posted 08-27-2002 10:30 PM               

I'm considering a new policy for space tourist sightings: I will only list an appearance if he/she is appearing specifically to discuss his/her spaceflight. This would preclude tracking Bass' every move while still allowing those interested to attend space-related events.

What do you think? I am being too narrow in my thinking? Or perhaps not narrow enough?

posted 08-28-2002 12:34 AM               

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-Ben

http://www.geocities.com/ovcolumbia/totaleclipse.html

posted 08-28-2002 01:41 AM               

OTOH, think of all the groupies!

posted 08-28-2002 03:42 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
With Lance Bass receiving official approval by the MCOP and his week of training proceeding smoothly at NASA, the thought of having to list each and every N'Sync concert on the Sightings calendar has been crossing my mind as something I would rather not do.

I'm considering a new policy for space tourist sightings: I will only list an appearance if he/she is appearing specifically to discuss his/her spaceflight. This would preclude tracking Bass' every move while still allowing those interested to attend space-related events.

What do you think? I am being too narrow in my thinking? Or perhaps not narrow enough?

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That sounds like a pragmatic approach.

Still - what do you do if the young man composes and sings a song about his experience?

Then you are back to listing all concerts in no time :-)

posted 08-28-2002 03:44 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by randy:
You are not narrow enough! I'm probably going to get into hot water with some people, but these people are NOT astronauts and I don't think they should even be mentioned here.

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Randy,

The professional organization of the astronauts, ASE, recognizes Dennis Tito as one of theirs and will probably recognize Bass once he's been around once.

I don't think we should be more popist than the Pope here .....

posted 08-29-2002 01:49 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Rodina:

But doesn't ASE have a professional and pecuniary interest in this matter? Doesn't that undermine their position?

Just asking.

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Andy Turnage, their head of office, is present here on this message board and better suited to answer this question.

posted 08-29-2002 09:14 AM               

I guess I better try and answer this one. This, as you can probably understand, is a VERY contentious issue within the organization.

Just as a clarification, Tito was offered an invitation to join, but did not respond to the offer (even though we saw him in Star City prior to his flight and he indicated interest in joining). He is not a member and another invitation will not be offered. Pending resolution of the "space tourist" issue within the org, Shuttleworth has not been invited to join and neither will Bass.

Technically, our Charter stipulates that anyone who has "made at least one orbit of the earth in space (space as defined by the FAI)" is elegible to be a member. Back when the organization was formed (1985) there wasn't much danger of paying tourists flying in space (we won't even go into the payload specialist tourists in this message, although I will address it in another if anyone is interested), so the feeling was that the "orbited in space" requirement was sufficient to maintain the unique quality of the organization as one by and for astronauts and cosmonauts. Now, obviously, we are having to make decisions as to who the organization should include. It's a tough one!

<<But doesn't ASE have a professional and pecuniary interest in this matter? Doesn't that undermine their position?>>

I'm not sure I understand the question, but would be happy to answer it if you can clarify for me...

posted 08-29-2002 11:12 AM            

<<<<But doesn't ASE have a professional and pecuniary interest in this matter? Doesn't that undermine their position?>>>>

<<I'm not sure I understand the question, but would be happy to answer it if you can clarify for me...>>

posted 08-29-2002 11:16 AM            

I am curious about the view of the Payload Specialists (I assume you mean Jake Garn and Bill Nelson and not the aerospace professionals PS's), actually, and would like to hear about it. Would you guys have counted Christa MacCaullife? She was on as much of a joy ride as our democratic representatives...

posted 08-29-2002 11:34 AM               

Well, some folks want that to be a new distinction, grandfathering in all of those who are already members. The organization was formed to serve as an association of people who had shared a common "experience," rather than a common job title, and the space tourist, for better or for worse, share that experience.

<<I am curious about the view of the Payload Specialists (I assume you mean Jake Garn and Bill Nelson and not the aerospace professionals PS's), actually, and would like to hear about it. Would you guys have counted Christa MacCaullife? She was on as much of a joy ride as our democratic representatives...>>

Yes, we would have. Again, back then people weren't paying "out of pocket" for flights, so the issue was a little more cut and dried. Now, this brings up the issue of people like Sultan (a Founder, by the way), Sharman, Akiyama et al who had their "tickets" paid for, but these folks have been longtime members, who have contributed time, effort and resources to the org, and we're not about to remove them because they don't meet the "professional" criterion.

There are a few of the professional astros and former astros who have a problem with inviting rich space tourists to join, but do not have clear reasons how we can include the aforementioned members and exclude the new class of tourists. Like I said, it's a tough call and I'm not convinced we have a clear idea, short of changing the charter (which would change the essential nature of the organization) how to deal with it.

Andy