posted 05-30-2005 05:21 PM               

I've heard of fakes before, but making up Apollo astronauts?

posted 05-31-2005 04:17 AM               

"I have been a space entusiast for many years and I can honestly tell you that there is no such person as astronaut Dave Thompson . This is obviously a fake. One that you concocted. My friends also share the same opinion and I will contact the proper auhorities within ebay. You claim to sell authentic and not copies. This is obviously not true."

I think that this may be either be a signed picture of another astronaut, possibly paul Weitz or one of those novelty photographs you can get at KSC etc. Very dissapointing.

posted 05-31-2005 07:48 AM               

'cause: there was an astronaut candidate by the name of Dave Thompson. Manned Space Flight engineer programme, Department of Defense.

Thompson founded and owned his own space company, Spectrum Astro, after having retired from the military. He sold the company last year.

Of course there are databases like www.spacefacts.de or books like Mike Cassutt's "Who is Who in Space" where one can look this up, but never let any research stop a strong opinion. So - Gareth - which are the proper authorities to turn yourself in for libel and slander?

And, yes, Thompson is sending out this photo where he stands in an Apollo spacesuit. And of course Robert Polk, the seller of this item, is a reputable dealer.

When throwing mud, watch the wind.

------------------
J�rgen P Esders
Berlin, Germany http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Astroaddies

posted 06-01-2005 03:26 AM               

Ed

posted 06-05-2005 12:15 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Rob Joyner:
Actually, an 'exact' description is much different than a 'detailed' description.
An 'exact' would be just that; nothing more. Either the guy is an "astronaut" or he is a "MSE Candidate", and knowing this does not take a lot of man hours or preparing. It all comes down to how fast you can type. Why anyone would waste any time at all to submit something on eBay at a starting bid of 99 cents is beyond me. You'd save more time just throwing it in the trash!
I'm certain that if this seller had an Armstrong for sale, he definitely would not advertise it as just "astronaut". He would undoubtedly say something like '1st man on the Moon', at the very, very least. Common sense, right? That's why the seller sported 'astronaut' instead of 'candidate'. It helps him to sell space-related items to others who don't know the difference.

---

Not so common the sense as you think. Whether Cassutt's "Who is Who", whether Hawthorne's book, whether "spacefacts", they all list "astronauts and cosmonauts", and Thompson's name is in all of them. The name is in the list, and the details come with the details.

Throwing it into the trash? Some people don't have the tunnel vision on Moonwalkers, but collect everyone who has ever been selected to a space programme. That undoubtedly applies to Thompson.

You're just trying to reverse the responsability for the blatant mistake of John and Gareth to the seller. That just won't work, and with "trashy" statements like the above you're on the road to lose your own.

posted 06-06-2005 11:29 AM            

First, we're talking here about a listing that started at 99 cents.
NINETY NINE CENTS!!! Yet you ascribe
to the seller motives as though he sits in a dark basement somewhere
just thinking up ways to steal peoples' money.
Where is that coming from? Do you have any knowledge whatsoever that
leads you to write "These sellers are trying
to sell their items and sell them at a premium price, not have people
turn away. And that is why Thompson was listed
as just "astronaut", or "The seller was not lying about his item,
as I stated earlier, he just didn't give all the info he
had available to give to potential buyers. Fifteen seconds of typing
would have taken care of that, but that means he
might not get the price he desires if he did".

There are many sellers who don't give detailed, or even accurate,
descriptions of their items, but that hardly
dictates that they are doing so deliberately, and/or just to screw
buyers. I've bought space items on Ebay, and picked
up more than a few bargains, because sellers either don't care, don't
know or don't bother to list very detailed or accurate
descriptions. Many sellers are elderly, retired, too busy, too
scatterbrained or don't give very detailed or accurate descriptions
for a wide range of reasons; they're not necessarily out to screw their
customers.

Also, I've run across sellers who start their auctions at $1 or less,
and sometimes with items that aren't even worth that much.
I've shared emails with some, and asked them why they even bother with
such listings; how can it possibly be worth their time?
Their answers might surprise you. More than a few said they do it
because they'd rather make an item available to someone who
might just want it, rather than just tossing it in the trash. That's
right, some sellers go through the trouble of taking a picture,
writing up a description, posting on Ebay, paying a listing fee,
corresponding with the winner, then packing the item up and
shipping it out, all for a mere pittance. Why? Just because they want
to help out someone who may want the darn thing!

posted 06-06-2005 01:56 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Rob Joyner:
I never said the seller was selling a fake, so to run down the many sources confirming Thompson is a real person was a waste of time, but you may want to contact JSC, http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio.html, because he is not included anywhere in the astronaut/candidate bio sections.

---

Rob,

That's exactly what I called a tunnel vision. It is no news to anyone that there are tons of selectees of the different programmes that were not NASA astronauts. X-15 pilots - no astronauts? Mike Melvill - no astronaut? Yuri Gagarin - to be forgotten, 'cause not listed onthis website? Yang Liwei - not really been to space? All the non-US spacefarers -no astronauts?

If you do consider reading the standard reference works in our field a waste of time - be my guest. I can't help you.

Deep in a hole and digging deeper, if you ask me .....

posted 06-08-2005 11:12 AM               

It was my mistake, I feel shamed by the whole matter. But I hope that other members won't get sucked into a flame fight because of my mistake.

posted 06-08-2005 09:43 PM               

Rob

And yes, the horse has been beaten thoroughly.
'Nuff said.