A lot of the Apollo flight controllers were in their 20s, too, when NASA first went to the Moon.
@SciGuySpace Only the meaning of the term 'console' changed a bit between the two programs
@SciGuySpace Yup; my first time on console in MCC by myself- as a flight controller for the Skylab Entry mission in 1979- was in my early 20s. Skylab was broken by then, too; learning to control it was the biggest/best course in system engineering possible, day in/out for six months.
@SciGuySpace This is the space program spinoff which is most important yet which is given the least attention. Just imagine the future productivity in other fields of those engineers who are today being tempered in intense environment of SpaceX.
@SciGuySpace I think it's still true at NASA MCC. (It was when I was there on Shuttle and ISS FCTs.)
@SciGuySpace It's interesting that we've got all these young controllers on the ground, while astronauts doing the physically strenuous/ dangerous work tend to be older (40s-50s). You'd think it would be the other way around.
@SciGuySpace It’s just that they all looked like they were 50
@SciGuySpace My kid is only 29 and has been on the lead sensor team for Orion. Most are under 30. Sure was a great sight to see Orion in the VAB