Greetings from the Space Coast! at DVinfo.net

James Kuhn · October 14th, 2011, 11:41 PM

Howdy! My name is Jim and I'm new in town. I've been lurking, reading, and thoroughly enjoying the information available on DVinfo. Wow! What a tremendous resource. A little about myself I guess is in order. I am retired from the Kennedy Space Center after a 30-year stint launching Space Shuttles. The first 10-years of my career was spent in Ground Systems Engineering as a Project Engineer involved in the modification and activation of various facilities throughout the Space Center. In my tenure I've been part of the building and rebuilding of Launch Complex 39 A and 39 B, Orbiter Processing Facilities (OPF) 1, 2, & 3, and the modification of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) Integration cells 1 and 3. For the last 20-years I spent my time as a Project Manager in the Communications Directorate. If it was Audio, Video, Wide-Band Transmission, or Networking we did it at KSC. The last major technological push was to bring KSC into the world of HD Video capture. I'm a former Navy Electronic Warfare Tech and a stroke survivor. There, now you know a little about my past. However, it's my future that brings me to this community of professionals. I have recently begun a little start-up venture called Greenside Up Productions, what it will evolve into is anyone's guess, I certainly don't know, but I'm excited to be on a new journey of discovery. To be honest, starting over at 57-years old is daunting, but I've always just jumped with both feet no matter what I've done in life and this is no exception. Heh, heh!

Thank you all for your unselfish sharing of knowledge and experience, I hope to be smart enough one day to actually contribute to the group, but in the meantime I'll try and keep my mouth shut and listen.

Best regards,

Jim

Dan Keaton · October 15th, 2011, 02:16 AM

Dear James,

Welcome Aboard!

You have joined a great group of people and a fantasitc resource.

Good Luck with your new venture.

I hope your new adventure is as exciting as your previous one was.

Les Wilson · October 15th, 2011, 03:37 AM

Welcome James. I remember interviewing at the Cape with Rockwell for a project to upgrade the launch control room's aging Modcomp computers when I was getting out of college. Sounds like you've had all the fun. There's another rocket scientist on DVinfo from Houston: Pete Bauer.

James Kuhn · October 15th, 2011, 10:26 AM

Les...I was the PM for the Communications Group on that project. We stripped the room down to the bare floor, getting rid of all the old cabling (Apollo, etc.). The rats were eating the insulation off of critical and non-system critical cables. Heh, heh! It was a multi-year upgrade, when finished, we gave the Firing Room, and the Launch Team a state of the art Transmission and system connectivity with enough headroom for the years to come.

I did have fun!

J.

Dan Keaton · October 15th, 2011, 10:45 AM

Dear James,

I used to live in Cape Canaveral.

In the mid 60's I worked for NASA, in Launch Vehicle Operations, Guidance and Control, Flight Control Systems Section (as a trainee).

I am very familiar with the LCC (Launch Control Complex) and the VAB (Vertical Assembly Building).

Later I went to work for Grumman Aircraft Engineering Company, working on the Lunar Module.

It was a lot of fun working on the Apollo program.

It was very thrilling to watch the Saturn V launches, especially when one is as close as anyone could get, about 3.3 miles away.

Last year I got to film a Shuttle Launch from atop the VAB.It brought back a lot of good memories.

James Kuhn · October 15th, 2011, 11:10 AM

Dan...you got me beat! As a kid growing up on the 'Space Coast' I got to see the last of the Mercury launches, all of the Gemini program, and all of the Apollo program. I then had the honor of being part of the Launch Team on the Shuttle program. My step-father was a Gruman-ite, did you know Jim Foden by any chance? Or, Buzz Brown? Both worked down at the CIF Bldg. during the hey-day of Apollo.

J.

Dan Keaton · October 15th, 2011, 11:54 AM

Dear James,

When I worked at Grumman, I worked in the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building, later called Operations and Checkout.

At one time, a roommate worked in the CIF (Central Instrumentation Facilty).

I am sorry, but I do not remember those names.

James Kuhn · October 15th, 2011, 12:57 PM

Dan...no worries, it was a shot in the dark.

J.

Eric Emerick · October 15th, 2011, 08:56 PM

Hi James,
Just wanted to let you know that we have two filmmaking groups here in Brevard. There is the FMPTA (Florida Motion Picture & TV Association), and the newly formed Florida Independent Filmmakers (the latter of which I now serve as President). Both can serve as a good resource as they are peopled with like minded and good folks. The FIF website is here http://floridafilmmakers.shutterfly.com/. Reply if you want me to add you to our email list and keep you in the loop.

And this is the FMPTA website link Florida Motion Picture & Television Association: Space Coast. All the best in your new endeavors.

Eric Emerick
esquared14@mac.com

James Kuhn · October 15th, 2011, 09:35 PM

Eric...thank you. I've added the link to my favorites. BTW, are you related to Pam?

Jim

Calvin Bellows · October 16th, 2011, 12:55 PM

Welcome aboard! I will always regret not being able to see a shuttle launch in person. Lots of great people and advice on here!

Glen Canning · October 20th, 2011, 06:20 AM

Welcome aboard James. I'm retired Canadian Navy and spent a year in Fort Walton Beach working with some military and EOD folks. Had a chance to see a shuttle launch on a weekend we were there but the ten plus hour drive times two mixed with the possibly of it being delayed (turns out it was) did it in. Also those SEAL types don't take kindly to late arrivals Monday morning.

My second career as well. Love it and DVInfo.

Eric Emerick · October 20th, 2011, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Kuhn

Eric...thank you. I've added the link to my favorites. BTW, are you related to Pam?

Jim

No relation.

James Kuhn · October 20th, 2011, 10:22 AM

Eric...it it was 'Emick', my mistake.

Glen...howdy 'shipmate', I'm an old salt, too. Those 'Frogmen' can be a testy bunch.

Fair winds and a following sea,

J.

October 14th, 2011, 11:41 PM	#1
James Kuhn Major Player Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Merritt Island, Florida Posts: 865	Greetings from the Space Coast! Howdy! My name is Jim and I'm new in town. I've been lurking, reading, and thoroughly enjoying the information available on DVinfo. Wow! What a tremendous resource. A little about myself I guess is in order. I am retired from the Kennedy Space Center after a 30-year stint launching Space Shuttles. The first 10-years of my career was spent in Ground Systems Engineering as a Project Engineer involved in the modification and activation of various facilities throughout the Space Center. In my tenure I've been part of the building and rebuilding of Launch Complex 39 A and 39 B, Orbiter Processing Facilities (OPF) 1, 2, & 3, and the modification of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) Integration cells 1 and 3. For the last 20-years I spent my time as a Project Manager in the Communications Directorate. If it was Audio, Video, Wide-Band Transmission, or Networking we did it at KSC. The last major technological push was to bring KSC into the world of HD Video capture. I'm a former Navy Electronic Warfare Tech and a stroke survivor. There, now you know a little about my past. However, it's my future that brings me to this community of professionals. I have recently begun a little start-up venture called Greenside Up Productions, what it will evolve into is anyone's guess, I certainly don't know, but I'm excited to be on a new journey of discovery. To be honest, starting over at 57-years old is daunting, but I've always just jumped with both feet no matter what I've done in life and this is no exception. Heh, heh! Thank you all for your unselfish sharing of knowledge and experience, I hope to be smart enough one day to actually contribute to the group, but in the meantime I'll try and keep my mouth shut and listen. Best regards, Jim

October 15th, 2011, 02:16 AM	#2
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Re: Greetings from the Space Coast! Dear James, Welcome Aboard! You have joined a great group of people and a fantasitc resource. Good Luck with your new venture. I hope your new adventure is as exciting as your previous one was. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

October 15th, 2011, 03:37 AM	#3
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	Re: Greetings from the Space Coast! Welcome James. I remember interviewing at the Cape with Rockwell for a project to upgrade the launch control room's aging Modcomp computers when I was getting out of college. Sounds like you've had all the fun. There's another rocket scientist on DVinfo from Houston: Pete Bauer.

October 15th, 2011, 10:26 AM	#4
James Kuhn Major Player Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Merritt Island, Florida Posts: 865	Re: Greetings from the Space Coast! Les...I was the PM for the Communications Group on that project. We stripped the room down to the bare floor, getting rid of all the old cabling (Apollo, etc.). The rats were eating the insulation off of critical and non-system critical cables. Heh, heh! It was a multi-year upgrade, when finished, we gave the Firing Room, and the Launch Team a state of the art Transmission and system connectivity with enough headroom for the years to come. I did have fun! J.

October 15th, 2011, 10:45 AM	#5
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Re: Greetings from the Space Coast! Dear James, I used to live in Cape Canaveral. In the mid 60's I worked for NASA, in Launch Vehicle Operations, Guidance and Control, Flight Control Systems Section (as a trainee). I am very familiar with the LCC (Launch Control Complex) and the VAB (Vertical Assembly Building). Later I went to work for Grumman Aircraft Engineering Company, working on the Lunar Module. It was a lot of fun working on the Apollo program. It was very thrilling to watch the Saturn V launches, especially when one is as close as anyone could get, about 3.3 miles away. Last year I got to film a Shuttle Launch from atop the VAB.It brought back a lot of good memories. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

October 15th, 2011, 11:10 AM	#6
James Kuhn Major Player Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Merritt Island, Florida Posts: 865	Re: Greetings from the Space Coast! Dan...you got me beat! As a kid growing up on the 'Space Coast' I got to see the last of the Mercury launches, all of the Gemini program, and all of the Apollo program. I then had the honor of being part of the Launch Team on the Shuttle program. My step-father was a Gruman-ite, did you know Jim Foden by any chance? Or, Buzz Brown? Both worked down at the CIF Bldg. during the hey-day of Apollo. J.

October 15th, 2011, 11:54 AM	#7
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Re: Greetings from the Space Coast! Dear James, When I worked at Grumman, I worked in the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building, later called Operations and Checkout. At one time, a roommate worked in the CIF (Central Instrumentation Facilty). I am sorry, but I do not remember those names. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

October 15th, 2011, 12:57 PM	#8
James Kuhn Major Player Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Merritt Island, Florida Posts: 865	Re: Greetings from the Space Coast! Dan...no worries, it was a shot in the dark. J.

October 15th, 2011, 08:56 PM	#9
Eric Emerick Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Melbourne, FL Posts: 171	We're here! Hi James, Just wanted to let you know that we have two filmmaking groups here in Brevard. There is the FMPTA (Florida Motion Picture & TV Association), and the newly formed Florida Independent Filmmakers (the latter of which I now serve as President). Both can serve as a good resource as they are peopled with like minded and good folks. The FIF website is here http://floridafilmmakers.shutterfly.com/. Reply if you want me to add you to our email list and keep you in the loop. And this is the FMPTA website link Florida Motion Picture & Television Association: Space Coast. All the best in your new endeavors. Eric Emerick esquared14@mac.com __________________ esquared

October 15th, 2011, 09:35 PM	#10
James Kuhn Major Player Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Merritt Island, Florida Posts: 865	Re: Greetings from the Space Coast! Eric...thank you. I've added the link to my favorites. BTW, are you related to Pam? Jim

October 16th, 2011, 12:55 PM	#11
Calvin Bellows Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 215	Re: Greetings from the Space Coast! Welcome aboard! I will always regret not being able to see a shuttle launch in person. Lots of great people and advice on here! __________________ Calvin Bellows www.exposureproductions.ca

October 20th, 2011, 06:20 AM	#12
Glen Canning Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 36	Re: Greetings from the Space Coast! Welcome aboard James. I'm retired Canadian Navy and spent a year in Fort Walton Beach working with some military and EOD folks. Had a chance to see a shuttle launch on a weekend we were there but the ten plus hour drive times two mixed with the possibly of it being delayed (turns out it was) did it in. Also those SEAL types don't take kindly to late arrivals Monday morning. My second career as well. Love it and DVInfo.

October 20th, 2011, 10:22 AM	#14
James Kuhn Major Player Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Merritt Island, Florida Posts: 865	Re: Greetings from the Space Coast! Eric...it it was 'Emick', my mistake. Glen...howdy 'shipmate', I'm an old salt, too. Those 'Frogmen' can be a testy bunch. Fair winds and a following sea, J.