With everyone still stirring with excitement over the 40^th anniversary of the lunar landing, it was a surprise to learn that one of Braintree’s own business incubator tenants; Michael Vucelic, owner of I.E. Liquidation Inc., was one of the hundreds of support staff for over 10 Apollo missions to the moon, including the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission.  Michael, a former aerospace engineer quotes in the Mansfield News Journal that, “my responsibility started at ignition plus 10 seconds and ended with the landing of the aircraft in the ocean.” (Shillig, Mansfield News Journal).  Michael was a representative for a private California firm that NASA contracted in the late 1950s; North American Rockwell (NAR), whose primary responsibility was to build the shuttle’s command and service modules.  Vucelic also coordinated 12 scientists at the mission control station and dozens of other parts suppliers, builders, and engineers from California labs, who were ready to answer questions if something should go wrong with a mission.

Vucelic began his career working at Mercedes Benz in Stuttgart, Germany, before emigrating to the United States in 1956 at the age of 25.  Upon entering the states Vucelic began working as an engineer at Cessna, a small-engine airplane company.  Vucelic then moved on to the North American Aviation in 1962, which later became known as NAR, and focused almost solely on space rocket technology and engineering.  A native Croatian from Yugoslavia, who can speak four languages, Vucelic is quoted in the Mansfield News Journal as saying he came to the states with only, “$50 in my pocket.” (Shilling, Mansfield News Journal).  Vucelic and his wife Inga have lived in Mansfield since 1986, when they purchased and operated Ideal Electric for 20 years, which is now run by Hyundai.  Today, Vucelic owns and operates I.E. Liquidation Inc., out of the Braintree Business Incubator.

Shilling, E. (2009, July 20).  Mansfield Man was in on Apollo Mission Control. The Mansfield News Journal, pp. 1A.