George W.S. Abbey, senior fellow in space policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and former director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, passed away this week after an illness. He was 91.
Abbey joined the Baker Institute in 2002, dedicating over 20 years to hosting numerous events and programs that fostered international cooperation in space. He led the annual International Space Medicine Summit, uniting experts from around the world to address medical challenges of long-duration spaceflight. Abbey also co-managed the institute’s Moscow Summer Intern Program. However, it was his nearly 40-year career at NASA and indelible impact on human space exploration that earned him the title “father of modern spaceflight.”
“George Abbey’s impact extended far beyond his work at NASA; his tenure as a senior fellow in space policy at Rice University further enriched our academic community. Through his insightful mentorship and dedication to advancing space science and policy, Abbey played a pivotal role in shaping the future of space exploration both at Rice and globally,” said Rice President Reginald DesRoches. “His legacy will forever be intertwined with our university’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of human knowledge and exploration.”
As the director of Johnson Space Center from 1996-2001, Abbey was in charge of 18,000 civil servants and contractors. He joined the space agency in 1964 as an Air Force captain assigned to the Apollo program before moving into several leadership roles. He served as the director of JSC flight operations for the early space shuttle missions.
“I didn’t have a job I didn’t enjoy,” Abbey said in a 2018 Rice News article.
Along with many historic victories — Abbey was at mission control when Apollo 11 landed on the moon — he was also present during some of the space agency’s biggest challenges. Notably, he played an instrumental role in NASA’s recovery from the 1967 Apollo 1 disaster, when a fire during a test launch killed all three crew members. He also helped orchestrate the safe return of the Apollo 13 crew after an explosion crippled its spacecraft in 1970. Abbey and the Apollo 13 operations team received the Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award, from President Richard Nixon. Additionally, Abbey played a significant role in developing the International Space Station and in establishing the United States’ partnership with Russia in space exploration.
“We mourn the loss of our Baker Institute colleague, who will long be remembered at home and around the world as a visionary who led mankind to explore space,” said David M. Satterfield, director of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
“Though he was a pilot and an engineer by training, he was also a diplomat at his core. Abbey was a strong advocate for international cooperation in space, which he promoted through dialogue with colleagues around the world. He cared deeply about the nation’s International Space Station partnerships and their importance for the U.S. return to deep space.”
Abbey worked to diversify NASA’s ranks, recruiting some of the space program’s first minority and female astronauts, including Sally Ride. The 2018 book “The Astronaut Maker: How One Mysterious Engineer Ran Human Spaceflight for a Generation” highlights Abbey’s leadership and advocacy to make “spaceflight available to all, regardless of citizenship, gender, color or ethnic background.”
Abbey received numerous awards, including the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal and three NASA Distinguished Service Medals.
David Alexander, director of the Rice Space Institute (RSI), said Abbey was instrumental in strengthening Rice’s involvement in space-related research through his engagement with RSI, which ultimately led to a more formal partnership with the NASA Johnson Space Center.
“George Abbey was a towering figure in space exploration with an influence that extended far and wide,” Alexander said. “Personally, I will always be grateful for the time he spent connecting us with the right people and guiding our path. His impact on the space community is immeasurable, and his loss is deeply felt.”
Abbey’s family released a statement following his passing that reads, in part: “He has been called the father of modern spaceflight, but we called him Dad, Grampa and Uncle George. He was a quiet man, brilliant, humble and very private. The world will be so much emptier without him. He had hundreds of friends and associates from all over the world who will miss him. His long life was notable for accomplishments as a pilot, engineer, manager, educator and father.”
Abbey was born in Seattle in 1932. He is survived by his five children, eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews and by so many whose space careers he launched and nurtured.