Jerry Bostick - Email Interview Transcript
From: Nate Pietraszak
Sent: Sat 12/29/12 2:47 PM
To: Jerry Bostick
Dear Mr. Bostick,
My name is Nate Pietraszak. I'm an 8th grader and as part of my Honors History class, I am constructing a National History Day project on a turning point in history. Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by airplanes, flight and space, so I chose Sputnik and its impact on America's race to space dominance as my project's focus.
As a member of NASA during the space race, you played an important part in America’s quest for space. I would love to ask you a few questions. First, how did Sputnik influence you? Did it impact your education choices or career path? And second, how did you view space and its exploration prior to your joining NASA? I really appreciate your time and effort to both answer my questions and your contribution to the space program. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Nate Pietraszak
8th Grader
From: Jerry Bostick
Sent: Sat 12/29/12 5:32 PM
To: 'Nate Pietraszak'
Nate,
Good luck on your project. I am impressed that you have such an interest in America’s manned space program. I was a freshman in college when Sputnik was launched. I will never forget the night I was driving back to college when I heard on the radio that the USSR had put an artificial satellite into orbit. It was scary! If they could do that, could they put an atomic bomb into orbit and drop it on us? The beeping signal was a constant reminder that it was there and that they were way ahead of us in space technology. I was majoring in Civil Engineering and had little interest in aeronautics, but after NASA was formed, it was my dream to be a part of the
program. I didn’t really expect that they would be interested in Civil Engineers, but upon graduation, I was hired by the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. When I found out that there was a group of people there who were working on manned space flight, I applied and was accepted and then was among the first group of people transferred to Houston, Texas
in early 1962. Without the threat of Sputnik and the succeeding USSR manned spaceflights, I don’t think America would have responded to such a daunting challenge as landing men on the moon. It was a program which greatly influenced our educational system and advanced technology as it had never been before.
If I can help you in any way on your project, please do not hesitate to ask all the questions you may have. Thanks for your interest. Jerry Bostick
From: Nate Pietraszak
Sent: Sun 12/30/12 9:28 AM
To: Jerry Bostick
Dear Mr. Bostick,
Thank you very much for replying! I really appreciate your answers, especially the part about having it be your dream to join NASA once it was formed. It was very cool to know that you remember exactly what you were doing when you heard about Sputnik. I’m sure that it was an event that will stick with you forever.
Your response will be a perfect fit for my project. I am currently coming up with a few follow up questions for you. Thanks again!
Sincerely,
Nate Pietraszak
8th Grader
From: Nate Pietraszak
Sent: Sat 1/12/13 11:51 AM
To: Jerry Bostick
Dear Mr. Bostick,
Thank you again for replying. I do have a few more questions if you have time. I understand you played a role in flight dynamics for NASA. Was there more pressure on you with the role you had than for others at NASA, for example, the astronauts in training, due to Russia’s advancement into space? And also, was the Soviet space program mentioned a lot during your work at NASA?
I appreciate both your time and effort immensely.
Sincerely,
Nate Pietraszak
8th Grader
From: Jerry Bostick
Sent: Sat 1/12/13 12:43 PM
To: 'Nate Pietraszak'
There was probably not any more pressure on me than anyone else involved in the missions. We all just wanted to make sure we did everything we could to make the missions successful. Of course the astronauts were under the most pressure because they were the most visible. We didn’t talk about the Russians a lot, but we all knew what it took to land men on the moon and it seemed in the early years that they were ahead of us. That all changed when we completed the first space rendezvous on Gemini 7/6. That day was a big one for us because we finally felt that we were on the right track and that we were actually ahead of the USSR.
From: Nate Pietraszak
Sent: Sun 3/31/13 4:16 PM
To: Jerry Bostick
Mr. Bostick,
As I was going over my website again to prepare it for state, I came up with another question I would like to ask you. When you heard on the radio that Sputnik was in orbit, did they play the transmission as well, or did you hear it sometime later? If you did, what did you think?
Thank you,
Nate Pietraszak
From: Jerry Bostick
Sent: Sun 3/31/13
To: 'Nate Pietraszak'
When I first heard the news on the radio, all they said was that the USSR had placed an artificial satellite in orbit. It was later (the same night I think) that they started playing the "beep-beep-beep.” The sound of that transmission just made it even more scary.
From: Nate Pietraszak
Sent: Fri 4/05/13 7:29 AM
To: Jerry Bostick
Mr. Bostick,
After the regional competition, I sat down with my teacher and she suggested some changes. I'm not sure if you can speak to any of these questions, but if you can, I would greatly appreciate your responses.
1. How was the initial failure of Vanguard viewed by the American public?
2. How was Explorer’s success received by the public?
3. How quickly did America start preparing for the possible nuclear strike, demonstrated conceivable by Sputnik?
4. Was there a lot of fear among American citizens about the possible nuclear attack?
Thanks again for all of your help!
Nate Pietraszak
From: Jerry Bostick
Sent: Fri 4/05/13 8:05 AM
To: 'Nate Pietraszak'
How was the initial failure of Vanguard viewed by the American public?
Largely, the public was discouraged and afraid that the US missile technology would never match that of the USSR.
How was Explorer’s success received by the public?
Most of us reacted with pride. At last we were able to get something into earth orbit. Maybe there was hope after all.
How quickly did America start preparing for the possible nuclear strike, demonstrated conceivable by Sputnik?
I’m not sure how quickly the US Government reacted, but people that I knew started talking about building bomb shelters and/or stocking their existing storm cellars with supplies.
Was there a lot of fear among American citizens about the possible nuclear attack?
Yes. We didn’t really understand the devastating effects of such an attack, but were still very worried.
Hope this helps. Will be happy to add anything if I can.
Sent: Sat 12/29/12 2:47 PM
To: Jerry Bostick
Dear Mr. Bostick,
My name is Nate Pietraszak. I'm an 8th grader and as part of my Honors History class, I am constructing a National History Day project on a turning point in history. Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by airplanes, flight and space, so I chose Sputnik and its impact on America's race to space dominance as my project's focus.
As a member of NASA during the space race, you played an important part in America’s quest for space. I would love to ask you a few questions. First, how did Sputnik influence you? Did it impact your education choices or career path? And second, how did you view space and its exploration prior to your joining NASA? I really appreciate your time and effort to both answer my questions and your contribution to the space program. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Nate Pietraszak
8th Grader
From: Jerry Bostick
Sent: Sat 12/29/12 5:32 PM
To: 'Nate Pietraszak'
Nate,
Good luck on your project. I am impressed that you have such an interest in America’s manned space program. I was a freshman in college when Sputnik was launched. I will never forget the night I was driving back to college when I heard on the radio that the USSR had put an artificial satellite into orbit. It was scary! If they could do that, could they put an atomic bomb into orbit and drop it on us? The beeping signal was a constant reminder that it was there and that they were way ahead of us in space technology. I was majoring in Civil Engineering and had little interest in aeronautics, but after NASA was formed, it was my dream to be a part of the
program. I didn’t really expect that they would be interested in Civil Engineers, but upon graduation, I was hired by the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. When I found out that there was a group of people there who were working on manned space flight, I applied and was accepted and then was among the first group of people transferred to Houston, Texas
in early 1962. Without the threat of Sputnik and the succeeding USSR manned spaceflights, I don’t think America would have responded to such a daunting challenge as landing men on the moon. It was a program which greatly influenced our educational system and advanced technology as it had never been before.
If I can help you in any way on your project, please do not hesitate to ask all the questions you may have. Thanks for your interest. Jerry Bostick
From: Nate Pietraszak
Sent: Sun 12/30/12 9:28 AM
To: Jerry Bostick
Dear Mr. Bostick,
Thank you very much for replying! I really appreciate your answers, especially the part about having it be your dream to join NASA once it was formed. It was very cool to know that you remember exactly what you were doing when you heard about Sputnik. I’m sure that it was an event that will stick with you forever.
Your response will be a perfect fit for my project. I am currently coming up with a few follow up questions for you. Thanks again!
Sincerely,
Nate Pietraszak
8th Grader
From: Nate Pietraszak
Sent: Sat 1/12/13 11:51 AM
To: Jerry Bostick
Dear Mr. Bostick,
Thank you again for replying. I do have a few more questions if you have time. I understand you played a role in flight dynamics for NASA. Was there more pressure on you with the role you had than for others at NASA, for example, the astronauts in training, due to Russia’s advancement into space? And also, was the Soviet space program mentioned a lot during your work at NASA?
I appreciate both your time and effort immensely.
Sincerely,
Nate Pietraszak
8th Grader
From: Jerry Bostick
Sent: Sat 1/12/13 12:43 PM
To: 'Nate Pietraszak'
There was probably not any more pressure on me than anyone else involved in the missions. We all just wanted to make sure we did everything we could to make the missions successful. Of course the astronauts were under the most pressure because they were the most visible. We didn’t talk about the Russians a lot, but we all knew what it took to land men on the moon and it seemed in the early years that they were ahead of us. That all changed when we completed the first space rendezvous on Gemini 7/6. That day was a big one for us because we finally felt that we were on the right track and that we were actually ahead of the USSR.
From: Nate Pietraszak
Sent: Sun 3/31/13 4:16 PM
To: Jerry Bostick
Mr. Bostick,
As I was going over my website again to prepare it for state, I came up with another question I would like to ask you. When you heard on the radio that Sputnik was in orbit, did they play the transmission as well, or did you hear it sometime later? If you did, what did you think?
Thank you,
Nate Pietraszak
From: Jerry Bostick
Sent: Sun 3/31/13
To: 'Nate Pietraszak'
When I first heard the news on the radio, all they said was that the USSR had placed an artificial satellite in orbit. It was later (the same night I think) that they started playing the "beep-beep-beep.” The sound of that transmission just made it even more scary.
From: Nate Pietraszak
Sent: Fri 4/05/13 7:29 AM
To: Jerry Bostick
Mr. Bostick,
After the regional competition, I sat down with my teacher and she suggested some changes. I'm not sure if you can speak to any of these questions, but if you can, I would greatly appreciate your responses.
1. How was the initial failure of Vanguard viewed by the American public?
2. How was Explorer’s success received by the public?
3. How quickly did America start preparing for the possible nuclear strike, demonstrated conceivable by Sputnik?
4. Was there a lot of fear among American citizens about the possible nuclear attack?
Thanks again for all of your help!
Nate Pietraszak
From: Jerry Bostick
Sent: Fri 4/05/13 8:05 AM
To: 'Nate Pietraszak'
How was the initial failure of Vanguard viewed by the American public?
Largely, the public was discouraged and afraid that the US missile technology would never match that of the USSR.
How was Explorer’s success received by the public?
Most of us reacted with pride. At last we were able to get something into earth orbit. Maybe there was hope after all.
How quickly did America start preparing for the possible nuclear strike, demonstrated conceivable by Sputnik?
I’m not sure how quickly the US Government reacted, but people that I knew started talking about building bomb shelters and/or stocking their existing storm cellars with supplies.
Was there a lot of fear among American citizens about the possible nuclear attack?
Yes. We didn’t really understand the devastating effects of such an attack, but were still very worried.
Hope this helps. Will be happy to add anything if I can.