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  Tips when meeting astronauts and space VIPs

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Author Topic:   Tips when meeting astronauts and space VIPs
xlsteve
Member

Posts: 391
From: Holbrook MA, USA
Registered: Jul 2008

posted 01-12-2015 12:18 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for xlsteve   Click Here to Email xlsteve     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I thought this was an interesting piece on meeting VIPs for those of us that get "vapor locked" when meeting someone they admire.

Don’t Sweat It: 8 Strategies for Meeting and Connecting with VIPs

My first Astronaut Scholarship Foundation show was a crash-course in this, and I was only partially successful. But as I've had more experience, I find that these are some pretty good tips to help with the jitters. I can't comment on the methods they outline for meeting famous people/VIPs, however.

p51
Member

Posts: 1642
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted 01-12-2015 05:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for p51   Click Here to Email p51     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The writing a letter one is a good idea. Last year, I wrote to Al Bean asking about a fiction book idea I had and how the Apollo astronauts might think of the concept, and he actually called me at home soon after getting the letter.

I normally don't get jittery when talking with people because they're just people. The only way I could see getting nervous when talking with a 'CEO' would be if you're talking to your own company's CEO and you're worried you might hurt your career. Otherwise, why worry about it?

I haven't talked with nearly as many astronauts as many of you here have, but I always came into the meeting knowing something about them ahead of time. One thing I've found that works well is to come into it with a question they probably haven't been asked before or lately. They have to stop and think and that usually opens things up. But I mean ASK the question, don't try to stump them or dazzle them with your mastery of trivia.

the great thing about smart phones is even if you bump into someone famous with no prior warning, a couple of minutes can get you up to speed real fast online in most cases. This worked real well when I unexpectanly met Hoot Gibson for the first time in October, I was able to ask about that infamous foam strike intelligently by checking some key facts online for a minute or two before asking a question I'd always wanted to ask.

Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member

Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 01-14-2015 01:11 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Hart Sastrowardoyo   Click Here to Email Hart Sastrowardoyo     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I agree, a bit of homework beforehand helps a lot. I usually nod and say hello and a "Thanks for coming to this event," and then let them do most of the talking rather than me. I try to find some commonality, and if they're a non-US astronaut, I have a "cuff checklist," a cheat sheet consisting of a Post-It note with some basic phrases and pronounciations in their language - at least 'hello,' and 'thank you.'

My smartphone moment came when I was on assignment at the UN and saw that Sergei Krikalev was no longer on the agenda and that Sergei Volkov took his place. Helped a lot, and although I don't remember the conversation, I do believe I asked about his STS-121 training.

garymilgrom
Member

Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007

posted 01-14-2015 11:01 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for garymilgrom   Click Here to Email garymilgrom     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
That's a good idea about using your smartphone when meeting someone unexpectedley. Thanks!

Greggy_D
Member

Posts: 977
From: Michigan
Registered: Jul 2006

posted 01-14-2015 12:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Greggy_D   Click Here to Email Greggy_D     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
All great ideas from Lee: research, ask a question that hasn't been asked, and smartphones.

I utilized all three with Mary Cleave. I noticed in her 61B walkout photo, she had a bag draped over her shoulder. That was something I had not seen before in any shuttle crew walkout photo. So I asked her, "What was in the bag?"

She paused and couldn't quite remember what I was talking about. I then pulled out my smartphone and showed her the walkout photo. The light bulb went on.

"That was additional camera equipment which was added at the last minute."

The question/answer started a good conversation about her first flight and other events during that era.

p51
Member

Posts: 1642
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted 01-14-2015 02:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for p51   Click Here to Email p51     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Greg, good call, after seeing the photos I would have wondered what WAS in that bag if you hadn't already answered that!

Another thing I've done is if I know (or suspect) I'll run into an astronaut who's not known for charging for signatures or isn't in great demand for signatures (or is known to sign freely), I'll download the most obscure shot of them I can find on the NASA website or elsewhere online, then print out a 8X10 of it. I'll show it to them and ask if they recall the shot being taken. I've usually gotten the "wow, that takes me back" expression as the memories flood in. They usually smile soon afterward.

And in most cases, they'll ask if I want a signature, if I haven't politely asked already. Jerry Ross was especially nice, he told me when and where both photos I had of him were taken and even what he was thinking. For a man who'd been up that many times, I was shocked he had such detailed recall without having to stop to think. No wonder they took him up seven times!

Tom
Member

Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 01-25-2015 01:13 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Tom   Click Here to Email Tom     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Sorry to go "off topic" a bit, but the walkout photos brought back a lot of memories. I had the privilege of seeing that launch from the KSC press site that evening.

The amazing thing about that crew was that the payload specialist (Walker) had twice as much shuttle flight experience than any other crew member... believe it was the only time that a payload specialist had more time than the commander.

sts205cdr
Member

Posts: 649
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Jun 2001

posted 01-25-2015 02:07 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for sts205cdr   Click Here to Email sts205cdr     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
At the end of a talk by Steve Robinson at our Alma Mater, I handed him a photo to autograph. I could see the surprise in his face that it wasn't the typical portrait print he was expecting, it was a photo of both of us taken some time before at a stop of the NASA Art train. His face just lit up. A few years later, after he gave a talk at one of the research centers, I handed him a photo of him at the end of the RMS and asked if he recalled when it was taken. He said "I sure do, my commander took that photo." Again, he was a little surprised and pleased that someone had put some thought into an autograph request. He signed it, and after a moment of thought , added "UC Davis" under the signature. I couldn't have been happier. AGGIE Pride!

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