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Author
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Topic: 7/15: 2017 Galactic Gathering (Mitchell, IN)
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spgrissom
Member Posts: 119
From: Mitchell, Indiana, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 07-16-2016 05:30 PM
   
Indiana is home to 12 Hoosier born astronauts! Of these 12, we have lost three. Here is the HUGE announcement... The Grissom Boyhood Home is proud to announce we will be hosting "The Galactic Gathering... Celebrating Indiana's Space Heritage!" This event will take place on July 15, 2017. At this once in a lifetime event, right here in Mitchell, Indiana, the Home is hosting a breakfast, a parade, a photo opportunity of a lifetime, and a round table discussion. Who is interested in hearing who is coming in? We have SEVEN of the nine surviving astronauts coming to Mitchell, Indiana! Scheduled to attend (pending no serious events occur): - Tony England of Indianapolis
- David Wolf of Indianapolis
- Mark Brown of Valparaiso
- Joe Allen of Crawfordsville
- Jerry Ross of Crown Point
- Kevin Ford of Montpelier
- Charlie Walker of Bedford
These men have never been all together like this before. Purdue has hosted a few astronaut reunions but none like this. This may NEVER happen again. Tickets can be purchased here. Tickets are very scarce and if you wait too long you will miss out. Don't miss your chance to witness these heroes coming together to talk about their adventures of spaceflight. A schedule of the events, as well as descriptions for each activity is also available at the above linked site. If you are looking to come in from out of town, we have some rooms blocked off at the Spring Mill State Park Inn. Just call 812-849-4129 and tell them you want a room for the Grissom Boyhood Home gathering. The Inn is a good place to stay and Spring Mill State Park is the crown jewel of the state parks in Indiana. There are many things to do there for the entire family. |
BMacKinnon
Member Posts: 230
From: Waterford, MI. USA
Registered: Jul 2007
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posted 07-18-2016 07:10 AM
I am looking forward to this event, even though it is a year away!
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Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 07-18-2016 10:52 AM
This is a bit too far away for me to properly plan. Regardless, I hate to overuse the phrase "once in a lifetime experience," but this is one of those moments. Look at the transfer of Discovery from NASA to Udvar-Hazy - within a few months of that, Poindexter was gone. Glenn no longer signs. And though I saw (but that was it) him a few months later when Enterprise was dedicated on Intrepid, that was my one and only opportunity to have a few words with Engle and shake hands.Joe Allen will be 80 next year. Look at his recent signature. England will be 75. Heck, Walker will be just shy of 69. If I could commit to going this early I would. |
spgrissom
Member Posts: 119
From: Mitchell, Indiana, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 07-24-2016 08:41 AM
Tickets are selling well to this event. We still have some available. This will be a great time for all who attend. To get these men together again in one location will probably never happen again. We are excited to have been able to do this. All proceeds go to the Grissom Boyhood Home, which has had about 700 people already come through this year. We are shooting for 1,500. Plan ahead and come out and see these Indiana Heroes!! |
milkit1
Member Posts: 271
From: Springfield Illinois USA
Registered: Sep 2015
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posted 07-24-2016 10:15 AM
Any chance the astronauts will be available for autographs? |
Wehaveliftoff
Member Posts: 2343
From:
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 07-24-2016 07:06 PM
The Opera House seats 360, situated midway between Indy and Louisville, Ky. |
spgrissom
Member Posts: 119
From: Mitchell, Indiana, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 08-09-2016 06:56 PM
There will be an opportunity to get autographs. They will be limited to those who go to the events and will only be given at the venues. Pictures, patches, books, and such will be the only items the guys will sign.
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spgrissom
Member Posts: 119
From: Mitchell, Indiana, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 09-19-2016 02:54 PM
I know it is early for this but we have sold about 50 percent of the breakfast and a little over 40 percent of the discussion that evening. If you think you can attend know tickets are really selling and we are getting ready to hit the advertising in the next month. People use the phrase "once in a lifetime" too much. This is one of those cases... it will not happen again and will be a great time. |
spgrissom
Member Posts: 119
From: Mitchell, Indiana, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 10-03-2016 04:31 PM
50% of the breakfast tickets for this event have been sold. 45% of the Symposium have been sold. |
Jouett
Member Posts: 53
From: Fishers, IN, USA
Registered: Aug 2016
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posted 10-15-2016 09:28 PM
Being from Fishers, IN, I'd be kicking myself afterwards if I didn't make this event.Would anyone have any suggestions on what one item I could purchase to have all of these astronauts sign while at the event? Thanks! |
Wehaveliftoff
Member Posts: 2343
From:
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 10-16-2016 03:41 AM
When Ohio did this there was no real program. That would be the best on getting all these signed on an item. I just got each individually (19 total). Otherwise, ISS
large photo? |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 10-17-2016 12:55 PM
Or large Shuttle photo, considering all flew on that vehicle. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42986
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-17-2016 01:10 PM
Since the event is themed around Indiana, how about a photo of the state (or part thereof) from space? For example, Astronaut's View of Indianapolis. You can find other photos by searching for Indiana on the Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth. |
Jouett
Member Posts: 53
From: Fishers, IN, USA
Registered: Aug 2016
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posted 10-17-2016 04:02 PM
Thanks for the suggestions.A little background on myself. I've only gotten into the space subject here in the past five months or so. My true fanaticism is in Mercury, Gemini and Apollo and Mission Control from that era. Therefore... I own Rick Houston and Milt Heflin's "Go Flight" book and have acquired many signatures. Tony England is mentioned in the book for his help with Apollo 13 in Mission Control. So I could have him sign that book. I could then pick up Rick Houston's book "Wheels Stop... 1986-2011" book and have the others sign that. Granted I looked up to see when these gentleman were astronauts and some were not in this time frame. Like I said, I'm new to this and I definitely don't want to offend anyone by having them sign a book that they weren't even involved in the stories. Granted I'm going to be one of hundreds. So it probably won't make a difference to these gentlemen. But I don't want to look stupid either as these will be the first astronauts I've ever met. Thanks again. This site is wonderful and everyone's so helpful. |
Wehaveliftoff
Member Posts: 2343
From:
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 10-17-2016 09:47 PM
Jouett, Welcome, willkommen, hola...One thing you cannot be timid about is meeting an astronaut, if you are not determined to say hi or converse, you may well be left in the dust... They put their pants on, one leg at a time, just like you. |
spgrissom
Member Posts: 119
From: Mitchell, Indiana, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 11-06-2016 01:53 PM
We now only have 38 seats left for the Lift-Off breakfast! |
spgrissom
Member Posts: 119
From: Mitchell, Indiana, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 12-21-2016 12:59 PM
There are only 26 breakfast tickets remaining and 85 Symposium tickets remaining. |
spgrissom
Member Posts: 119
From: Mitchell, Indiana, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 01-03-2017 06:36 AM
We now only have 14 breakfast tickets left. Still have 80 Symposium tickets. However we just are beginning to advertise locally. I anticipate these selling quickly. |
MarylandSpace
Member Posts: 1336
From:
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 01-03-2017 03:19 PM
My favorite item to get shuttle astronauts to sign is "Space Shuttle: The First 20 Years."I try to find their picture in the book, or an essay they wrote, or have them sign their orbiter/shuttle, or the solar array of the ISS. There is also "The Space Shuttle: Celebrating Thirty Years of NASA's First Space Plane" but it is somewhat different. |
Wehaveliftoff
Member Posts: 2343
From:
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 01-03-2017 11:59 PM
I have two which I get signed. I gave a third to Don Thomas. He sent two 8x10s of his musical group of astronauts and a patch (assumed non-flown) with a thank you note. It was when he held the record most time for American on a space station. When I go to Indiana, they will be with me. Yes and several are not in there, must adapt. |
spgrissom
Member Posts: 119
From: Mitchell, Indiana, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 01-11-2017 01:29 PM
The Lift-Off Breakfast has SOLD-OUT!!! Only 65 seats remain at the Opera House. |
spgrissom
Member Posts: 119
From: Mitchell, Indiana, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 01-26-2017 09:35 AM
There are still a few Symposium tickets left. Only 45 ticket remain. I know people are still interested in this event so I want to keep everyone updated. |
spgrissom
Member Posts: 119
From: Mitchell, Indiana, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 01-29-2017 10:16 PM
Only 28 seats left for the Symposium event!! If your going and need a place to stay call Spring Mill Inn (812-849-4508). |
Wehaveliftoff
Member Posts: 2343
From:
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 02-09-2017 10:16 PM
What's the latest count? |
spgrissom
Member Posts: 119
From: Mitchell, Indiana, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 02-10-2017 07:45 AM
The breakfast and the Symposium have sold out. There are still Grissom Home tours and photo opportunities available but that is it. There is a small chance a few more may open but this is a small chance. |
spgrissom
Member Posts: 119
From: Mitchell, Indiana, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 03-06-2017 06:49 AM
We are in the works of planning a book signing with Jerry Ross at the Galactic Gathering. I will post again once things are finalized. |
spgrissom
Member Posts: 119
From: Mitchell, Indiana, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 04-17-2017 02:30 PM
We are 90 days out. Doing some finalizing on tickets, packaging the tickets, and getting ready to mail the tickets. Silent auction is coming together. Finalizing the photo opportunity... finally got in touch with the photographer who will be doing them and we are nailing down things. Everything else is according to plan. This is turning out to be a great event... let's hope for great weather!! |
spgrissom
Member Posts: 119
From: Mitchell, Indiana, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 04-18-2017 01:43 PM
We are excited to announce a book signing will be held at the Galactic Gathering with astronaut Jerry Ross. Jerry will be on hand at the Grissom Memorial located inside of Spring Mill State Park. Jerry will be inside the memorial at a table in front of Gus Grissom's GT-3, the "Unsinkable Molly Brown" spacecraft, which will be used as a backdrop. He will only sign 100 books which will be available for purchase the day of the event. Cost will be coming soon... |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42986
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-17-2017 07:50 AM
Indiana Public Media has published a slideshow from the Galactic Gathering. Seven astronauts came together in Mitchell on Saturday to commemorate Hoosier astronaut Lt. Col. Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom. It was the largest-ever gathering of Indiana-born astronauts. Additional photos can be found on the Grissom Boyhood Home Facebook page.Tim Gagnon also designed a commemorative patch for the occasion, available by contacting the Grissom Boyhood Home. The names are listed in flight order.The design is inspired by the State Flag of Indiana. The 12 stars represent the 12 Hoosier astronauts. The other design elements represent their accomplishments in space program history. MIR for Dave Wolf, the MMU for Joe Allen and the EVA astronaut also for Jerry Ross. The Moon and Apollo spacecraft for Frank Borman, the orbiter for all shuttle astronauts, the ISS for Kevin Ford, Ross and Wolf. The suborbital and Gemini trajectories for Gus Grissom. The ISS trajectories appears to begin at the Mercury icon to illustrate the history of Indiana's astronauts. The icons at the bottom represent the programs that these astronauts flew (or in the case of Aunon) will fly in. Mars because Aunon could conceivably fly there during her career. Jupiter represents Don Williams command of STS-34 Atlantis mission that sent Galileo to Jupiter.  |
spgrissom
Member Posts: 119
From: Mitchell, Indiana, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 07-19-2017 10:29 AM
This patch can be purchased by sending an email to the Grissom Boyhood Home.There is a large patch and a small patch. Smaller patches are $15 including shipping and larger patches are $25 including shipping. |
spgrissom
Member Posts: 119
From: Mitchell, Indiana, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 07-21-2017 12:13 PM
There is now a webstore up for the Grissom Boyhood Home. You can purchase patches, t-shirts, signed Jerry Ross books, and other items from the Galactic Gathering and from the Boyhood home on this site. |
Neil DC
Member Posts: 140
From: Middletown, NJ, USA
Registered: May 2010
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posted 07-21-2017 01:30 PM
It was great to meet so many member for the Grissom family, especially Lowell and Mark. It was a shame that we could not meet Scott and Betty.Overall a very well organized series of events. Thanking everyone who helped organize it and give us an incite into Gus Grissom's life. |
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