National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Scientist. Most famous for finding solutions to NASA problems, which earned him the nickname "Mr. Fixit." In 1973, when the Skylab Space Station lost a solar panel and shield, which left it exposed to a dangerous level of solar heat, he created a heat-resistant 24-by-28-foot sun umbrella for Skylab and found a way to open it outside the spacecraft. This work on the $2.6 billion Skylab earned Mr. Kinzler NASA's Distinguished Service Medal and is generally considered to have been the "signature achievement of his career," since without a solar panel and shield, temperatures inside Skylab could have risen higher than 130 degrees Fahrenheit, making the spacecraft basically useless. In 1961, Mr. Kinzler established the Technical Services Division at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, where he led approximately 180 technicians in the various tasks required by the space program, including machining and sheet metal work, modeling, electronics, electroplating, among others, along with a field test branch. He was Chief of this division until 1977. In the late sixties, Mr. Kinzler was asked by the agency's head, Robert Gilruth, for ideas on how to create public excitement for the planned moon landing. He suggested creating a flag to plant on the moon by the astronauts. The project was quickly approved. He used a standard nylon flag, which he found could withstand the intense temperatures on the moon. He put an aluminum telescoping tube in the top, with a latch on it, and a hinge that allowed it to be pulled out, and as they extended the tube, the flag would ripple. The first flag was planted on the moon's surface by Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin on July 20 1969. In his early twenties, Mr. Kinzler joined an aeronautical laboratory in Langley, Virginia, and over the next eighteen years rose from apprentice modeller and toolmaker to become assistant supervisor of the laboratory. In 1958 the lab became part of the newly-founded National Aeronautics and Space Administration. This moved him to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, where he helped build mock-up space capsules for the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs. He displayed a creative mind, which was most needed when things went wrong. "Whenever we run into trouble," Mr. Kinzler said in 1973, "that's when I really get interested." In addition to designing the moon-landing flags (raised on all six landings), Mr. Kinzler produced the plaques left behind bearing the words: "Here Men from the Planet Earth first set foot upon the moon, July 1969 AD. We came in peace for all mankind." It bore the names of the first astronauts to land on the moon, Armstrong, Aldrin and Michael Collins, along with that of President Nixon.
He was the son of Edward Fredrick and Maggie May Smith Kinzler. Jack graduated from South Hills High School in Pittsburgh. He was a model airplane builder and that led to a career with NASA. He was recruited along with other model airplane hobbyists to join NACA, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in March 1941 at Langley Field in Virginia. Jack graduated from apprentice school and worked as a model builder and toolmaker at NACA. He met his wife at NACA and they were married in 1947. NACA became NASA in 1958 and in 1961, NASA decided to build the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston. Jack was asked to develop the Technical Services Division there. He moved the family to Texas in 1962 where he was the Technical Services Division Chief until his retirement in 1977. Jack and his crack team are known for the Apollo moon flag and moon plaque. Jack received the NASA Distinguished Service Medal for spearheading the parasol fix for Skylab. Many people knew him from his Precision Boring Service related to motocross racing. After his retirement, he became involved with NARFE, National MorAssociation of Retired Federal Employees, and served on the Board for the Bay Area Community Center. Jack was a Deacon, Elder, friend of all, fixer, inventor, procrastinator, grandfather, father, and husband and will be missed by all. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, three children; 7 grandchildren, as well as nieces and nephews and their families.
He was the son of Edward Fredrick and Maggie May Smith Kinzler. Jack graduated from South Hills High School in Pittsburgh. He was a model airplane builder and that led to a career with NASA. He was recruited along with other model airplane hobbyists to join NACA, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in March 1941 at Langley Field in Virginia. Jack graduated from apprentice school and worked as a model builder and toolmaker at NACA. He met his wife at NACA and they were married in 1947. NACA became NASA in 1958 and in 1961, NASA decided to build the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston. Jack was asked to develop the Technical Services Division there. He moved the family to Texas in 1962 where he was the Technical Services Division Chief until his retirement in 1977. Jack and his crack team are known for the Apollo moon flag and moon plaque. Jack received the NASA Distinguished Service Medal for spearheading the parasol fix for Skylab. Many people knew him from his Precision Boring Service related to motocross racing. After his retirement, he became involved with NARFE, National MorAssociation of Retired Federal Employees, and served on the Board for the Bay Area Community Center. Jack was a Deacon, Elder, friend of all, fixer, inventor, procrastinator, grandfather, father, and husband and will be missed by all. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, three children; 7 grandchildren, as well as nieces and nephews and their families.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Scientist. Most famous for finding solutions to NASA problems, which earned him the nickname "Mr. Fixit." In 1973, when the Skylab Space Station lost a solar panel and shield, which left it exposed to a dangerous level of solar heat, he created a heat-resistant 24-by-28-foot sun umbrella for Skylab and found a way to open it outside the spacecraft. This work on the $2.6 billion Skylab earned Mr. Kinzler NASA's Distinguished Service Medal and is generally considered to have been the "signature achievement of his career," since without a solar panel and shield, temperatures inside Skylab could have risen higher than 130 degrees Fahrenheit, making the spacecraft basically useless. In 1961, Mr. Kinzler established the Technical Services Division at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, where he led approximately 180 technicians in the various tasks required by the space program, including machining and sheet metal work, modeling, electronics, electroplating, among others, along with a field test branch. He was Chief of this division until 1977. In the late sixties, Mr. Kinzler was asked by the agency's head, Robert Gilruth, for ideas on how to create public excitement for the planned moon landing. He suggested creating a flag to plant on the moon by the astronauts. The project was quickly approved. He used a standard nylon flag, which he found could withstand the intense temperatures on the moon. He put an aluminum telescoping tube in the top, with a latch on it, and a hinge that allowed it to be pulled out, and as they extended the tube, the flag would ripple. The first flag was planted on the moon's surface by Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin on July 20 1969. In his early twenties, Mr. Kinzler joined an aeronautical laboratory in Langley, Virginia, and over the next eighteen years rose from apprentice modeller and toolmaker to become assistant supervisor of the laboratory. In 1958 the lab became part of the newly-founded National Aeronautics and Space Administration. This moved him to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, where he helped build mock-up space capsules for the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs. He displayed a creative mind, which was most needed when things went wrong. "Whenever we run into trouble," Mr. Kinzler said in 1973, "that's when I really get interested." In addition to designing the moon-landing flags (raised on all six landings), Mr. Kinzler produced the plaques left behind bearing the words: "Here Men from the Planet Earth first set foot upon the moon, July 1969 AD. We came in peace for all mankind." It bore the names of the first astronauts to land on the moon, Armstrong, Aldrin and Michael Collins, along with that of President Nixon.
He was the son of Edward Fredrick and Maggie May Smith Kinzler. Jack graduated from South Hills High School in Pittsburgh. He was a model airplane builder and that led to a career with NASA. He was recruited along with other model airplane hobbyists to join NACA, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in March 1941 at Langley Field in Virginia. Jack graduated from apprentice school and worked as a model builder and toolmaker at NACA. He met his wife at NACA and they were married in 1947. NACA became NASA in 1958 and in 1961, NASA decided to build the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston. Jack was asked to develop the Technical Services Division there. He moved the family to Texas in 1962 where he was the Technical Services Division Chief until his retirement in 1977. Jack and his crack team are known for the Apollo moon flag and moon plaque. Jack received the NASA Distinguished Service Medal for spearheading the parasol fix for Skylab. Many people knew him from his Precision Boring Service related to motocross racing. After his retirement, he became involved with NARFE, National MorAssociation of Retired Federal Employees, and served on the Board for the Bay Area Community Center. Jack was a Deacon, Elder, friend of all, fixer, inventor, procrastinator, grandfather, father, and husband and will be missed by all. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, three children; 7 grandchildren, as well as nieces and nephews and their families.
He was the son of Edward Fredrick and Maggie May Smith Kinzler. Jack graduated from South Hills High School in Pittsburgh. He was a model airplane builder and that led to a career with NASA. He was recruited along with other model airplane hobbyists to join NACA, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in March 1941 at Langley Field in Virginia. Jack graduated from apprentice school and worked as a model builder and toolmaker at NACA. He met his wife at NACA and they were married in 1947. NACA became NASA in 1958 and in 1961, NASA decided to build the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston. Jack was asked to develop the Technical Services Division there. He moved the family to Texas in 1962 where he was the Technical Services Division Chief until his retirement in 1977. Jack and his crack team are known for the Apollo moon flag and moon plaque. Jack received the NASA Distinguished Service Medal for spearheading the parasol fix for Skylab. Many people knew him from his Precision Boring Service related to motocross racing. After his retirement, he became involved with NARFE, National MorAssociation of Retired Federal Employees, and served on the Board for the Bay Area Community Center. Jack was a Deacon, Elder, friend of all, fixer, inventor, procrastinator, grandfather, father, and husband and will be missed by all. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, three children; 7 grandchildren, as well as nieces and nephews and their families.
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