‘Rocket Hobo’ Robert ‘Ozzie’ Osband, Originator of 3-2-1 Area Code, Passes Away Aug. 6 at Age 72

responsible for the 3-2-1 telephone area code

BREVARD COUNTY • TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA – The American Space Museum reported that long-time volunteer and a fixture at Titusville Space View Park rocket launches for four decades, Robert “Ozzie” Osband died on Aug. 6, 2023 at age 72.

According to the American Space Museum, Osband, fondly known as the “Rocket Hobo,” died unexpectedly in his sleep Sunday morning at his home in Titusville.

Osband is the person responsible for the 3-2-1 telephone area code for the Space Coast that went into effective Nov. 1, 1999.

Karan Conklin, executive director of The American Space Museum, sent her condolences to the family on behalf of the staff.

“Ozzie Osband was a volunteer at ASM for 20 years, organizing talks and ham radio events ((N4SCY) in the early days of the U. S. Space Walk of Fame Foundation, the museum’s non-profit institution,” said Conklin.

“Since the mid-1980s, Ozzie rarely missed a rocket launch at Space View Park in Downtown Titusville, providing commentary about the mission and sharing the live broadcast on a speaker system. Every once in a while his “10-9-8…”countdown would match a liftoff, a running joke with friends as “T-0″ is hard to to predict with communication delays of several seconds.”

The American Space Museum said they will have a tribute to Ozzie on Facebook and replay one of his appearances on the video podcast, “Stay Curious” at a future date.

 

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