posted 12-24-2012 08:21 PM               

I added 46 in my "Space Shuttle: 20 Years" book alone — that's almost the equivalent of one a week, and I've been trying to do an "Astronaut of the Month" for the past three years.

For what it is worth, I missed out on Nicollier in February because I was out of the area; the last one I got was Scott Kelly — who flew with Nicollier.

I think about the missed opportunities, but then I realize I've been fortunate this year, with the Welcome Discovery and Enterprise pavilion events as well as the Tweetups/NASA Socials. Thanks also to friends and family who helped out.

posted 12-26-2012 12:22 PM               

As I got a bit more confident I sent off to people like Fred Haise and Frank Borman, who both signed my photos TTM.

I then focused on getting successes from JSC, and got lots of return from people like Kevin Ford, Don Pettit, Chris Cassidy and Rex Walheim.

posted 12-29-2012 03:46 PM               

Purchased a great Gordon Cooper signed photo from Gerry Montague.

Also bought an Eileen Collins autographed photo and Rhea Seddon from the Astronaut Foundation.

posted 12-29-2012 11:27 PM               

Later I got a nicely personalized and inscribed picture of Gene Kranz as well as his book.

Marc Garneau signed and personalized his photo to my daughter.

Then another success - my first Armstrong.

ASF helped me to get a picture of Jim Lovell with personalization and inscription "Never give up".

Still waiting for mail responses from John Glenn and Gene Cernan.

posted 12-30-2012 12:13 AM               

I also learned the value of reading through. Charlie Bolden was at the UN in NYC and my mind told me to scroll through the full agenda. Sergei Krikalev was scheduled to appear. Although he didn't, meeting Sergei Volkov was just as rewarding.

posted 01-01-2013 12:12 PM               

But as the year ended I was able to add several signed prints and an original painting and a couple of signed books.

posted 01-02-2013 03:55 AM               

I finished my Apollo-Skylab-ASTP autograph collection (my goal was to collect ONE astronaut per flown mission) by adding Charles Conrad and Buzz Aldrin, both bought from cS members and the conditions for these autographs were more than fair! Thank You.

The autograph of Al Shepard I bought again from a cS member on ebay at a very fair price - thanks my friend! I thought I never could afford the autograph of the first American in space, but I got it - what a great moment! So my other collection I call "The Right Stuff Wall" is growing! I have Chuck Yeager, Al Shepard, John Glenn and Scott Carpenter now. In 2013 I must look for Wally Schirra, Gordon Cooper and Deke Slayton...and maybe Gus Grissom, but his autograph sure would be to expensive for me.

posted 01-04-2013 08:59 AM               

I also sold my first photo in 2012. I find it hard to part with anything, but when I had 3 Ed Whites and only needed 1, it was an easy decision. Besides, the photo went to a worthy cause and the money I received definitely came in handy.

I went to Spacefest and got Dave Scott to sign a Gemini 8 and an Apollo 15 panorama of the Station 2 site. I haven't seen that pan anywhere else. The Gemini 8 photo is a duplicate. I like to have the date on the photo along with something describing what was going on at the time the photo was taken. I already had Scott sign a Gemini 8 photo, but when I got home, I noticed I forgot to ask for the date. Last year, I asked him to duplicate his previous inscription on a new photo and add the date. I didn’t think I was asking for too much. It’s a very short 6 word inscription. When I told Scott what I wanted, he said “I don’t write novels anymore.” He wrote it anyway, but he didn’t word it the same as the previous one. The latest one is still in an envelope in my drawer. I'd be more than happy to sell it, if anyone wants it.

I also got Richard Gordon to sign a Gemini 11 photo. I have 2 of them already, but I didn't like the way he signed them. One just has his name and the other one is one I purchased online that had a good inscription, but I wanted something different. I spent over an hour at his table trying to come up with a unique inscription that would make us both happy. He finally succeeded.

I also got Alan Bean to sign a 16" x 20" soil sample container photo for me. He gave me a nice long inscription across the top detailing how the soil fell out of Pete’s shovel and landed all over his (Bean’s) glove and arm. I heard he limits his inscriptions to 15 words now. The one he wrote for me was more than 50 words long. I am quite pleased with that photo. It has a prominent place on my wall.

My prize pickup in 2012 has to be the Aldrin panorama that I got at the ASF show at Kennedy in November. I wanted the entire plaque written out, but he has a 15 word limit, so I settled for “Here men from the planet earth first set foot upon the moon, July, 1969 A.D.” While it would have been great for him to add the “we came in peace…” I’m more than happy with what I have, even if it cost me $900.

This year, I’m going back to Spacefest for one last time to get Cernan and Mitchell to sign some panoramas for me. I already have a signed Mitchell panorama, but again, it’s all about the inscription. I also want to make one last attempt to get a good Scott inscription on a Gemini 8 photo, and maybe even an Apollo 9. I would also like to get a good Carpenter, providing he shows up. I already have 2 of him, but I’d like something more than just a signature. I’m also thinking of getting McDivitt on a Gemini 4 photo. I’m not really sure why, I just want it. I also want to upgrade my Shepard Mercury photo. While it's nice to see him receiving his medal from the president, I really want a photo of him taken from the movie camera during the flight.

My other goal is to get the NASA administrators from 1959 to 1975. I believe there were 6 of them. I have one so far. I’d also like to get some of the early NASA decision makers such as George Mueller, John Houbolt, and others. I’m also thinking of getting a few of the flight controllers such as Steve Bales and John Aaron.