Alex McCool facts for kids
Alexander A. McCool Jr. (born December 10, 1923 – died July 14, 2020) was an important leader at NASA. He managed the Space Shuttle Projects Office at the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. During his long career, Mr. McCool helped create many amazing space projects. These included the Apollo Program, which sent humans to the Moon. He also worked on Skylab, which was America's first space station. And he helped develop the Space Shuttle program, which flew astronauts into space for 30 years.
Early Life and Learning
Alexander A. McCool Jr. was born on December 10, 1923, in Daytona Beach, Florida. His parents, Alexander A. McCool and Najla Samra, had moved there from Syria.
After finishing high school in Florida in 1942, he joined the United States Navy. He became a first class petty officer, working as a machinist.
Mr. McCool later earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. He studied at the University of Southwestern Louisiana. He then got a master's degree in fluid mechanics from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
Working for Space
After college, Mr. McCool first worked for the Army Corps of Engineers. He helped with water projects in Mississippi.
In 1954, he started his career in rocket development. He worked at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, helping design the Redstone Jupiter rocket.
In 1960, he joined NASA. He was one of the first people to work at the Marshall Space Flight Center. Mr. McCool was key in designing the engines for the Saturn rockets. These powerful rockets sent the Apollo missions to the Moon. He also led the engineering for Skylab, America's first space science lab.
Mr. McCool also directed the Structures and Propulsion Laboratory at Marshall. During this time, he helped design the Space Shuttle's engine parts. He played a big role in engineering the shuttle's main engine and its solid rocket boosters.
Awards and Honors
Mr. McCool received many awards for his important work in space.
- Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive, from George W. Bush (1991)
- NASA Distinguished Service Medal
- NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal
- Outstanding Leadership Medal
- National Space Club's 2002 Astronautics Engineer Award
