The emphasis that Lewis placed on those particular rockets led to Harris’ first work in launch commentaries, which occurred in California at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB). Harris’ NASA duties included handling press relations as well as preparing news releases and writing articles.Īt the time, Lewis Research Center efforts focused on propulsion and power generation as well as the Atlas-Centaur, Atlas-Agena and Thor-Agena rockets. “When I went to work at NASA, I was thinking along the lines of maybe working there for a year and then, having become an expert in everything, go back to the media and do stories for whoever I was working for,” Harris said. “Within a relatively short period after I started working, I realized that what NASA was doing was probably one of the most important things being done in the country and for the world.” Federal Reserve and NASA, Harris opted for space. Previously, as a reporter, Harris covered Reaction Motors, a New Jersey company that manufactured the engine for the X-15 spaceplane. When he received simultaneous job offers from the U.S. Harris began working in NASA public affairs in February 1963 at the agency’s Lewis Research Center, later renamed Glenn Research Center. Hugh Harris’ NASA career lasted 34 years longer than he expected.

Harris confirmed liftoff to audiences worldwide for the victorious debut launch of Columbia, the tragic loss of Challenger and the fightback of Discovery’s first Return To Flight mission. The voice of Hugh Harris provided countdown commentary for the brave new era of the Space Shuttle Program during his illustrious NASA career.

Nasa space shuttle liftoff