144: Tracking Apollo from Guam with Brian Riehle

Built in 1966 to support the Apollo space missions, the NASA tracking station in Guam (GWM) was equipped with a 30-foot USB antenna and VHF Air-Ground Voice and Telemetry capabilities. Guam was the first dedicated Apollo station built, and it's where Brian Riehle and his team helped to track and communicate with 5 Apollo missions, including Apollo 11! Beth had the privilege of meeting Brian at the Inspiration4 Mission launch, thanks to family friend and astronaut, Dr. Sian Proctor!

 

About Brian: Mr. Riehle has 35 years' experience in computer systems, including 21 years in Air Traffic Control (ATC) automation systems with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of which 13 years were in a management position.  Prior to entering the Federal Civil Service, he was a field engineer with Sperry Univac, and worked on the ARTS 3 Terminal Automation program. While employed with Sperry Univac, he worked in the ARTS 3 development labs in St. Paul, MN, and installed the ARTS 3 systems at Detroit, Columbus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and the FAA Technical Center (FAATC).  Before going to Sperry Univac, he worked for the Bendix Field Engineering Corporation on the NASA Manned Space Flight Network, and supported 5 Apollo lunar missions as the computer supervisor and data systems supervisor at the Guam and Corpus Christi, TX, Apollo tracking stations.  Before that, he was employed by North American Rockwell and worked on the development of the Navy Tactical Data Systems (NTDS).  He has held numerous FAA technical management positions in Airway Facilities including the positions of Branch Manager, Assistant Division Manager, Division Manager, and Deputy Director of the Operational Support Program.

Here's more info about the Guam NASA tracking stations: 

 

Here are all the Apollo tracking stations; https://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/alsj-DSNLocations.html 

 

Here's a great story about a little boy who helped saved Apollo from Guam: https://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/07/20/apollo11.irpt/index.html