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  Fallen astronauts, cosmonauts signing practices

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Author Topic:   Fallen astronauts, cosmonauts signing practices
Mike_The_First
Member

Posts: 436
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2014

posted 10-06-2014 05:23 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mike_The_First   Click Here to Email Mike_The_First     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have a question for discussion from all of you that I find myself wondering from time to time. I may be alone in it, though I doubt that I am.

I was wondering — what do you guys think that the signing habits of those astronauts and cosmonauts lost in tragedies in historic missions (the crew members of Apollo 1, STS-51L, etc.) would be like today, if they were still with us and their missions were successful?

Think they'd sign openly and willingly, back away from the spotlight (like Neil Armstrong), or charge exorbitant amounts to discourage people from even asking?

I never got a chance to interact with any of them personally and have read only very limited personal biographies, but as an enthusiast and an autograph collector, I'm curious what all of you think about how a different ending to these tragedies would impact our hobby.

schnappsicle
Member

Posts: 396
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: Jan 2012

posted 10-08-2014 06:11 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for schnappsicle   Click Here to Email schnappsicle     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I find it hard to speculate on the others, but perhaps Grissom would have tired after writing "First Man On The Moon" a few million times.

As for the fees being charged by astronauts at shows these days, considering what they did for us as a nation, and the risks they took on our behalf, I think they're well worth the fees they charge. When I pay them for their autograph, it's my little way of saying "Thank you" to them for the hope and inspiration they gave me during a very turbulent time in world history. They did a lot more than just fly into space. They also defended this country during times of war. Any way you look at them, they're heroes, and heroes deserve our very best.

Mike_The_First
Member

Posts: 436
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2014

posted 10-08-2014 01:01 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mike_The_First   Click Here to Email Mike_The_First     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
My comment regarding the fees wasn't in regard to the fees in general, but those who openly say that they charge as much as they do because they want to keep the number that they have to sign down or taking pride in having the highest fee on the market.

I won't name names, but they're fairly well known on this board.

schnappsicle
Member

Posts: 396
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: Jan 2012

posted 10-08-2014 08:43 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for schnappsicle   Click Here to Email schnappsicle     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Understood. Sorry for the confusion I caused.

mjanovec
Member

Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005

posted 10-09-2014 01:31 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for mjanovec   Click Here to Email mjanovec     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Mike_The_First:
I was wondering — what do you guys think that the signing habits of those astronauts and cosmonauts lost in tragedies in historic missions (the crew members of Apollo 1, STS-51L, etc.) would be like today, if they were still with us and their missions were successful?

Considering that the deceased astronauts were cut from the same cloth that the other astronauts were (with the possible exception of certain payload specialists), we can look to the other astronauts for clues on how they would sign. Some would willingly sign and some would probably be more difficult about granting autographs. Some would sign for free and some would charge fees. There is nothing to suggest that these astronauts would behave any differently from their still-living contemporaries.

It's fairly certain that Grissom and White would be popular signatures regardless of what they accomplished after Apollo 1, since one was a Mercury 7 astronaut and one was the first American to walk in space.

Mike_The_First
Member

Posts: 436
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2014

posted 10-09-2014 10:59 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mike_The_First   Click Here to Email Mike_The_First     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by mjanovec:
There is nothing to suggest that these astronauts would behave any differently from their still-living contemporaries.
Exactly. There's no common thread between them whatsoever. Hence the discussion at hand.

This isn't a question with a right or wrong answer, merely a somewhat whimsical discussion looking for speculation.

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