Edgar Cortright
The NASA leader who guided Langley Research Center and chaired the rigorous investigation into the near-disaster of Apollo 13.
1923–2014 (age 91)·Senior NASA official-administrator·Birthday: July 29·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Edgar Cortright was an engineer whose steady hand helped guide NASA through triumph and crisis. Joining the agency in 1958, he rose through the ranks with a focus on space science and aeronautical research. As deputy director of the Apollo program, he helped manage the monumental effort to land humans on the Moon. His leadership was most critically tested in 1970 when NASA appointed him chairman of the Apollo 13 Review Board. Cortright oversaw a meticulous, no-stones-unturned investigation that pinpointed the cause of the in-flight explosion and led to major redesigns, ensuring the safety of later missions. Later, as director of the Langley Research Center, he championed the development of the Viking Mars landers and advanced aviation technology, leaving a legacy on both planetary exploration and flight.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Edgar was born in 1923, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Edgar Was Born
The biggest hits of 1923
#1 Movie
The Covered Wagon
Edgar's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1923Born
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1928Started school
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1936Became a teenager
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1939Could drive
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1941Could vote
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1944Turned 21
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1953Turned 30
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1963Turned 40
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 50
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 60
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 70
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 80
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2014Died at 91
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
Key Achievements
- Chaired the official Apollo 13 Review Board, whose investigation identified the cause of the spacecraft's oxygen tank explosion.
- Served as Director of NASA's Langley Research Center, overseeing projects like the Viking Mars lander development.
- Held the position of Deputy Director for the Apollo Program Office during the critical years leading to the Moon landings.
Did You Know?
He began his career at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), NASA's predecessor.
He authored the book 'Apollo Expeditions to the Moon', a detailed account of the lunar program.
The Cortright Award, named in his honor, is given by the American Astronautical Society for outstanding contributions to space exploration.
“The real challenge isn't the moon; it's managing ten thousand contractors to get there.”
