posted 02-26-2009 06:54 PM               

After giving a fun, exciting and informative presentation, the astronaut stayed to sign some photos, have a picture taken and talk informally with people and kids. It was going well when one person decided to take his time and get a few items signed and tell a long story. There were people in line and the astronaut had to go and do another 15 minute interview and said he would come back. He did.

He was signing for about 30-40 minutes in total between the two times. He was fun and engaging signing long inscriptions (mostly on his EVA suit photo).

I decided to pull up the rear so that we could get him out of there so he could enjoy a dinner with some friends and just before I did, that same guy from before came back and dropped a stack of about 15 photos to be signed. He started talking about his Who's Who book and how he has met all the current cosmonauts and also how he only needed Wilmore and Behnken autographs. The astronaut said he probably could get Wilmore through the mail but not Behnken or even his own.

The astronaut looked uncomfortable when the stack was plopped down. This horrified almost everyone watching as this guy asked for all these to be done. He said of course they wouldn't appear on eBay and that they were for his collection of photos for the STS-126 mission. The astronaut signed about two or three after looking through them to see what ones he liked but we put a stop to it. No way this guy should have asked and expected him to sign all those photos. He was polite and thankfully didn't put up a stink.

I just can't fathom why a collector needs 15-20 photos of someone signed if he wasn't a dealer. What nerve this guy has...

I don't like playing bad cop at these events but for now on we will limit the time and amount people can do. This one guy ruined it for future events. I have learned to put time limits on events because the astronauts are nice and will sign for a long time but it comes to a point where people don't get one or someone misses an opportunity to shake a hand or say hi. Plus astronauts are not to be taken advantage of. I find that we need to watch for the lone man (in most causes) by himself with a folder full of photos or books. Families are in most cases fine until they ask for one for little johnny who couldn't make it.

I hope members of collectSPACE are not like this. I think the guy never heard of collectSPACE - I wouldn't tell him because he would probably go to more of the events and do the same thing.