posted 11-08-2008 11:10 PM               

Bu$$'s line was non-existant by 3pm. Having spent A LOT of money with him I was particularly offended to be asked by one of his handlers whether I was going to sell any of these signed items. My response? "That's my business."

posted 11-09-2008 03:43 AM              

I really enjoyed the KSC tour, which went to some spots not available to the regular tours. Jim Lovell led my bus and Dave Scott (in blue) added some color commentary. The Saturday dinner was terrific, and the photo op with the Mercury-Gemini-Apollo astronauts was awesome.

posted 11-09-2008 11:05 AM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by gliderpilotuk:
It was $20, crossed out to $50 per word.

---

posted 11-09-2008 01:53 PM               

IMHO, all the astronauts' signing fees have become prohibitive. It seems like the astronauts are trying to discourage people from wanting their autographs, instead of encouraging more people to want them, by charging less per item, and getting more overall through increased volume.

posted 11-09-2008 01:57 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by SpaceSteve:
It seems like the astronauts are trying to discourage people from wanting their autographs, instead of encouraging more people to want them, by charging less per item, and getting more overall through increased volume.

---

Maybe sometimes astronauts are not as smart as people think. Or maybe they do want to shy away from high volume requests but still make $$$ with whoever decides to pay $300 to $500 (completion fees are even higher).

posted 11-09-2008 02:02 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Blackarrow:
Paul, did the "elusive one" turn up?

---

posted 11-09-2008 02:24 PM               

Collectors have been debating astronauts' signing fees since Jim Irwin charged a few dollars for his foundation. And unless an astronaut chooses to share his/her thoughts behind the fees, speculating on the same serves little purpose.

Astronauts fees have never been based on their resale value. The astronauts are not selling their autographs as a retail product. They are charging for their service, their time and that is -- and will always be -- a subjective value. One might argue that the older a person gets, the more valuable their time is.

We each prioritize how to spend our money. If you don't like or can't afford what an astronaut is charging, you have the choice to not pay and/or in some cases, buy a less expensive second-hand example.

posted 11-09-2008 08:40 PM               

The dinner proved to again be a great opportunity to have good conversations with the astros. I had a great opportunity to speak with Dave Scott regarding the F104 at the show and the airplanes he loved to fly. Charlie Bolden was seated at my table for dinner which produced some great conversations about his missions, the future of NASA, his motivations as a kid. It was also really great to see how he engaged in conversation with the two kids at our table as well. Lastly, I had a great conversation with Jack Lousma about which mission he would love to do again if he could. His answer - Skylab - for the simple reason that he would get a longer time to "be up there again - and that's it is all about."

Already looking forward to next year (assuming the ASF will want to do another). Perhaps we can get Collins, McDivitt, Borman, Anders, Mattingly, Young, Schmitt and Armstrong to join us out on the East coast next year! One can always dream. :-)

posted 11-09-2008 10:39 PM               

I arrived Friday just as lunch was ending and was second in line for Fred Haise. I hadn't waited five minutes when he and Jim Lovell returned. I got my autographs, got a photo with Haise and then realized the line had become at least twenty deep! Not a bad start!

I have met everyone who attended this year's show at least once before at other shows and/or the ASF Gala Dinners held the night before the Hall of Fame inductions, so I really only had just a handful of signatures to get.

Besides Bean, Haise/Lovell and Aldrin the rest of the lines moved quite fast. I think I only waited behind three other people at most at the other tables. Very smooth!

The highlight of the autographs I got for myself was having Haise sign my Apollo Earthrise poster. I started it just last year at the previous KSC show. I'm sure others reading have something similar. I had Aldrin, Bean, Mitchell, Scott, Duke and Cernan sign at the bottom on the lunar surface in black. Cunningham, Lovell, Schweickart, Gordon, Worden and now Haise have signed above in the blackness of space in silver. Now it looks like I'll be adding McDivitt and Collins in San Diego! (Anyone know Borman's number?!)

I also had Haise sign two Enterprise bookpages. I then got personalized 8 X 10s from Vance Brand, Guenter Wendt and Bill Dana, who added "Many Happy Launches!" Already having 8 X 10s from all the attending shuttle astronauts I had them all sign either one of the two shuttle photos I brought. One is of a launch and the other a landing. The launch photo, which had previously signed autographs, now only has room for one other signature! The landing photo has a good start with four autographs.

It was really a treat to see some first-time autograph show attendees like Springer, Allen, Hartsfield, Bolden, Jones, Mullane and Gregory. Some may have appeared before at other shows, but I'm not aware of any. I hope other astronauts will do the same in the future.

I had a very nice chat with Fred Gregory. Having flown three times I asked him about the differences he experienced during each of his spaceflights. As you'd expect, he described his first launch as one of those "WOW!" moments, like when your jaw just drops and you roll your eyes up into your skull while shaking your head from side to side continuosly! He even did that gesture for me! Gregory said his second flight was different because he was the commander and had much more responsibility. And being commander of his third and final flight brought new experiences to light too. He spoke of his mission experiences like one watches an action packed movie. You can watch it over and over again and still see something new each time you see it.

Gregory went on and said that he really enjoyed the launches and the landings, but wasn't as keen about being in orbit as the 45 minute daytime to nightttime exchanges took a bit to get used to. I then spoke up and mentioned the view. He said that was the best part about being in orbit. The stars are very clear and do not blink at all. And the view of Earth is extremely bright. I mentioned that I went to art school in Savannah earlier in our converstaion and Gregory said that if one were to paint that particular view of Earth from above one could not use watercolors, but would have to use a medium with more distinct and bright color like acrylic paint to even come close to what that view looks like. I said that was understandable as the only thing separating you from the Earth itself was a piece of glass. Gregory agreed and added that the windows on the shuttle are a type of "optical" glass which makes one feel that there is no window there at all when looking at the Earth from that perspective. I'm not familiar with the window glass on the orbiters, but I'm sure some reading are.

Gregory continued that when he started at Langley in 1974 he thought he would be there just a few years. "Well," he said, "thirty-one years later..." was when he retired from NASA! Fred Gregory is one heck of a guy. He was even walking around taking photos of all the other astronauts! If you ever get the chance to speak with him you will walk away a very lucky person.

Afterwards I had Vance Brand sign my photos and then he came around to the front of his table for a photo with me. I'll bet that within a month or so he'll have enough hair to pull back into a short silver ponytail! While posing for our photo together I mentioned that to him and he agreed and then looked back at my own ponytail and said that mine was doing well! I thanked him and said that mine had few year's headstart!

I've met Scott Carpenter more than a few times so I have all the autographs from him that I want, but that doesn't keep me from saying hello whenever I have the chance. While his table was clear of autograph seekers I walked up and introduced myself and explained that I had met him a few years back at the old outside KSC Astronaut Encounter stage during a book signing. It happened to be his 79th birthday and I had a photo taken with him. The next year I brought the photo with me to KSC and he signed it for me.

He said he remembered that, just like he did last year at the KSC autograph show assisted by his daughter. You would find it difficult to meet a man as soft-spoken yet enthralling as Carpenter. It's those little gems like this that make all this collecting stuff just a little bit better.

I got one more autograph, and I'd be interested in hearing if anyone else has done this. I know this can be a pricey hobby and getting items signed just for our own collection can require every spare penny we have, but how many of you have bought a personalized autograph as a gift for someone else?

The timing was actually perfect. Friday was my Mom's birthday but due to everyone's personal schedules we decided to celebrate today, on Sunday, instead. That's why I went to the show on Friday instead of today.

Well, I had Ed Mitchell sign his 10 X 8 Moonwalk-with-the-U.S.-flag photo for her. It reads "To (my Mom's name), Happy Birthday from the Moon. Edgar Mitchell Apollo 14" in silver metallic ink. I later matted it with a single white mat in a black wooden frame. Man, does that look NICE! I also took a photo of Mitchell holding the signed photo which I made into a small photo magnet for her fridge! My Mom, Dad and many of my family have been to KSC over the years. In fact, my Mom has seen a shuttle launch from the causeway as well as from the VIP bleachers outside the Apollo-Saturn V Center. She was quite impressed with the photo today! It's not every birthday you get a signed photo from a Moonwalker! I'm such a good son, aren't I?!

I also had a nice talk with Valerie of the ASF, said hello to Dee and Francis, Charlie Bolden, cSer friends Brenda and her husband Ted from the Isle of Man and a few more cSers whose names I can't recall because I am absolutely terrible at remembering names!

This was a great show and I hope this will become an annual KSC event. You can attend autograph shows elsewhere in the world but there is nowhere else like KSC.

posted 11-09-2008 10:49 PM               

Andrew

posted 11-09-2008 10:57 PM               

Already looking forward to it!

posted 11-10-2008 05:01 AM               

On Friday, the "Shuttles Orbiting the Space Coast" painted statues were unveiled. The ASF and my sponsors were pleased with how they turned out. I was as much pleased as relieved because this was the first time I had attempted something like a 3-D canvas.

It was great to see Andrew, Rob, Larry and Freddo. Fred showed me photos of his home museum. Simply amazing! Not many wives would offer that much of their home for a display like that. I hear he has a shot of getting an orbiter when they retire.

I had the pleasure of presenting every astronaut with one of my "Celebrating 50 Years of America in Space" patches with my appreciation for their service. They were well received and I heard more than once that NASA should have adopted my design for their "official" one.

I also gave Scott Carpenter a Mercury Commemorative patch and presented Lovell, Aldrin, Scott and Bean with a Gemini Commemorative patch. They all remarked how much they liked it and asked if I were designing an Apollo Commemorative. I replied that I am and would appreciate their feedback and we exchanged email addresses.

Alan Bean remembered the half hour we spent last year when he gave me a critique of a painting I brought in. I told him that when I paint I try to remember everything he said. He asked me to email him my latest and he'll look it over.

I had a great visit with the Cunninghams. Mrs. C said she appreciated how much I helped with the recent 40th anniversary event in Dallas. (All I did was design a patch based on the artwork from the medallion.) She gave Larry one of the commemorative patches - Larry had Walt sign the back and then he asked me to sign it also.

Rob and Fred get more home-owners insurance.

posted 11-10-2008 08:39 AM               

It was also great meeting Ken there. Sorry I couldn't stay till Sunday and meet Donnis. I visited the Astronaut HOF and saw your collection and all I can say is WOW!

Looking forward in meeting my new friends in my backyard in San Diego in February for SpaceFest!

posted 11-10-2008 11:13 AM              

This shot was taken by Steve Wolfe (Machodoc). (My version wasn't as good).

posted 11-10-2008 11:59 AM               

One highlight was asking Fred Haise about the Apollo 13 accident and he recounted a personal story that kept everyone near us riveted. I got to thank Ed Mitchell and Gene Cernan for the lunar flown items I have from their missions.

Good story from Gunther Wendt about how Buzz Aldrin must have had a U-Haul behind Apollo 11 to account for everything he's sold as flown. Jim Lovell and Bill Dana recreated the Jose Jiminez skit from the Ed Sullivan show. I rode the Shuttle Launch ride beside Lovell and Vance Brand, they were joking about who will barf first when I said I COLLECT ASTRONAUT BARF which brought the house down.

Al Worden wore his Apollo 15 crew jacket during a tour, I asked him if he got it on eBay. I gave Scott Carpenter a Mercury 7 keychain. Just wonderful experiences.

I took a 4-foot wide moon photo to the event and had it signed by 15 people including 4 moonwalkers. Bob Bruemer is going to retire out of the framing I have for him.

The event raised 200K which will be distributed as twenty 10K scholarships. My definition of money well spent. I met some great people from this forum. Some pics on the pages below.

• Astronaut Photos
  
• Airshow Photos
  
• Shuttle Art Sculptures

posted 11-10-2008 12:35 PM               

This was my seventh show since 2003 and they have all been great in different ways, this one no less so. I thought the tour was interesting since it took us to places previous tours didn't. Getting my picture with Dave Scott with the shuttle on the launch pad in the background was terrific (and thanks Dave for "just one more").

The Friday night reception was great, but for me the highlight was being at the airshow with the astronauts. Casually chatting with them, hearing their stories about the planes they used to fly, etc... was wonderful. I sat on the law next to Scott Carpenter and his wife for a long while.

We were on Charlie Bolden's bus and he was at our table Saturday night. What an amazing person, with an extremely interesting family and career background. He is a lot of fun to talk with.

As for the autograph show itself, I got a really big kick out of the reaction my blue NASA jet pilot's helmet got from almost all the astronauts. The Snoopy artwork especially got Gene Cernan's attention, and overall it was a big hit. It's now safely in a display case at home, festooned with 23 silver signatures (including John Young, who signed it at his signing in October).

I enjoyed meeting more of my fellow CS'ers, and given the questions I got, I thought I'd close with a note about my screen name here, "Machodoc". No, I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV. "Machodoc" is a Native American name for the creek I live on, which empties into the Potomac River a mile downstream. Where I live the creek is about 1/3 mile wide, and where it empties into the Potomac, the Potomac is about 2 miles wide. During his escape from Ford's Theater, John Wilkes Booth's original plan was to cross the Potomac and head to the Machodoc Creek. As it was, he misjudged his route and rowed into a nearby creek, and his escape route passes within a quarter mile of where I live.

posted 11-10-2008 01:19 PM               

My best story is asking Fred Haise what concerned him most during the AP13 accident. He said it was the initial bang, he was in the tunnel and heard/felt noises like a tin can bending. Also said they were immediately surrounded by a debris field and should have told the ground that fact, because Houston spent considerable time thinking it was an instrumentation problem. They just kind of assumed Houston realized the situation.

posted 11-10-2008 01:47 PM               

This was my first time meeting Fred Haise and Jim Lovell and I found both of them to be thoroughly pleasant and enjoyable gentlemen. It's always a pleasure seeing the rest of the regular astronaut attendees at these, but my best memories coming away are from astronauts I'd never met before, particularly Fred Gregory, who was gracious and generous with his time; Joe Kerwin, likewise; and Dee O'Hara. These may be lesser-known among the signers, but I'm very pleased to have met them.

Finally, I didn't expect to ask Bill Dana to sign anything, but as I was standing in front of him I offered him a large map to sign. He wrote an inscription I find quite charming: "Bill Dana, Jose Jimenez--thrilled to be included in any way."

Aren't we all.

posted 11-10-2008 02:49 PM            

I'm still scrolling through air show pictures. I took so many and only so many are 'good'.

posted 11-11-2008 05:30 AM               

We are still here in Titusville waiting for the launch. The event was great and I will post more details when we return, of both the ASF event and the launch.

Tim, we would get more insurance if we could figure out how to get some company to insure any of it.