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Author
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Topic: Strange damage to astronaut-signed photos
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sprocketship
Member Posts: 72
From:
Registered: Feb 2014
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posted 07-09-2014 06:09 PM
  
I received a pair of photos back from Kathy Sullivan in the mail today and my excitement was squashed when I opened the envelope to find that a large bubble had formed in the middle of both prints. Apparently, during transit, something had happened (humidity or heat?) and the print face of the pictures bubbled up away from the paper backing.Also, the plastic sleeves I had sent the pictures in had changed. When I mailed them out, the sleeves were smooth. Now, they have an odd squiggly bubble pattern that has raised up on the plastic. I admit I had the images printed at Walmart. Was that the problem? If so, I won't make that mistake again. Has anyone else experienced this before? |
Cozmosis22
Member Posts: 968
From: Texas * Earth
Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 07-09-2014 06:18 PM
That sounds like heat damage. The photos may have been sunbaked inside the plastic sleeves during transit.
Sorry to hear about that. Did you use quick-delivery Priority Mail or slow-boat Media Mail? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-09-2014 07:35 PM
If the photos were mailed to Sullivan's office at NOAA, the damage may be from how mail is screened at federal agencies coupled with the quality (or possible lack thereof) of the photo print. Currently mail to the White House, Congressional offices, and federal government offices in the 202-205 Zip Code exchanges is being irradiated.During irradiation, an intense stream of electrons (or x-rays if x-ray technology is used) strikes the mail... The radiation dose is very high, about 56 kilo grays of radiation, which is approximately 2 million times more than a chest x-ray. Irradiating mail at such high intensity creates new compounds, which can result in a different look, feel, and even smell. Because of the intensity of the beam, mail often looks yellowed, and can become brittle. Book bindings may become brittle, and plastic may be discolored. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 07-09-2014 07:46 PM
Interestingly, I also get my photos printed out at Walmart and got back a photo from Sullivan... but without damage. I ask for matte print rather than glossy, but if I get it done in an hour I can only get matte prints made.I know lithos are less, if any, affected, but I'm refraining from sending my two already-signed by others lithos to Bolden, instead waiting for an in-person or via venue opportunity. |
sprocketship
Member Posts: 72
From:
Registered: Feb 2014
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posted 07-09-2014 09:50 PM
Thanks for all of the replies. I think the most obvious answer is the irradiation. My enclosed letters were also returned and they looked a bit yellowed. And as I've mailed out other photos in the same sleeves without them returning like this, the irradiation does seem to be the culprit.We have a trailer at work that sits outside year round. I think I'll put a spare Walmart printed picture in a sleeve and let it bake in the July heat for a few days to see what happens... If it does change like the pics from Dr. Sullivan, I will post about it here. Thanks again! |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 07-09-2014 10:04 PM
Not sure where you live, but where I am on the East Coast it's been pretty hot. Two days travel time from the Maryland Post Office (Capitol Heights) to me, looking at the postmark. |
stsmithva
Member Posts: 1933
From: Fairfax, VA, USA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 07-09-2014 10:45 PM
This was unfortunately probably caused by the x-rays they've been using since the anthrax was sent just after 9/11. Here is an interesting 2008 Washington Post article about the plastic-warping and paper-yellowing caused by the irradiation. Of special interest to some cS members: "Among the precautions embraced since the 2001 attacks: the Smithsonian Division of Meteorites told collectors not to send space debris by mail for fear that samples "may be substantially compromised." |
sprocketship
Member Posts: 72
From:
Registered: Feb 2014
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posted 07-10-2014 12:29 PM
That article is very helpful. Thank you. |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1512
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 07-10-2014 06:52 PM
I will affirm what Robert and Steve said about irradiation. I live near the Capitol building, had a lot of my mail irradiated back when the anthrax scare was going on, and the symptoms reported here sound just like those of the irradiated mail that I got. I quit mailing my space cover exhibits out for display after that... |
sprocketship
Member Posts: 72
From:
Registered: Feb 2014
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posted 07-10-2014 09:27 PM
Does anyone know if the system FedEx uses would be less harsh on photos? I'm hoping that might be a good alternative.
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