Eugene Francis "Gene" Kranz (born August 17, 1933) is a retired NASA Flight Director and manager. Kranz served as a Flight Director, the successor to NASA founding Flight Director Chris Kraft, during the Gemini and Apollo programs, and is best known for his role in directing the successful Mission Control team efforts to save the crew of Apollo 13, which later became the subject story of a major motion picture of the same name. He is also noted for his trademark close-cut flattop hairstyle, and the wearing of dapper white "mission" vests (waistcoats), of different styles and materials made by his spouse, Marta Kranz, during missions for which he acted as Flight Director. A personal friend to the American astronauts of his time, Kranz remains a prominent and colorful figure in the history of U.S. manned space exploration, the embodiment of 'NASA tough-and-competent' of the Kranz Dictum. Kranz has been the subject of movies, documentary films, and books and periodical articles. Kranz is a recipient of a Presidential Medal of Freedom. In a 2010 Space Foundation survey, Kranz was ranked as the #2 most popular space hero.
When he was the Flight Director for a mission, he always wore a white vest with the mission insignia on it. Marta made the vests for him.
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Fact
1
When he was in the Air Force, he named his F-86 Sabre "My Darling Marta.".
2
Developed his interest in space flight well before he started his NASA career. Wrote an essay in high school called "The Design and Possibilities of the Interplanetary Rocket.".
3
Became the Director of Mission Operations in 1983. Retired from NASA in 1994.
4
Received the Presidential Medal Freedom for his role in the Apollo 13 mission.
5
Former United States Air Force Pilot.
6
NASA Flight Director during the Apollo program.
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Beyond the Moon: Failure Is Not an Option 2
2005
TV Movie documentary special thanks
Modern Marvels
2001
TV Series documentary special thanks - 1 episode
Lost Moon: The Triumph of Apollo 13
1996
Video documentary special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Fight for Space
2016
Documentary
Himself - NASA Flight Controller
The Last Man on the Moon
2014
Documentary
Moonbug
2010
Documentary as Eugene Kranz
When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions
2008-2009
TV Mini-Series documentary
Himself - Flight Director / Himself / Himself - Missions Operations Director / ...
NASA: Triumph and Tragedy
2009
TV Series documentary
Himself - Flight Director
Secrets of the Moon Landings
2007
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Mars Rising
2007
TV Series documentary
Himself
Apollo 11: The Untold Story
2006
TV Movie documentary
Himself - Apollo 11 Flight Director
Apollo 13: The Inside Story
2006
TV Movie documentary
Himself - Apollo 13 Ground Controller
Beyond the Moon: Failure Is Not an Option 2
2005
TV Movie documentary
Himself - Flight Director
Did We Go?
2005
Video documentary
Himself
First on the Moon: The Untold Story
2005
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Modern Marvels
2001-2004
TV Series documentary
Himself - Flight Director: Apollo 11 / Himself - Apollo 13 Flight Director
Failure Is Not an Option
2003
TV Movie documentary
Himself - NASA Flight Director
Rocket Science
2002
TV Series documentary
Himself
The Century
1999
TV Mini-Series documentary
Himself (segment "First Step")
The Unexplained
1998
TV Series
Himself
Lost Moon: The Triumph of Apollo 13
1996
Video documentary
Himself - Apollo 13 Flight Director
Apollo 13: To the Edge and Back
1994
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Moon Shot
1994
TV Movie documentary
Himself - Flight Director (as Gene Krantz)
Spaceflight
1985
TV Series documentary
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Mysteries at the Museum
2010
TV Series documentary
Himself
Reaching Tranquility: The 40th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing