Iconic Kennedy Space Center countdown clock removed
Clock to be replaced before Orion launch
NASA says it's the second-most watched clock in the world, behind the Big Ben clock in London. It's the Kennedy Space Center countdown clock, familiar in hundreds of launch pictures, and on Monday, it was removed.
The clock first made its appearance in the heady days of Apollo, for Apollo 12 in November 1969. It was there for all six other moon launches and all 135 space shuttle launches.
Central Floridians watched the clock through a lot of suspenseful moments and a lot of weather delays.
"To keep it going, or [use] parts which we have to make ourselves, is just not practical," said George Diller, NASA public information specialist.
The clock has 336 light bulbs. You could call Bruce Hodge the clock-master. Hodge has changed every last one of those bulbs multiple times.
"Run through the numbers; make sure they all work," he said. "Do that for every launch."
Hodge supervised the removal of the old countdown clock. He's kept it running for 40 of its 45 years.
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A new clock, looking just like the old one but with fancy graphics and electronics will be in place for next week's big Orion test launch.
The old icon is on its way to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.