Ken Bowen: Apollo and Shuttle Veteran Returns to Clear Lake Area Chapter 11/19! Kenneth Bowen has been an Air Force helicopter rescue pilot, an oil field roustabout, and since 1959 an aerospace engineer. After early years with McDonnell Aircraft as a wind tunnel engineer, including the pre-construction tests on what would become the Houston Astrodome, he was tapped by Link Simulations, Inc. to work on the team bringing the Lunar Module Simulator to life…a challenging task as, in those early ears, the design of the prototype they were modeling was still very much in flux! Ken continued with Singer-Link and later Ford Aerospace into the Space Shuttle years. He headed up Ford’s Single System Trainer unit which Shuttle astronaut candidates used to practice approach and landing in the days when the large full motion simulator was still under development. He’s now retired and a grandfather of eight and father of two…including myself! Ken appeared with us in April of last year and we had a very stimulating conversation about his still-vivid memories of those pioneering days, but due to technical difficulties we had troubles with recording and streaming his conversation. This year we have a new and better setup which should allow us to both converse with him more clearly as well as record his reminiscences for posterity. Clear Lake Area Chapter meeting: Tuesday the 19th, 6:30 p.m. The Clear Lake Area Chapter will meet on Tuesday, November 19th in the conference room of the Bay Area Community Center in Clear Lake Park beginning at 6:30 p.m. The address is 5002 NASA Road 1; Seabrook, Texas. The Community Center is north of NASA 1, away from the lake; enter through the side door adjacent to the parking lot as the main entrance may be locked after 5:00 p.m. We are planning to take extra care with this month’s Zoom meeting; information is posted below and on our Chapter web site. As mentioned above, my dad Kenneth Bowen will be speaking on his time in the Apollo and Shuttle programs. Come hear the stories from a man who was there! Please do keep in mind that his appearance is contingent upon his continued physical good health; while he is in excellent shape right now please be prepared to make alternate plans should something come up unexpectedly. Our meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and run to just before nine (when the facility closes). We’re planning to offer a few light refreshments and bottled water; your own contributions are also welcome of course! We do not plan to conduct Chapter business at this meeting. Our next business meeting is expected to be mid-February; exact time and date To Be Announced. Zoom Meeting Info: Eric Bowen is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Clear Lake Area Chapter Welcomes Apollo Veteran Ken Bowen Time: Nov 19, 2024 06:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84929443156?pwd=r3ZaXlyNGMbZVcoJ5BQlKIMQDS7buw.1 Meeting ID: 849 2944 3156 Passcode: 628002 — One tap mobile +15642172000,,84929443156#,,,,*628002# US +16469313860,,84929443156#,,,,*628002# US — Dial by your location • +1 564 217 2000 US • +1 646 931 3860 US • +1 669 444 9171 US • +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) • +1 689 278 1000 US • +1 719 359 4580 US • +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) • +1 253 205 0468 US • +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) • +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) • +1 305 224 1968 US • +1 309 205 3325 US • +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) • +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) • +1 360 209 5623 US • +1 386 347 5053 US • +1 507 473 4847 US Meeting ID: 849 2944 3156 Passcode: 628002 Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kdCtsaL2Yo No Chapter business is planned for this meeting; we will resume regular business in February. Come and relive the greatest adventure in human history!