posted 12-12-2013 09:50 PM
That's great on the many responses! Young is probably a no-signer at this point. What were some of your responses?Got Bagian today on my "Space Shuttle: 20 Years" book, and we also talked briefly about the STS-61I flight to which he was assigned (and which I had the Flight Data File for).
I also added the following to my "Shuttle: 20 Years" book – Chilton, Dutton, Creighton, Bowersox, Lopez-Alegria, Melroy, Parazynski, Hoshide, Wetherbee, Bowen, Feustel, McMonagle, Payton, Ham, Lockhart, Zamka, Hire, Cassidy, Hadfield, Still, Shriver, and Richards.
Less than last year (which I was aided by the Discovery transfer event at Udvar-Hazy), but still averages out to more than the "Astronaut of the Month" goal I set.
To my "Space Tourist's Handbook" I added Barrett, Tito and Yi.
In-person meetings that didn't fit either of the above: Owen Garriott (and his son Richard, again), Rubins and Aunon.
Included in the above are hard signers such as Melroy and Bowersox (although O’Connor still said no, but was pleasant enough and introduced me to him.)
Also a few through the mail.
Other reflections of 2013: Missed out on Bowen two years ago, and I got his autograph this year. Missed out on a signature from Wetherbee years ago, and crossed off his name off my bucket list – exactly seven years to the day! Got difficult to find (at least for me) Hoshide (and stayed through one interesting lecture *ahem*), but couldn't stay for Suni Williams. Completed my STS-134 crew pic with Feustel.
Minor disappointments: Couldn't go to the Atlantis unveiling at KSC or to Ford and Drew at NASA HQ or Marshburn at the Newseum or to Barratt at Harvard Medical or to the STS-61 anniversary symposium at MIT or to Lu and Noguchi at the Museum of Natural History (as well as Prunariu). Missed out on Mattingly at NASM and found out late about Wolf at Drexel and Kimbrough at Cradle of Aviation. Had I known I could have possibly asked to have my book signed by Holder (MSE) at a similar event as McMonagle and Payton. Due to the government shutdown, couldn't get Sullivan and due to the post office (don't ask), missed out on Bill Thornton. Miles O’Brien jetted out after his interview with Hadfield. Also won't be able to see Stott tomorrow.
But I already have a few for 2014 planned, and am just about sure to see KSC again...