Feedback: BU Lands on the Moon, Remembering Joseph Boskin
Feedback: BU Lands on the Moon, Remembering Joseph Boskin
BU’s Moon Landing
I just read the article “The Moon Landing That Made BU History” (Summer 2025) and thought I’d let you know that I know of another BU connection to Apollo, and I’m sure there are lots more.
As a new graduate of the BU College of Engineering in 1963, my first job was with North American Aviation, and I worked on the Apollo program at their Space and Information Systems Division in Downey, Calif. I, along with others in my “heat transfer” group, studied and solved the adverse effects of rocket exhaust heating on the mission. By the way, very limited computer programming—most analysis was done with a slide rule!
Later, I was employed by Barry Controls in Watertown, Mass., and had a bit more immediate and direct connection to the Apollo program. NASA contracted with Bulova watch company to design an Accutron mission timer clock to be installed in the Lunar Excursion Module. Bulova, in turn, contracted with Barry Controls to design and fabricate an elastomeric shock and vibration mount for the clock to assure its survivability during liftoff, ascent, and descent—and I was assigned the task. I personally designed the shock and vibration unit, supervised the fabrication of each of them, and personally inspected and tested each of the units before shipment to Bulova. While I never went to the moon, my fingerprints did!
So I suspect that I’m not unique, and there must be other ENG graduates who contributed to NASA’s Apollo program.
Harry Standel (ENG’63)
Milford, N.H.
Remembering Joseph Boskin
I spotted the tribute to Joseph Boskin in my latest Bostonia (“A Historian Whose April Fools’ Day Origin Tale Took on a Life of Its Own,” Summer 2025) and remember, with enthusiasm, his significant influence on my view and teaching of history. His insights and analysis into “social” history profoundly shaped my subsequent teaching, enriching my students’ experience and understanding of history. I had a couple of courses with him while in grad school back in the 1970s, an era that provided significant examples of social upheaval and change.
RIP Joe!
Peter Duston (CAS’65, GRS’75)
Cherryfield, Maine