Harrison Storms
Encyclopedia
Harrison Allen Storms Jr. (July 15, 1916–July 11, 1992), nicknamed Stormy, was an American aeronautical engineer best known for his role in managing the design and construction of the command module for the Apollo program
.
's North Shore, the son of a traveling salesman. As a boy, he was a member of the Boy Scouts
and enjoyed building model airplanes. He attended Northwestern University
, where he graduated at the top of his class, and where he remained for a Masters degree in mechanical engineering. He then went to the California Institute of Technology
to study for a second Masters degree in aeronautical engineering under Theodore von Kármán
.
Storms became an employee of North American Aviation
. In 1955 he successfully led North American's bid for the contract to design and build the X-15
airplane, and two years later he became chief engineer of North American's Los Angeles division.
missile. Storms was to be given the chance to lead North American's expansion into the business of spaceflight. On September 11, 1961, North American won the contract for the S-II, the second stage of the Saturn V
rocket. While this was a very significant achievement, Storms was not satisfied, as he was also aiming for North American to win the contract for the Apollo spacecraft itself.
Storms's relationship with NASA's program manager, Joe Shea
was difficult at times. While Shea blamed North American's management for the continuing difficulties in the development of the command module, Storms felt that NASA itself was far from blameless. It had delayed in making key design decisions, and persisted in making significant changes to the design once construction had begun. While Shea did his part in attempting to control the change requests, Storms felt that he did not understand or sympathize with the inevitable problems involved in the day-to-day work of manufacturing.
described it as a "swaggering portrait of NASA's Apollo project [which] might well be called Indiana Jones
and the Engineering Mission of Destiny."
In the HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon, Storms was played by James Rebhorn
. In Stephen Baxter
's alternate history novel Voyage, the character J.K. Lee is an amalgam of Storms and Tom Kelly
. In the novel, Storms himself is a friend of the Lee character.
Project Apollo
The Apollo program was the spaceflight effort carried out by the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration , that landed the first humans on Earth's Moon. Conceived during the Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Apollo began in earnest after President John F...
.
Early life and career
Storms grew up in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
's North Shore, the son of a traveling salesman. As a boy, he was a member of the Boy Scouts
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
and enjoyed building model airplanes. He attended Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, where he graduated at the top of his class, and where he remained for a Masters degree in mechanical engineering. He then went to the California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
to study for a second Masters degree in aeronautical engineering under Theodore von Kármán
Theodore von Karman
Theodore von Kármán was a Hungarian-American mathematician, aerospace engineer and physicist who was active primarily in the fields of aeronautics and astronautics. He is responsible for many key advances in aerodynamics, notably his work on supersonic and hypersonic airflow characterization...
.
Storms became an employee of North American Aviation
North American Aviation
North American Aviation was a major US aerospace manufacturer, responsible for a number of historic aircraft, including the T-6 Texan trainer, the P-51 Mustang fighter, the B-25 Mitchell bomber, the F-86 Sabre jet fighter, the X-15 rocket plane, and the XB-70, as well as Apollo Command and Service...
. In 1955 he successfully led North American's bid for the contract to design and build the X-15
North American X-15
The North American X-15 rocket-powered aircraft/spaceplane was part of the X-series of experimental aircraft, initiated with the Bell X-1, that were made for the USAAF/USAF, NACA/NASA, and the USN. The X-15 set speed and altitude records in the early 1960s, reaching the edge of outer space and...
airplane, and two years later he became chief engineer of North American's Los Angeles division.
Apollo program
In 1960, he was offered the opportunity to become head of North American's Missile Division, which at the time had only one contract, the AGM-28 Hound DogAGM-28 Hound Dog
The North American Aviation Corporation AGM-28 Hound Dog was a supersonic, jet propelled, air-launched cruise missile. The Hound Dog missile was first given the designation B-77, then redesignated the GAM-77, and finally designated the AGM-28, permanently...
missile. Storms was to be given the chance to lead North American's expansion into the business of spaceflight. On September 11, 1961, North American won the contract for the S-II, the second stage of the Saturn V
Saturn V
The Saturn V was an American human-rated expendable rocket used by NASA's Apollo and Skylab programs from 1967 until 1973. A multistage liquid-fueled launch vehicle, NASA launched 13 Saturn Vs from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida with no loss of crew or payload...
rocket. While this was a very significant achievement, Storms was not satisfied, as he was also aiming for North American to win the contract for the Apollo spacecraft itself.
Storms's relationship with NASA's program manager, Joe Shea
Joseph Francis Shea
Joseph Francis Shea was an American aerospace engineer and NASA manager. Born in the New York City borough of the Bronx, he was educated at the University of Michigan, receiving a Ph.D. in Engineering Mechanics in 1955...
was difficult at times. While Shea blamed North American's management for the continuing difficulties in the development of the command module, Storms felt that NASA itself was far from blameless. It had delayed in making key design decisions, and persisted in making significant changes to the design once construction had begun. While Shea did his part in attempting to control the change requests, Storms felt that he did not understand or sympathize with the inevitable problems involved in the day-to-day work of manufacturing.
In popular culture
Screenwriter Mike Gray profiled Storms in his somewhat controversial 1992 book, Angle of Attack. Publishers WeeklyPublishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
described it as a "swaggering portrait of NASA's Apollo project [which] might well be called Indiana Jones
Indiana Jones
Colonel Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones, Jr., Ph.D. is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Indiana Jones franchise. George Lucas and Steven Spielberg created the character in homage to the action heroes of 1930s film serials...
and the Engineering Mission of Destiny."
In the HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon, Storms was played by James Rebhorn
James Rebhorn
James Robert Rebhorn is an American character actor who has appeared in over 100 television shows, feature films and plays.-Personal life:...
. In Stephen Baxter
Stephen Baxter
Stephen Baxter is a prolific British hard science fiction author. He has degrees in mathematics and engineering.- Writing style :...
's alternate history novel Voyage, the character J.K. Lee is an amalgam of Storms and Tom Kelly
Tom Kelly (engineer)
Thomas Joseph Kelly was an American aerospace engineer.Thomas J. Kelly graduated from Cornell University in 1951, where he was a member of the Quill and Dagger society...
. In the novel, Storms himself is a friend of the Lee character.