Early life Born in
Falmouth and growing up in
Barnstable,
Massachusetts, Chaffin attended
University of Massachusetts where she graduated with degrees in
history and
psychology. Chaffin enlisted in the
Women's Army Corps on 28 October 1943. After completing
basic training, she was deployed to
Oro Bay,
New Guinea and
Manila, the
Philippines. Chaffin was the only woman reporter for the military publication
Daily Pacifican, including reporting on General
Tomoyuki Yamashita's trial.
the London Daily Telegraph,
Springer News,
Quick Magazine in
Germany, newspapers, and
wire services. She was determined to never miss a
launch, reporting on over 1,600 consecutive launches by 1980 and more than 3,000 throughout her career. On 5 January 1968, Bubb launched a
meteorological sounding rocket from Cape Canaveral's
Launch Complex 43 under the supervision of
Pan American World Airways. Bubb regularly hosted
parties in
Cocoa Beach, Florida, both planned in advance and more spontaneously when launch delays kept reporters,
astronauts, space program leaders, and corporate executives in town for longer than expected. and she was a well-connected guest at other socially-prestigious events within the Cape Canaveral space community. For her less formal parties, Bubb would direct guests to bring ingredients or assist her during preparation. Bubb customized her hats to symbolize launch events, Over time, others in the space industry brought her hats from their travels. At the 1987 Canaveral Press Club's Page One Ball, NASA awarded Bubb a lifetime achievement award.
Death Bubb continued working up until her death, filing a report for Reuters on
Governor Bob Martinez's announcement of plans for a commercial
spaceport at Cape Canaveral on 25 March 1988, the Friday before her death. Earlier that week on 21 March, she reported on the launch of five
Pershing 2 missiles from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for
Reuters,
Associated Press, and
United Press International. ==Personal life==