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Author
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Topic: Most Overlooked Astronaut
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Cougar20
Member Posts: 93
From:
Registered: Feb 2004
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posted 05-10-2004 01:26 AM
   
Who, in your opinions, is the most overlooked astronaut or cosmonaut in the history of space flight? |
Fra Mauro
Member Posts: 1586
From: Bethpage, N.Y.
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 05-10-2004 09:10 AM
That's a tough one--I think it would have to be a shuttle astronaut, since the public
rally can't name modern astronauts. Jerry Ross and Mike Foale are two names that come to mind. |
WAWalsh
Member Posts: 809
From: Cortlandt Manor, NY
Registered: May 2000
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posted 05-10-2004 09:59 AM
A pair of Kens would also come to mind, Ken Bowersox and Ken Cockrell. In Apollo, commanding one mission was enough, each has commanded three (2 shuttles and one ISS; three shuttle missions). |
spaceflori
Member Posts: 1499
From: Germany
Registered: May 2000
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posted 05-10-2004 11:00 AM
Good question - and very tough indeed !My vote goes to the STS-26 crew....I mean it would have scared the hell out of me to climb aboard the shuttle again and must have been frightening for them, too - still they made a perfect "return to flight" - so yes, Rick Hauck, Dick Covey and the crew would be my favourites and some folks I really admire.
(same goes to the next Shuttle crew, of course) Florian |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 05-10-2004 11:40 AM
What about Christer FUGLESANG ... how long is this guy already waiting for a space mission ( Trained for EuroMir in 1994 and 10 years later he's planned for an EVA on ISS building mission STS-116 ) |
albatron@aol.com
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posted 05-10-2004 12:20 PM
While some may accuse me of being prejudiced (guilty!) - I'd like to "nominate" a group.We all talk about what a unique group the moonwalkers are, after all theres only 12 of them! But consider if you will, that there is a more unique group. And those are the solo moon voyagers, who are the only folks to be alone and out of contact with Earth for a given time. The command module pilots who were busting their butts with experiments and not sleeping while their crew mates were frolicking around on the lunar surface - the "Lonely 6" as I call them.  Think about that.....and not to take away from any others.... Cheers! Al |
Matt T
Member Posts: 1368
From: Chester, Cheshire, UK
Registered: May 2001
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posted 05-10-2004 12:23 PM
I think Grigori Nelyubov deserves an honourable mention in this category. He was selected as a member of Russia's equivalent of the Mercury 7, served as second backup to Gagarin's flight and was slated to fly the fourth or fifth Russian space flight.Then a drunken fight with guards at a checkpoint lead to his dismissal and transfer to a fighter squadron. A few years later he committed suicide by stepping in front of a train. Immediately after his dismissal his image was erased from all official photos of the cosmonauts (several examples of the original photos have since surfaced). His existence was consistently denied until after the fall of the Soviet Union. You can't get much more overlooked than being written out of history! Cheers,
Matt [This message has been edited by Matt T (edited May 10, 2004).] |
DavidH
Member Posts: 1217
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 05-10-2004 01:06 PM
I nominate the X-15 astronauts.------------------
http://www.hatbag.net/blog.html
"America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow." - Commander Eugene Cernan, Apollo 17 Mission, 11 December 1972 |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 05-10-2004 01:59 PM
Joe Engle,So nearly made it to the moon on Apollo 17. Regards, Rick. |
icarkie
Member Posts: 618
From: BURTON ON TRENT /England
Registered: Nov 2002
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posted 05-10-2004 03:55 PM
One of my Heroes.Donald K Slayton.
I know he got his flight(in the end all be it a docking manouver),but I would of like him to have gone the whole way, to the moon.
Close 2nd ( same as Rick's choice) Joe Engle, same reason nearly made the trip on 17.
all the best
Ian |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 05-10-2004 04:20 PM
Of the Apollo guys, I'd have to say Donn Eisele is probably the most overlooked. In fact, does anyone know of any interviews or other comments made by him in print (books, newspapers or magazines) or online anywhere? I can't think of any place where his take on the Apollo 7 flight and his NASA career was ever published.FF |
WAWalsh
Member Posts: 809
From: Cortlandt Manor, NY
Registered: May 2000
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posted 05-10-2004 04:28 PM
Al, I believe that John Young deserves membership (at a minimum, honourary membership) in your "Lonely 6" group and, perhaps, Dave Scott as well. It does seem that John Young gave the group their name. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-10-2004 04:44 PM
I would nominate the members of NASA Selection Group 7, with the possible exception of Bob Crippen and Richard Truly (as they have received attention, the earlier for STS-1 and the latter as NASA Administrator). Named in 1969, these five men (7 with Crippen and Truly) deserve a good deal of credit for their support of the later Apollo missions and early shuttle flights and yet are rarely recognized for such. [This message has been edited by Robert Pearlman (edited May 11, 2004).] |
Ashy
Member Posts: 157
From: Preston, England
Registered: Mar 2004
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posted 05-10-2004 05:18 PM
I would have to say Gus Grissom. He seems to me to be the forgotton man of the early space program. Caught between Al Shepards first flight and Glenns orbital mission he seems to have been left out in the cold. Tom Wolf's the 'Right Stuff' paints a poor picture of Gus and he seems to lay a load of cheap shots on a man who can't defend himself.
People seem to forget that he commanded the first gemini mission, though now overshadowed by his pilot future accomplishments (moonwalker John Young). In addition, and if memory serves he was the first man to venture a second time into space and would have been commander of the first Apollo flight but for the tragic fire on the pad. If fate hadn't stepped in, Grissom could well have been the first to walk on the moon and almost certainly would have been one of the 12. |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 05-10-2004 06:26 PM
Forgotten, and mostly because no one can pronounce his name correctly: Judgeremidiyin Gurragcha  |
albatron@aol.com
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posted 05-10-2004 07:56 PM
Bill,You are entirely correct, I even meant to type 7. LOL Sorry for the lack of numerical prowess. Cheers, Al |
divemaster
Member Posts: 1376
From: ridgefield, ct
Registered: May 2002
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posted 05-11-2004 12:05 PM
I'll have to chime in with the "return to flight" crews. Apollo 7, STS-26 and the soon to be STS-114 crew [along with the comparable Russian crews]. My admiration for these particular groups of astronauts knows no bounds. The "guts" [since this is a family message board] of these people surely adds to their "overlooked" status.
And to follow with a previous thread, I think that Eisle and Cunningham received the worst treatment of all in the long run.Al's "7" also get very special mention.
-tracy
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jamato99
Member Posts: 147
From: Leesburg, VA USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 05-11-2004 03:35 PM
I agree with Ashy's choice of Gus Grissom. Although he received plenty of fame for being selected in the first group of astronauts, his accomplishments are seldom mentioned in many texts. Since his first flight mirrored Shepard's and wasn't orbital like Glenn's and every other flight, not to mention the fate Liberty Bell 7 met shortly after splashdown, Grissom's deeds are regularly overlooked. In addition to his two flights and the ultimate sacrifice he made, he also played a big role in the development and design of the Gemini spacecraft which was a big step in our journey to the moon. |
dss65
Member Posts: 1156
From: Sandpoint, ID, USA
Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 05-11-2004 11:00 PM
Although Ed White has gotten quite a bit of recognition, it has occurred to me lately that his performance on America's first space walk, which looked so easy, is extremely remarkable when viewed in the context of how much trouble those who followed him had. He must have had incredible physical and mental control.------------------
Don |
fabfivefreddy
Member Posts: 1067
From: Leawood, Kansas USA
Registered: Oct 2003
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posted 05-11-2004 11:41 PM
I would say Mike Collins, because Neil and Buzz got all the glory. Most space buffs know the facts, but lay people have no clue about him.
In the Mercury program, probably Deke.
Tahir |
br62
Member Posts: 122
From: The Frozen Tundra
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 05-12-2004 12:25 AM
Certainly many good choices have already been mentioned.However, the first name that came to my mind was Ed Givens, from the 5th astronaut group in 1966. He was killed in an automobile accident a little over a year after being selected by NASA and never had an opportunity to fly on a mission. Before Colin Burgess' excellent book Fallen Astronauts was published, I really do not believe there was a lot of information available about Major Givens. Unfortunately, for the bizzare reasoning that he was not on duty at the time of the accident, his name is not even included on the Astronaut Memorial Mirror. Hopefully, one day soon this terrible injustice will be rectified. Bruce |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 05-12-2004 03:21 AM
Alan Shepard, Chief of the Astronaut Office, is on record as saying that a NASA astronaut is on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. As to the argument that Ed Givens was not in training when he died, he had been on the support crew for Apollo 1, and then on Apollo 7. He had also taken part in lengthy crew tests in high altitude chambers. While I would not dispute Bob Lawrence's place on the Astronaut memorial Mirror, Ed Givens has far more reason and qualification to be honored on there.Could I share one small recent happiness with the readers of collectSPACE? A few days ago, Ed Givens's daughter Cathrine gave birth to a little boy, and the proud parents named him Colin after me, and Edward after her father. They didn't know that my full name is Colin Edward Burgess. Mother and son are doing beautifully, and I'm still thrilled. |
cosmos-walter
Member Posts: 691
From: Salzburg, Austria
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 05-12-2004 04:11 AM
Don't forget Bob Lawrence, the first black astronaut (USAF MOL group). According to Tom Wolf's the 'Right Stuff' Scott Carpenter actually did the first serious research in space - and finally was removed from astronaut corps for doing so. And don't forget the deep fall of Soviet space heroes in public presence, when the Soviet Union came to an end. At this time the "Cosmos" pavilion at Moscow's WDNCh - All Union's exhibition - was transferred to a bazar for selling cars. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 05-12-2004 11:41 AM
Bruce,If you, and others here, feel as I do that Ed Givens should be added to the astronaut memorial mirror, may I suggest that you make your feelings known to the foundation. They can be contacted via:
www.amfcse.org Thanks, FF
[This message has been edited by FFrench (edited May 12, 2004).] |
Joe Davies
Member Posts: 258
From: UK
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 05-12-2004 02:45 PM
Buzz Aldrin.Just somehow seems so unfair that Armstrong is being credited with being first when they landed on the moon together - they BOTH were first. |
DavidH
Member Posts: 1217
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 05-12-2004 03:01 PM
No disrespect to Aldrin and Collins, but I have trouble thinking of anyone who can charge hundreds of dollars for their autograph as "overlooked."
Both are great men, who may not be remembered the same way Armstrong will, but compared to some of the others listed here, I have trouble thinking of them as underappreciated.
Just my two cents.------------------
http://www.hatbag.net/blog.html
"America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow." - Commander Eugene Cernan, Apollo 17 Mission, 11 December 1972 |
fabfivefreddy
Member Posts: 1067
From: Leawood, Kansas USA
Registered: Oct 2003
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posted 05-12-2004 10:18 PM
Collins and Aldrin are overlooked by the public and short historical blurbs, not by collectors.
This may sound strange, but I think Armstrong is a candidate for "overlooked" because he is rarely the topic of the media like actors and politicians. However, his historical contribution is clearly greater.
Tahir |
spaceman1953
Member Posts: 953
From: South Bend, IN
Registered: Apr 2002
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posted 05-19-2004 06:33 PM
A GREAT question....and the discussion has been outstanding too ! Congrats to all who have posted !I always thought "The Lonely 6" were overlooked...these guys were literally the lonliest men in the world for the time their lunar orbits took them out of ANY contact with ANYONE....no potential contact of any kind ! I personally am continually saddened by my own practice of getting away from it all after Apollo-Soyuz and Skylab.....Shuttle astronauts deserve ALOT more credit from me for their work.....maybe that's why I wave at the ISS every time I see it fly overhead....these folks are keeping the dream alive for all of us and it took some Hubble servicing missions and other spacewalks for me to get that point. Cheers ! Gene Bella
South Bend |
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