Posts: 1161
From: New Windsor, Maryland USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 06-19-2025 01:06 PM               

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Don't know if others share my feelings here. I love William Shatner, but don't necessarily need to see his appearance schedule on this site. And have absolute zero interest in scrolling through Katy Perry's concert tour schedule when perusing the sightings for upcoming appearances by astronauts.

How about tightening things up by replacing the Karman line, as the minimum requirement for inclusion in Sightings, with the requirement that the persons listed in sightings have completed at least one Earth orbit? Even Shepard and Grissom would meet that requirement and insignificant contributors such as Perry can be excluded.

Posts: 1418
From: Vancouver, WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012

Posts: 218
From: Redmond, Washington, USA
Registered: Dec 2007

posted 06-19-2025 02:42 PM               

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I agree. I noticed the repeated presence of Katy Perry’s concert appearances a while ago. Clutters up the list, in my opinion.

I can understand why she is in the mix, but I would suggest limiting the future sightings list to appearances that relate more directly with each person’s flight experience.

For example, if Katy is scheduled to do a talk about her Blue Origin flight, include it. But, if she is performing musically (her main occupation) then leave it off the list.

Posts: 54836
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 06-19-2025 03:02 PM               

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It seems like the concern is more about Shatner and Perry specifically than it with suborbital fliers in general.

For example, I have not heard any objections to Dylan Taylor (Blue Origin NS-19) being listed as a guest at the Earthlight Foundation's New Worlds Conference in October. Similarly, what about suborbital participants Wally Funk and Ed Dwight — they were both listed on the Sightings calendar even before they flew due to their roles in space history.

Would you not have the calendar include career astronauts who have not flown yet, such as ESA reserve astronauts? How would that work with an event like the Paris Air Show this weekend — would the listings include Jean-François Clervoy but ignore Arnaud Prost? The calendar has also listed non-astronauts, such as flight directors and controllers. Is there no longer interest in learning where Gene Kranz or Gerry Griffin is speaking?

I know of readers who have used the calendar to go to Shatner's appearances to have him sign Blue Origin memorabilia. As for Perry, she has been making direct references to her spaceflight while on tour.

Posts: 183
From: Michigan, USA
Registered: Nov 2002

Posts: 1161
From: New Windsor, Maryland USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 06-19-2025 07:25 PM               

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No prob with Shatner or Perry. Just an example of persons whose flights are listed on Sightings. Did the aborted Soyuz even reach the Kalman Line? Were they professional cosmonauts (i.e. space workers)?

I agree that there may be some special cases. Just hope any new rules are not as convoluted and ridiculous as the checklist differences between "planet" and "dwarf planet."

Posts: 54836
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 06-19-2025 07:42 PM               

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If Perry's concert had not included any content about her spaceflight, it would not have been listed.

My general rule for all listings is that the appearance must be representing the person as someone who flew into space or worked for the space program.

Posts: 1161
From: New Windsor, Maryland USA
Registered: Jan 2004

Posts: 54836
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 07-06-2025 11:28 AM               

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We can only post what is sent to us. The vast majority of Sightings events are never followed up with a photo.

As for Perry's tour specifically, unlike some other tours, the VIP option does not including meeting Perry for a photo op and most of the photos we receive are together with the attendee.