posted 10-01-2004 12:55 PM               

I didn't know about photos then, either, so I bought a set of ASTP slides, found one of Slayton, took it out of its holder and put it into another, blank (e.g., no copyright or other identifying marks) holder, and dropped it off to get a print made.

There were two prints made, one reversed, the other not. The size was odd, too, 11" high but 7" wide, and it wasn't the best quality. Nevertheless, Deke signed it twice - once with a pen that started to skip, then with a Sharpie.

It also shows Leonov and I believe Stafford. I sent it off to get it signed by Leonov last year (someone was going to Autographica, or some other show where he was at), and eventually, I'll get it signed by Stafford.

It may not be the best photo or the best signed, but it's my first astronaut signed photo and I'll always remember that.

I got Slayton to also sign my NASA astronaut biography booklet; dunno why I didn't get him to sign my con program book as well.

The only other thing I can say is that I think I went to his lecture but I don't remember anything about it. That, and I don't recall there being that much of a line.

posted 10-01-2004 03:18 PM               

Met Al Shepard at a golf outing and I asked him to sign a Mercury 7 photo and the flunky who was with him says, "Boy, the autograph hounds find you everywhere don't they?" To which he replied, "I'd feel unappreciated if they didn't." Thanks Al!!

posted 10-05-2004 03:29 PM               

Like Bob, one of the first astronauts who I ever met was also Irwin, but in 1972, when he visited my church. After he spoke, we shook hands and he signed one of my Apollo 15 launch covers. Needless to say, I was thrilled by such an encounter that later developed into a special friendship.

In February 1973 was my first encounter with Evans along with his Apollo 17 crewmates as they returned to Kennedy Space Center to thank the launch team workers. All signed one of my Apollo 17 launch covers when I was still in high school.

Others in those early years of mine were with Lovell, Bean, Collins, Mitchell, Anders, Slayton, Young, and so many others. Of the nation's first 73 astronauts, I would say offhand, I have either met, worked with, etc. everyone except the following: Grissom, See, White, Bassett, Chaffee, Freeman, C. Williams, Michel, Bull, Givens, Lind (I can't be sure because of his Shuttle flight), Swigert, Chapman, Llewellyn, O'Leary, Holmquest, Thornton (can't ever recall), and maybe Don Peterson. I have lost count when it comes to the shuttle/ISS astronauts from Group 8 on.

posted 10-07-2004 08:53 PM               

"Met" Ron Evans "through the mail." I think it was Rick Boos earlier in this discussion that talked about how he would do anything for you. I was fascinated on who some collectors much more famous than I in the collecting community always had flown covers, so for some reason, I started writing to later Apollo astronauts asking them to carry covers on simulator "rides" for me and many of them did. Ron Evans was especially accomodating to me through the mail, certainly he had no reason to be, and he carried stuff on flights too, if I recall. (Some stuff you will have to read about in my book, published long after I am dead; that is too personal to include here). I never could thank Mr. Evans enough, not ever.

Stu Roosa. I got on an Apollo fire kick some years after the fire and decided I wanted to write to some people who were there. Roosa was in the blockhouse at the time, actually, I think I just started asking astronauts where they were on the night of the fire not knowing who was where nor how inconsiderate it might be of my asking, heck, I was just a youngster interested in space.

Nobody ever said "jump in the lake, it's none of your business." Roosa took the time to send me an extended reply. WOW!

In 1994, at the Oshkosh, WI EAA fly-in, 26 Apollo astronauts were announced to be there. I had never, ever been to a fly-in, did not know, really, what I was getting into, but on a long bus trip with the local "99's" group, I was there and had the time of my life!

Standing where I had no business standing, trying to catch glimpses and photographs of astronauts, autographs were specifically off limits that day, was Stu Roosa. Well, heck, I figured if I couldn't get an autograph, at least I could go up, shake hands, introduce myself and thank him for that letter, written so many years ago! He was thrilled.

I had a camera, I mentioned that I couldn't ask for an autograph. He asked ME, if I wanted to pose for a picture with him! I never was into that but he said he would ask his wife to take the picture. I made sure that camera was ready, it was not working. I fooled with it, asked him if the offer still held, she took the picture of me and Stu Roosa and I went home with a souvenir no amount of money would have gotten me!

That December he passed and I had to call NASA Houston for confirmation when I heard the news. I'm still not over that he cared enough for a dumb schmuck like me...

Let's see, oh, Pete Conrad. Now here is your astronauts, astronaut. He must have had the time of his life every day he lived. He was a Notre Dame for the engineering celebration in 1974 (?) and he "brought with him" a whole slew of astronauts for us to play with who seemed to be happy in his presence every step of the way. Here is another astronaut who would sign anything you asked for, use your own pen if you wanted and really seemed happy to do it. I have a really old friend who met him years before I did and told me the same stories, friendly as all heck!

I called a friend one day that Al Shepard was going to be in Chicago for a book signing. I took the day off of work, started to look for copies of the book in South Bend, and decided at the last possible moment not to drive the 90 miles to Chicago to see him. Certainly my loss, which I knew the moment I decided not to make the drive that I would always regret. My friend, who lived in Chicago at the time went and Shepard let you get in line over and over, knowing you were a repeater, he would sign away as long as there was a line!

Deke Slayton, now here is one astronaut I thought I would never get to meet. At a big Chicago stamp show they were releasing those USA/Russia joint space stamp designs and Slayton sat at the table after the first day ceremony. I got my turn and said "Do you mind if I call you Deke?" He said, "No, I answer to that!" Got my handshake and my autograph!

Is that all? Well, there is Dr. von Braun. I've written about that several times here. He called "Bucky Fuller" over to "sign some stuff for these guys."