Reaching for the Moon: Jack’s Legacy in the Apollo Missions

Pictured above: Jack Burman (far left) and the team that helped put humans on the moon, and Jack’s Commemorative Certificate for his work on the Apollo missions

Meet Jack, an engineer who helped make history. After deciding on a career change while living in Baton Rouge, he packed up, moved to Boulder, and went on to work on several Apollo missions, including Apollo 13 and Apollo 14.

Jack was part of the team responsible for the design and implementation of the spacecraft’s oxygen tank system. Students of history, and fans of the movie, know that during the Apollo 13 mission one of the spacecraft’s oxygen tanks exploded because of damaged wiring insulation. The sudden loss of oxygen and power forced the crew to abort their lunar landing and use the Lunar Module as a lifeboat to make the long journey home.

Although Jack’s team was not responsible for the wiring insulation itself, he was tasked with investigating exactly what had gone wrong. Carefully examining the detailed records kept by every company involved in the design and installation of the tanks, Jack was able to identify the precise moment and location where the faulty insulation had been created.

Although Jack received accolades for his work on other Apollo missions, including a commemorative certificate for the part he played in Apollo 14, he views Apollo 13 as his most remarkable success. The dedication of so many people working together to uncover the cause of the faulty insulation and to ensure that such a problem would never happen again still fills him with pride and awe 55 years later.

The experience also reinforced two of Jack’s lifelong beliefs: think everything through carefully, and never overlook the small details.

Jack’s stories offer a fascinating glimpse into one of humankind’s greatest achievements. We at The Denver Hospice are honored that he shared them with us and encourage everyone reading this story to think of Jack’s remarkable legacy and the part he played in carrying humanity’s dreams beyond our own world each time you look up and see the Moon shining above.