What is steely eyed missile man?

"Steely eyed missile man" is a term that was used to describe the professionals who worked at NASA during the Apollo space mission era. The term was first used by astronaut Alan Shepard, who used the phrase to describe the calm and focused nature of the NASA engineers and scientists at mission control. These individuals were responsible for guiding the Apollo spacecraft and ensuring the safety of the astronauts who flew them.

The term "steely eyed missile man" became popularized later in the 1995 movie, Apollo 13, where actor Gary Sinise played mission controller Ken Mattingly. In the film, Mattingly embodies the "steely eyed missile man" persona as he calmly and decisively navigates the crisis that nearly cost the lives of the Apollo 13 crew.

Today, the term is often used more broadly to describe individuals who remain calm and focused under pressure, especially in high-stakes situations where lives are on the line.