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T O P I C R E V I E WFlying DutchmanRegarding Curtis Michel: I learned he left NASA after four years of service in 1969 or so, without ever leaving the earth... What where his reasons to do so and not wait until a flight? Is he approachable through the mail for autographs?ColinBurgessAfter four years with NASA and a lot of work on the Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM), Curt Michel saw very little prospect of a flight before 1972, and in fact was becoming quite disillusioned when it became obvious that pilot-astronauts selected after his group were getting preferred training for Apollo lunar missions. At one time he took an authorised twelve month leave of absence from NASA in order to maintain his proficiency at Rice University, and when he came back he noticed his name had dropped to the bottom of the list for any flight assignment. He discussed these matters and the diminishing prospect of a future flight with his bosses, Shepard and Slayton, and in the end - soon after Apollo 11 - he sent in his resignation so he could return to his work at Rice University. He was certainly very unhappy with the way that NASA treated the scientist-astronauts, keeping them away from vital research work while overlooking them for Apollo lunar missions and only giving vague assurances of a future assignment to an AAP mission. He was not fired from NASA, as some have asserted; he thought his resignation through very carefully and talked over his future prospects very rationally with Slayton and Shepard before typing up his resignation.As to whether he'll sign or not; I don't believe he signs through the mail any more, but he was a signing guest at the last UACC show in San Antonio. Flying DutchmanHas anyone of you had success with Curtis Michel. I do understand it is extremely difficult to obtain a reaction from him, but do you have any clues or info how to try it? Editor's note: Threads merged. AstronautBrianWell, you can always try but I've never heard of a success with him through the mail.DirkJust to inform collectSPACE members the signature of Curtis Michel is significantly different now then in the seventies.First scan is signature I obtained at the end of the 70's, second scan obtained today.
At one time he took an authorised twelve month leave of absence from NASA in order to maintain his proficiency at Rice University, and when he came back he noticed his name had dropped to the bottom of the list for any flight assignment. He discussed these matters and the diminishing prospect of a future flight with his bosses, Shepard and Slayton, and in the end - soon after Apollo 11 - he sent in his resignation so he could return to his work at Rice University.
He was certainly very unhappy with the way that NASA treated the scientist-astronauts, keeping them away from vital research work while overlooking them for Apollo lunar missions and only giving vague assurances of a future assignment to an AAP mission. He was not fired from NASA, as some have asserted; he thought his resignation through very carefully and talked over his future prospects very rationally with Slayton and Shepard before typing up his resignation.
As to whether he'll sign or not; I don't believe he signs through the mail any more, but he was a signing guest at the last UACC show in San Antonio.
Editor's note: Threads merged.
First scan is signature I obtained at the end of the 70's, second scan obtained today.
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