed
Sky retains its splendor in late Novernber. An Ideal peaks their name. At least once, every Tar Heel
bf M Peking Overlook should visit the region to view the splendor of na-
in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Here you ture’s inspiring handiwork.