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Author
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Topic: Collecting the space shuttle: Complete sets
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-12-2011 11:42 AM
   
Given a general trend by collectors to seek out complete sets, what items related to the space shuttle program do cS'ers feel will or have already become attractive to pursue? Are there sets that are impossible to complete due to gaps in production or perhaps the size of the set (e.g. 135 missions, 353 astronauts)? A few space shuttle sets come to mind. What others can be collected? - Mission patches, lapel pins or decals
- Robbins medals
- Launch and/or landing philatelic covers
- Crew or individual astronaut portrait NASA lithos
- Crew or individual astronaut autographs
- Flown U.S. flags
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mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 06-12-2011 12:09 PM
As an autograph collector, the thought of collecting a signed litho by every flown shuttle astronaut seemed just too daunting to undertake. So I decided to undertake the task in increments, concentrating on certain astronauts or groups.I started by collecting every flown shuttle commander, on their individual portrait litho. I completed that collection a little over a year ago (though I didn't realize it was "complete" until the crew for STS-135 had been announced). Then I started working on collecting every flown shuttle pilot who never made the transition over to the commander's seat. I now have all but two of those signatures...two active astronauts who are not very cooperative about signing. I am also currently working on completing a set of the Group 8 (TFNG) astronauts. They way I see it, these astronauts made up the core of the shuttle program (along with veterans from the Apollo era) when I was just starting out discovering our space program. Even if I never obtain a complete set of all flown shuttle astronauts, I feel happier having obtained a few goals along the way...instead of just randomly collecting any signature I can obtain (though I'm sure that's fun too!). |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2474
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 06-12-2011 01:27 PM
We have the patch set. We are working on the decals. All of the others are out of reach for us I think. Does seeing at least one launch of all 5 shuttles count? (collecting memories) |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-12-2011 01:34 PM
One SSME from each vehicle. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-12-2011 02:26 PM
quote:
Originally posted by SpaceAholic:
One SSME from each vehicle.
Were such possible, you would really only need one main engine out of a group of seven that each flew at least once on each the five orbiters (serial nos. 2109, 2012, 2017, 2019, 2029, 2031, 2034). |
Fezman92
Member Posts: 1031
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 06-12-2011 02:46 PM
For me, I like the patches, pins, crew photos and the unique items. For example, I have an official pin commemorating the first flight of Endeavour. I would love to have a seat from the shuttle. Would be the best office chair ever.... |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1309
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 06-12-2011 03:14 PM
I'm working on a complete "Cooper patch" set. Off the top of my head, I have about 20 missions missing, mostly because I've devoted my collecting budget lately to other items of more immediate interest such as models, AB's Gemini set, Chris Spain's LM patches, and some of Tim Gagnon's commemorative patches. I just figured that the official mission patches aren't going anywhere and aren't likely to spike in value anytime soon, so I've put them on the back burner.I'm thinking about embarking on assembling a collection of official crew lithos. I had a bunch of these as a kid in the mid-80s, before my interest in the program flagged during the post-Challenger hiatus, and they were very dear to me. From some cursory research, it seems like I could build a collection of those without undue difficulty or unreasonable expense. |
ilbasso
Member Posts: 1522
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 06-12-2011 04:57 PM
I've got over 75 Firing Room access badges from Shuttle missions, but these don't come to light very often. |
Bob M
Member Posts: 1744
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 06-12-2011 05:18 PM
The large number of Space Shuttle astronauts (353 launched) and flights (135) make completing any type of Shuttle set a challenge, whether it be patches, launch covers, signed or unsigned portraits, unsigned crew lithos, etc. As a comparison, there were only 31 Mercury, Gemini and Apollo flights, and only 43 different astronauts flew on those 31 flights. Now that the Shuttle Program is ending, surely many are considering putting together complete sets of various Shuttle material. Autographed material by all 353 Shuttle-launched astronauts and crew signed material for all 135 flights would be at or near the top of any list of most challenging and difficult Shuttle sets. Starting either set now would be an expensive, long-range and daunting experience. Some of us have been involved for years in assembling complete autograph sets of all 353 Shuttle astronauts and/or complete crew signed sets, with some sets at or near completion. But those starting such sets now or later will soon realize what a difficult and expensive undertaking they are involved in. In my opinion, beginning now at the end of the Shuttle Program, it would be of extreme difficulty and expense to put together a complete set of crew signed material for all 135 flights, but attempting a complete set of autographs of all the Shuttle astronauts more reasonable.
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Mike Dixon
Member Posts: 1397
From: Kew, Victoria, Australia
Registered: May 2003
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posted 06-12-2011 05:45 PM
Gathering all the (flown) crew portraits wouldn't be am immensely difficult exercise ... but complementing those with the seven (that I'm aware of) unflown crew lithos certainly would be. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 06-12-2011 08:09 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Bob M:
In my opinion, beginning now at the end of the Shuttle Program, it would be of extreme difficulty and expense to put together a complete set of crew signed material for all 135 flights, but attempting a complete set of autographs of all the Shuttle astronauts more reasonable.
All depends how one defines "all the Shuttle astronauts." My definition includes the 27 that were active at the time the Group 8 astronauts were active, up to and including Group 19, as well as alternate payload specialists and those who were chosen but didn't fly. It's a group that I won't have a chance of completing, but it keeps the thrill of collecting active. |
Steve Procter
Member Posts: 1031
From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 06-15-2011 03:47 PM
I am gradually trying to build up a collection of signed items from each of the 353 astronauts who have flown on the shuttle.I think at last count I had 269. Most of these are individual portraits in flight suit or oss along with a sprinkling of those in Sokol suits. I also have a few on covers or cut signatures. I reckon on being able to get to 330 or so before it will begin to get really difficult. We shall see...  |
Mike Z
Member Posts: 451
From: Ellicott City, Maryland
Registered: Dec 2005
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posted 06-16-2011 11:12 PM
When you mention 353 flown shuttle astronauts, is that including the three on Challenger 51L that really never made it to space, Christa McAuliffe, Greg Jarvis and Mike Smith? Those are the only three that I don't have and I'm sure I'll never get a chance to buy them. They are WAY WAY out of my price range!! I was offered them by my friend, the late Bob White of President Kennedy fame but he had done so much for me I turned them down. He also offered me Wernher Von Braun and JFK. I will always regret that!! |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 06-16-2011 11:26 PM
Depends on your price range. Signed lithos of McAuliffe and Jarvis can be expected to go well above $1000. But I got a nice Mike Smith signed litho a couple years ago for about $200. In general, they seem to sell in the $200-$400 range.I tend to subscribe to Mike Mullane's philosophy... one the SRB hold-down bolts blow, you are an astronaut. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-17-2011 03:58 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Mike Z:
When you mention 353 flown shuttle astronauts, is that including the three on Challenger 51L that really never made it to space...
- 353 people launched on the space shuttle;
- 355 people flew on the space shuttle (Gennadi Strekalov and Yuri Gidzenko never launched on an orbiter, but landed on one);
- 352 people flew in space on the space shuttle (omitting the three first-time fliers on STS-51L).
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cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 06-17-2011 09:04 AM
I'll go with framed-pins. Waiting for the last flight and Winco to come up with their shuttle-series #5. Still have to buy #3 and #4, though!. |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 06-17-2011 09:55 AM
Set of flags used before each launch (now including Enterprise). |
DChudwin
Member Posts: 1096
From: Lincolnshire IL USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 06-18-2011 08:48 PM
It is quite feasible to have a complete set of space shuttle launch and landing covers for all 135 flights (of course no landing cover for Challenger STS-51L). I have such a set (except STS-135), as do some other space cover collectors. |
Tom
Member Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 06-18-2011 09:25 PM
I have framed pins of all 134 flown shuttle missions... just waiting for "135" to be released. |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1309
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 06-19-2011 12:14 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Tom:
...just waiting for "135" to be released.
I have a 135 pin; they're available now from AB. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-19-2011 12:17 AM
The "official" NASA pin (made by Winco) has also begun shipping. I picked up one on Friday at the Kennedy Space Center exchange store. The back is inscribed "Mission Complete." |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1309
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 06-19-2011 12:35 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
The back is inscribed "Mission Complete."
Robert, other than the inscription on the back, how does it differ from the AB pin? Are these available for public purchase?
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-19-2011 12:44 AM
They are or will be available wherever Winco pins are sold (e.g. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, The Space Store). As with all Winco vs. AB Emblem pins, they differ slightly in size and style. I don't have my AB example with me to compare side by side but can post a comparison this week. Winco pins are the pins worn by NASA managers and flown aboard the shuttle. |
Tom
Member Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 06-19-2011 05:38 AM
quote:
Originally posted by GoesTo11:
I have a 135 pin; they're available now from AB.
Thanks for the info... I usually purchase them from The Space Store. They indicated they'd have them soon. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-05-2011 05:58 AM
Collecting complete shuttle sets made the front page of Florida Today today with comments by Ken Havekotte and myself. "I'm getting a lot of calls from people trying to complete their sets" of collectibles from each of the program's 135 shuttle missions, said Ken Havekotte, one of the most prominent local collectors and vendors of space-related collectibles. He owns SpaceCoast Cover Service on Merritt Island, which started out specializing in cachet covers -- the envelope, stamp and postmark combinations commemorating a space mission -- but has since diversified include other space-age memorabilia. My own comment toward the start of the article about some prices doubling was in reference to the gradual increase over the past few years of STS-1 flown flags, from selling around $500 to examples topping $1,000, and the expanding interest in items such as the crew version of the STS-1 patch. |
Spaceguy5
Member Posts: 427
From: Pampa, TX, US
Registered: May 2011
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posted 07-05-2011 06:05 AM
I think one of the hardest thing to collect would be flown hardware from the shuttles (especially if one were to want a sample of different parts or from different vehicles) that hasn't been turned into confetti. |
MrSpace86
Member Posts: 1618
From: Gardner, KS, USA
Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 07-05-2011 08:22 AM
It's ironic that Shuttle memorabilia is increasing yet there is so much from those vehicles. I believe that the prices will be high for a few years until the next manned program kicks in. The sought after space artifacts will always be Apollo flown to the moon items, not low Earth orbit Space Shuttle items. |
Spaceguy5
Member Posts: 427
From: Pampa, TX, US
Registered: May 2011
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posted 07-05-2011 08:46 AM
I was thinking the same. Although in my opinion, prices will die down quicker than that -- just because of the sheer amount of memorabilia available. Right now there is a heightened interest in the shuttles just because the program is ending, but I imagine the layfolk will quickly lose interest and return to the state they were in when they hardly knew what a space shuttle did. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-05-2011 09:45 AM
quote:
Originally posted by MrSpace86:
The sought after space artifacts will always be Apollo flown to the moon items, not low Earth orbit Space Shuttle items.
While I have no doubt that Apollo items will always trump space shuttle items, I would not discount the effect of nostalgia on the market for shuttle items. There is a whole generation who grew up with the shuttle, who just like the Apollo generation, will be keen to reclaim part of their childhood when they reach their 40s, 50s and older. I could easily see STS-1 flown flags and other select shuttle pieces continuing to gradually rise in price as the years pass. |
Bob M
Member Posts: 1744
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 07-07-2011 02:22 PM
While flown flags have been mentioned, one Shuttle set that is doable, but would be rather expensive, is a set of 6 flown flag presentations for each orbiter's first flight: Enterprise (ALT first Free Flight); Columbia (STS-1); Challenger (STS-6); Discovery (STS-41D); Atlantis (STS-51J); and Endeavour (STS-49). Or easier, a flown flag presentation for any flight of each of the six orbiters. |
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