Voice of NASA TV lifts off into retirement

When the United Launch Alliance sends their Atlas V rocket into space on April 18, it will mark the end of an era for NASA TV as longtime launch announcer George Diller calls his final liftoff.

Diller has served as a launch commentator on NASA Television for the launch countdown of both expendable launch vehicles and the space shuttle, including STS-135, the final space shuttle mission with the launch of Atlantis. He has called the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope aboard Discovery as well as the countdown for the Atlas V rocket carrying the Mars Science Laboratory with the Curiosity rover.

In addition to serving as the NASA TV launch commentator, he has also worked as a public affairs specialist at NASA's Kennedy Space Center for 37 years.

During a recent press conference, Frank Culbertson, a former NASA astronaut who is now president of Orbital ATK's Space Systems Group, thanked Diller for his service.

“A real, true fan of the space program, but also a real contributor,” Culbertson said. “So George, thank you for everything.”