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  8/2013: Bring an Apollo astronaut to the UK

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Author Topic:   8/2013: Bring an Apollo astronaut to the UK
Nigel Mc
Member

Posts: 182
From: Sheffield, UK
Registered: Jan 2011

posted 11-30-2012 03:22 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Nigel Mc   Click Here to Email Nigel Mc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I run a lecture evening event called "Something Astronomical: An Evening Dedicated to Space." We have had many successful events and are now expanding.

As part of this expansion we are intending to bring an Apollo astronaut to the UK around August next year. I have made some great contacts regarding guests, I can honestly say the number one guest we are working on has not attended an event like this in the UK. We have the venue as well.

However, nothing is free and we need something to get this moving. This is where everyone here may be able to help.

Something Astronomical is using the crowd funding website Kickstarter to raise the cash needed to secure guest and venue.

If the funding does not reach the target, then no one will be charged a penny. However, if it does achieve it's target, you will have basically bought your ticket early. There are other incentives to pledging your interest now as well, including free photo shoot and more.

Once again, you would only be giving your money if the funding is successful. If funding is not successful, it does not cost you a penny. You are merely pledging.

I should also say, this event is in no way to rival any other. This is a separate, one off deal. After this astronaut event, Something Astronomical will go back to bringing (as it has since the beginning) scientists and authors.

The full Kickstarter page has a background on myself and the event.

The guest we are working on would make an incredible event, I sincerely hope people are interested and would like to support this event. — Nigel K McEnaney

Tykeanaut
Member

Posts: 2212
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008

posted 11-30-2012 03:36 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Tykeanaut   Click Here to Email Tykeanaut     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Nigel, it would be an advantage to all to know who we are paying for in advance perhaps? Best of luck, if it's an astronaut I haven't met before then count me in.

Nigel Mc
Member

Posts: 182
From: Sheffield, UK
Registered: Jan 2011

posted 11-30-2012 03:53 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Nigel Mc   Click Here to Email Nigel Mc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I would love to say, genuinely, but until he is secured I risk setting myself up for a fall. Can promise though, it is a rare Apollo guest.

carl walker
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Posts: 360
From: Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2006

posted 11-30-2012 04:09 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for carl walker     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Nigel, sounds interesting, but I agree with Tyke, we need to have some clues first, since you'd be doing well to joining the likes of Autographica and Aileen and Ken, and it's getting hard to invite people that we've not met before. Can we rule out Aldrin, Bean, Cernan, Cunningham, Duke, Gordon, Lovell, Mitchell, Schweickart, Worden?

Ade74
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Posts: 47
From: Peterborough, England
Registered: Nov 2009

posted 11-30-2012 04:21 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ade74   Click Here to Email Ade74     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Nigel, this looks very interesting and hoping another astronaut comes over for all to see and hear...

One question, if I sign up but when the date is announced I cannot make it, do I get my money back or because of pledging I have effectively bought a ticket?

Like the other guys say, I'm sure we will all get behind this as best we can.

Nigel Mc
Member

Posts: 182
From: Sheffield, UK
Registered: Jan 2011

posted 11-30-2012 09:17 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Nigel Mc   Click Here to Email Nigel Mc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thank you everyone for your interest already.

If you could not make the date, your money would be refunded no question.

I sincerely wish I could tell you, but I really do not want to jeopardize the whole thing at this early stage. All I can say is, I go to all the events I can and I have not seen this astronaut at any of them.

topmiler
Member

Posts: 148
From: eastleigh, hampshire, UK
Registered: Jul 2012

posted 11-30-2012 09:48 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for topmiler     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Intriguing, you have my attention.

Nigel Mc
Member

Posts: 182
From: Sheffield, UK
Registered: Jan 2011

posted 11-30-2012 11:58 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Nigel Mc   Click Here to Email Nigel Mc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
£100 pledged already - Thank you!!

gliderpilotuk
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Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 11-30-2012 11:59 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for gliderpilotuk   Click Here to Email gliderpilotuk     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
By my count there are 8 surviving Apollo astronauts who have not been to a widely-held public event in the UK. Any one of them I'd be happy to meet.

Glint
Member

Posts: 1040
From: New Windsor, Maryland USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 11-30-2012 12:29 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Glint   Click Here to Email Glint     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Just wondering, has the astronaut in question necessarily "flown" on Apollo, or was he a flightless astronaut during the Apollo era?

Nigel Mc
Member

Posts: 182
From: Sheffield, UK
Registered: Jan 2011

posted 12-01-2012 12:03 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Nigel Mc   Click Here to Email Nigel Mc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Flown astronaut.

I am going to try to find out if I can let everyone know. As soon as I know I will let you all know. Thanks.

Thank you to everyone to has pledged so far £300!!!

Blackarrow
Member

Posts: 3120
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 12-01-2012 01:45 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Blackarrow     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Your answer is a little ambiguous. Is that "flown on an Apollo mission" (ie Apollos 7 to 17)?

One other important point. You mention this event is likely to be in August. A lot of people go on holiday in August. It would be helpful to know if you are looking at early, mid- or late August.

johnpslater
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posted 12-01-2012 03:04 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for johnpslater   Click Here to Email johnpslater     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Nigel Mc:
Thank you to everyone to has pledged so far £300!!!
I find it hard to believe that 3 people have pledged £100 when they don't know the astronaut, date or venue? Of the 8 who have not been here before, I also find it hard to believe that £7000 ($11000?) would pay for his fee and other costs? Don't forget that a few years ago only a handful of us were prepared to pay £100 to see Armstrong in Pontefract and recently £60 to see Jack Schmitt!

madgwick383
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posted 12-02-2012 09:43 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for madgwick383   Click Here to Email madgwick383     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
By my reckoning, there are only six surviving Apollo astronauts who we haven't seen in the UK during the past eight years. Anders, Borman, Collins, Mattingly, Young and Schmitt. Not counting Skylab's Kerwin, Garriott and Pogue of course. So assuming this visit would bring one of those six to our shores, that would be a tremendous achievement and provide an event that should be widely supported. Good luck Nigel! I really hope you can succeed with this and it certainly has my support.

Nigel Mc
Member

Posts: 182
From: Sheffield, UK
Registered: Jan 2011

posted 12-02-2012 02:50 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Nigel Mc   Click Here to Email Nigel Mc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Well, here is where this stands.

I'll quickly answer a point, the figure was £7000. This was not the total by a long way. The majority of this would have merely secured the guest, then I could have announced the name. The rest would have been made from other means, including the rest of ticket sales etc.

However, it became quickly apparent (and somewhat expected) that although interest would be great (and it has, my email hasn't stopped) no one would be willing to back unless they had the name. Totally understandable.

So in an effort to make this work, I worked with the agent and details aside, I could announce who it would be, however I would have to have ALL the money secured in advance. So I will be cancelling this current Kickstarter page and relaunching it with the new figure as the goal.

So, in a couple of days I will restart this page with the name of the guest and I can guarantee interest will be intense.

If all this back and forth seems unprofessional, it is, because I have not done this before, but I have to try. I hope everyone understands this. Thank you to all 3 that pledged and the loads that emailed me with very very generous offers!
Hopefully, you will pledge again. Thanks everyone.

Sy Liebergot
Member

Posts: 501
From: Pearland, Texas USA
Registered: May 2003

posted 12-09-2012 12:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Sy Liebergot   Click Here to Email Sy Liebergot     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Please don't ignore the Apollo era flight controllers.

topmiler
Member

Posts: 148
From: eastleigh, hampshire, UK
Registered: Jul 2012

posted 12-10-2012 12:27 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for topmiler     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Absolutely Sy, let's get some Trench guys over. More thrilling stories than a public library!

Nigel Mc
Member

Posts: 182
From: Sheffield, UK
Registered: Jan 2011

posted 12-10-2012 03:37 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Nigel Mc   Click Here to Email Nigel Mc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I won't forget, would love to get Sy over for Something Astronomical.

New developments coming very soon. It has taken a while to do the sums.

Paul23
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Posts: 836
From: South East, UK
Registered: Apr 2008

posted 12-10-2012 05:10 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Paul23   Click Here to Email Paul23     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Sorry to de-rail but I agree with the point about flight controllers. It's been great at recent Autographicas to have the likes of Gerry Griffin and Jerry Bostick over.

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