Topic: 10/7-8: Space Lectures Mark & Scott Kelly (UK)
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 04-10-2016 05:01 AM
Space Lectures is delighted to announce that Friday, Oct. 7 and Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016 will see possibly the hottest astronaut tickets in town joining us in Pontefract: former NASA astronaut and retired US Navy Captain Mark Kelly and former NASA astronaut and retired US Navy Captain Scott Kelly — the world's first "space twins."
Both will be sharing a wealth of space shuttle and International Space Station experiences, most recently Scott's historic one year mission with UK's very own Tim Peake aboard the orbiting outpost.
Ticket prices will be £100 for the dinner and £80 for the lecture. Each ticket entitles the holder to two autographs; one from each guest. There will be no combo ticket for this event. Photo shoot pictures will be £30 each but will include both astronauts.
Friday, Oct. 7, 2016: Evening Dinner and Auction Wentbridge House Hotel Photo Shoot 18.00 - 18.45 Dinner 19.00 - 21.00 Auction and autograph session
Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016: Lecture Carleton Community High School 'The Infinity Theatre' Photo Shoot 14.30 - 15.45 Lecture 16.00 - 17.00 Q&A session, approximately 15 to 20 minutes Autograph session
COR482932 Member
Posts: 212 From: Cork, Ireland Registered: Mar 2012
posted 04-10-2016 09:08 AM
I've always carefully considered making the trip over for one of these fantastic events, and I think I'd be foolish not to make it over for this one.
I followed both Mark and Scott's last flights from start to finish and it'd be great to get the chance to meet them.
Expect an email from me soon Rick! And thanks!!
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 04-10-2016 09:45 AM
Please be advised that following yesterday's announcement the dinner with Mark and Scott Kelly has now SOLD OUT!
apollokev Member
Posts: 18 From: Registered: Oct 2014
posted 04-10-2016 09:53 AM
Looking forward to the next event in October and meeting the Kelly brothers. It will be refreshing to hear about some different aspects of manned spaceflight, including the Shuttle and ISS.
One request, could we have Scott Kelly's ISS announcement of his Space Lectures appearance added to the website?
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 04-10-2016 10:46 AM
Space Lectures video
apollokev Member
Posts: 18 From: Registered: Oct 2014
posted 04-10-2016 11:06 AM
Thanks for the video Rick. I loved the way our next speakers were revealed at the event yesterday.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 04-10-2016 11:10 AM
I'm not convinced ANY future event announcement will be as cool.
Since yesterday, in addition to selling all the dinner tickets more than half of the remaining lecture tickets for October's event have been sold.
Just 70 now remain.
Ken has asked me to remind folks that photo shoots are paid for on the day directly to the photographers; not Ken. Thanks.
Kite Member
Posts: 831 From: Northampton UK Registered: Nov 2009
posted 04-11-2016 02:48 PM
Yet another great event to look forward to. Thanks once more to Ken and his fantastic team.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 04-11-2016 05:42 PM
A couple of updates from Ken regarding the Kelly event in October.
Just 40 lecture tickets now remain; the dinner sold out on Sunday. Unfortunately the Kellys are unable to do a second lecture on the Sunday; there will be only one lecture.
Because of how the fee is to be paid for this event Ken has asked for ticket payments in full by no later than June 30th. Tickets not paid for by this date will be put back up for sale.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 04-14-2016 03:28 PM
From all accounts Ken has only a handful of lectures tickets left for October's "Kelly-fest" - 20 I think. Anybody out there sitting on the fence please take note.
Ken is accepting payment for October with immediate effect.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 04-19-2016 05:41 AM
Correction. Ken has now confirmed just 30 tickets remain for the Kelly lecture in October. Dinner has sold out.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 05-12-2016 06:38 PM
In common with previous events payments to our speakers are made in installments prior to the event.
With one such installment approaching for the Kelly event in October can people who have ordered tickets please send payment? Thank you.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 05-13-2016 02:44 PM
Some who have requested tickets for the Kelly event in October have asked me whether they have seats near the front of the theatre.
Ken will only allocate seat numbers upon receipt of payment. A promise to pay does not secure a seat. "First up best dressed" as my old Mum used to say.
The sooner payments are made the nearer the front you will be seated.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 05-16-2016 02:54 AM
I would like to invite members to submit designs for the photo backdrop for the October Space Lectures event with Mark and Scott Kelly.
A stipulation from Ken is that the STS-134 and the year in space patches must be included... but otherwise the world is your oyster.
Assuming the eventual backdrop comes from a Collectspace member the designer will - as with previous events - earn themselves an exclusive signed photo courtesy of Space Lectures.
Good luck!
Dave_Johnson Member
Posts: 106 From: Registered: Feb 2014
posted 05-16-2016 11:44 AM
Here's my submission for the background.
Various sizes available.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 05-17-2016 03:50 AM
Nice one Dave. We usually include all the mission patches for each of our guests but on this occasion Ken would prefer to use their last mission patches only ie. STS-134 and Year in Space.
The thinking being that were we to use every patch the resulting image would become visually cluttered and confusing to the eye... particularly if there is a family or group in the photo.
Ken has asked that Mark and Scott wear their flight jackets for the photos providing not only a splash of colour but discreet recognition of each of their missions.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 05-17-2016 04:03 AM
Payment request. One thing many may not consider when attending a Space Lectures event (and why should they?) is that Ken can be exposed to fluctuations in the pound/dollar exchange rate when paying our speaker's fees.
Space Lectures relies entirely on ticket sales and other income from each event to cover all associated costs. There is no pool of cash that can be called upon to pay up front the moment a contract is agreed. Contracts are signed typically months in advance of any payment and exchange rate fluctuations can make a big difference. Significant swings one way or the other can mean the difference between profit and loss: profits going toward the next event and a charitable donation.
With that in mind, could I ask each and every member who has requested a ticket for October to please send payment quickly allowing Ken to meet the necessary financial obligations while the pound is at or near what it was when the contract with the Kellys was agreed.
If the stories are true a vote to leave the EU in June could have an adverse effect on an already weak pound/dollar exchange rate.
Dave_Johnson Member
Posts: 106 From: Registered: Feb 2014
posted 05-17-2016 04:16 PM
Okay Rick, how about this one:
posted 05-20-2016 03:22 AM
There are quite a few options when it comes to the main subject matter in the background photo.
Besides flying aboard ISS both have flown shuttle and Scott of course Soyuz. Plenty of lubricant for the creative cogs.
Madon_space Member
Posts: 667 From: uk Registered: Sep 2002
posted 05-20-2016 03:09 PM
Well that's my lecture ticket paid for, cannot wait for this.
Thanks again Rick and Ken.
Dave_Johnson Member
Posts: 106 From: Registered: Feb 2014
posted 05-20-2016 07:09 PM
Not a Soyuz or Endeavour, but visually striking as a background:
Soyuz but not Endeavour:
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 05-21-2016 05:46 PM
quote:Originally posted by Dave_Johnson: ...but visually striking as a background
Agreed.
crash Member
Posts: 318 From: West Sussex, England Registered: Jan 2011
posted 05-29-2016 06:01 AM
Just a thought, I do like the images with the ISS off to one side. And striking as the Soyuz/Orbiter pics are with people standing centre stage (plus two Kellys) I think you will only see the cloud. Whatever gets chosen will have to have the subject matter towards the edges.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 05-31-2016 06:01 AM
Can anyone who has ordered tickets for the Mark and Scott Kelly event this October in Pontefract please make payment to Ken asap?
Appearance fee installments need to be met and one is now due. Thanks in advance.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 06-03-2016 05:37 AM
October's Mark and Scott Kelly event made it in to the latest edition of Spaceflight magazine. Few tickets now remain.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 06-08-2016 06:34 AM
Ken is in the process of mailing out tickets purchased for the October Space Lectures event. Seats are allocated upon receipt of payment...not in order of request, so the sooner monies are sent the nearer the front people will be seated.
Ideally Ken would like all monies before the June 23rd referendum... in the event the pound takes a hit on the back of a vote for Brexit.
Prompt payment will go a long way to insuring the success of this event and in turn the one that follows. Thank you!
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 06-13-2016 09:18 AM
Thank you to everybody that has sent prompt payment within the last week or so. Your tickets will be with you shortly.
To everybody else who has ordered tickets please make payment as soon as possible. Thank you.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 06-14-2016 10:01 AM
A couple of dinner tickets have become available for the Kelly dinner in October. Please mail Ken directly for details and payment options.
Remember, each ticket entitles you to TWO signatures: one from each of the brothers.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 07-10-2016 05:26 AM
A handful of lecture tickets remain for the Kelly event in October. A second advert in this month's Spaceflight magazine is already attracting sales so act quickly if you haven't already purchased yours.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 07-17-2016 05:17 AM
Update from Ken. Can anybody yet to settle up for their October Space Lectures tickets please do so by August 10th? Tickets not paid for by this date will go back up for sale. Thank you.
spaceman Member
Posts: 1104 From: Walsall, West Midlands, UK Registered: Dec 2002
posted 07-18-2016 06:41 PM
We are in the process of putting together items for sale at the event; matted photos, patches, etc. Will collectors be looking to get an item signed by both Scott and Mark Kelly? Or individually signed pieces?
We have never had two astronauts appearing at the same event at Pontefract. A great first for Ken.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 07-19-2016 03:06 AM
The logistics of the two astronauts signing has yet to be agreed but it is likely that Mark and Scott will be sat at different tables.
If they are sat at the same table then as members of the audience move from one to the other there will be delays as pen colour and/or placement are discussed which would inevitably cause bottleneck holds ups further down the line.
Two signers is a first for Space Lectures so we are not looking to break any speed records but we do want to make the whole process as efficient and enjoyable as possible for all concerned.
I'm looking forward to the plethora of goodies available on the day from the merchandise dealers Nick, Bryar and Richard: they never disappoint.
Hart Sastrowardoyo Member
Posts: 3445 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
posted 07-19-2016 10:30 AM
I would go with three items for sale: A photo of the two of them; and individual photos of Mark and Scott.
At their Family Day in New Jersey, Scott had a silver Sharpie, Mark a gold. Didn't matter if it was in a book or a photo, that's what they used rather than switch back and forth between that and a standard black Sharpie.
As for placement, they signed in the general vicinity of the item - in one case, Mark signing not on his image on an STS-134 litho, but above the person above him. But that's not a complaint, rather an observation when they were signing on the fly rather than a controlled environment.
moorouge Member
Posts: 2454 From: U.K. Registered: Jul 2009
posted 07-19-2016 02:16 PM
quote:Originally posted by Rick Mulheirn: The logistics of the two astronauts signing has yet to be agreed but it is likely that Mark and Scott will be sat at different tables.
Two tables sounds good, but might I suggest that just one queue would be adviseable. Line up for one then move onto the second. One assumes that it will still be row at a time called forward with collection of photos as one takes one's place in the signing queue.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 07-19-2016 03:35 PM
The detail will be sorted nearer the time but we have perfected a process that allows each person to select their preferred pen colour with minimal delay and I'm sure we will do the same in October.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 07-23-2016 07:04 PM
A further update from Ken. "Tickets still available for the lecture including some close to the front for those who apply early: if they wait it would be the back row."
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 08-13-2016 09:33 AM
Two dinner tickets for the Kelly event in just 8 weeks time have become available.
Can interested parties please mail Ken Willoughby directly to confirm availabilty before making payment.
18blue78 Member
Posts: 126 From: UK Registered: Aug 2013
posted 08-14-2016 11:36 AM
Rick, I know the Kelly's event hasn't happened yet but do you know if Ken is likely to release dates for next year's events?
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 08-19-2016 06:14 AM
Very few lecture tickets now remain. The final few can be mopped up by visiting the Space Lectures website, but be sure to mail Ken Willoughby directly to confirm availability before sending any payment.
posted 04-10-2016 05:01 AM
advertisement