As we commemorate the Apollo 11 moon landing 50 years ago, we’re learning more about important contributions local people made to the space program.
Paul Norman was born and raised in Bellingham, graduating from Bellingham High School and then Western Washington University in 1952.
His twin sister, Ruth – who was a Fulbright Scholar herself – says Paul went on to work as a surveyor for the Department of the Interior and eventually learned “photogrammetry,” which is the process of surveying and mapping using photographs.
He was brought into the Apollo program to help map the lunar surface and establish landing sites.
Paul passed away just months after the Apollo 11 mission that he helped make a success.
His family still treasures a letter of condolence NASA sent to his widow that was signed by Neil Armstrong, Frank Borman and other Apollo astronauts and administrators.
