An Interview with Charles Berry: The Astronauts’ Doctor

Article

“An Interview with Charles Berry: The Astronauts’ Doctor,” Interview by Carol Butler with assistance from Summer Chick Bergen and Tim Farrell
Published in Quest Volume: 27 #2 (2020)

Abstract

Dr. Charles Alden Berry, headed up medical services at the Manned Spacecraft Center, now the Johnson Space Center, from 1962 to 1974. He won fame during the Gemini and Apollo programs as the doctor to the astronauts. Dr. Berry’s notoriety, which was supported by his frequent presence at the flight surgeon console in Mission Control during spaceflights, did not always endear him to the astronauts whom he had the power to ground if they developed medical problems. Before he came to NASA, Dr. Berry served as a flight surgeon in the US Air Force, and in 1959 he was involved in selecting the Mercury astronauts. After he departed NASA, following the end of the Skylab program, Dr. Barry continued his long medical career in a variety of settings. This oral history touching on all aspects of his career, was performed by NASA historians.

Citation

Berry, Charles A. “An Interview with Charles Berry: The Astronauts’ Doctor.” Interview with Carol Butler. Quest: The History of Spaceflight Quarterly 27, no. 2 (2020): 27-48.