James Martin (NASA)

Jim Martin (1920-06-21–2002-04-14) was Project Manager for the Viking program. As Viking 1 landed on Mars, Martin hung up on a call from President Ford, telling him that he was "busy right now" and to call back in three hours. [John Newcomb, "Call Back Later, Mr. President", http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/video/viking30/index.html] The President called back three hours later at which time Martin, along with then-NASA Administrator Jim Fletcher, briefed him on the landing. [ [http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=6220 Gerald R. Ford: Telephone Conversation With National Aeronautics and Space Administration Officials on the Mars Landing of the Viking I Spacecraft ] ]

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