Author
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Topic: Astronaut Jack Lousma's leap year birthday
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Lola Morrow Member Posts: 40 From: Denver Co USA Registered: Jun 2006
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posted 02-28-2008 04:50 PM
February 29 is Jack's birthday. I used to kid him about getting to celebrate every four years. He and Gratia are two of the nicest people you would ever meet. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo Member Posts: 3446 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 02-28-2008 05:05 PM
So, then, that would make him the youngest astronaut, no? |
heng44 Member Posts: 3405 From: Netherlands Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 02-29-2008 02:43 AM
Jack Lousma sent me a very nice letter recently, which he closed with: "Long live the Dutch (and the Frisians!)". So happy birthday to him! |
Henk Boshuijer Member Posts: 450 From: Netherlands Registered: May 2007
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posted 02-29-2008 06:49 AM
Jack Lousma was the first astronaut to receive an autograph from (1977). In the 1970's (after Skylab) he was quite famous here in The Netherlands (because of his Dutch ancestors) and even appeared several times as a guest in TV programs. "Van harte gefeliciteerd" (congratulations) and stay healthy. |
leslie Member Posts: 231 From: Surrey, England Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 02-29-2008 10:05 AM
Jack Lousma is a true gentleman! |
Steve Smith Member Posts: 503 From: Wichita, Kansas, USA Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 02-29-2008 10:47 AM
A class person. Sorry he wasn't elected Senator. He would have been a fine one. |
FFrench Member Posts: 3165 From: San Diego Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-29-2008 11:07 AM
quote: Originally posted by Hart: ...that would make him the youngest astronaut, no?
Indeed, by the time of his first spaceflight he had only celebrated nine birthdays! |
Mike Isbell Member Posts: 554 From: Silver Spring, Maryland USA Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 02-29-2008 04:14 PM
I have met Col. Lousma on four occasions. I have found him very pleasant to chat with. On one occasion he joked that because he only celebrates a birthday every four years, that he was optimistic that he will live to at least 120 years. |
issman1 Member Posts: 1045 From: UK Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 03-01-2008 09:44 AM
Jack Lousma is certainly a well-travelled astronaut. I can still recall him being the main studio expert for ITN's live coverage of the STS-26 return-to-flight launch 20 years ago.His first-hand knowledge of the Shuttle system was of course unique, but it was conveyed in a layperson's terms for UK viewers. |
sfurtaw Member Posts: 104 From: Saginaw, MI USA Registered: Feb 2004
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posted 03-03-2008 09:05 AM
I have also seen Col. Lousma on four occasions, the first of which while he was campaigning for the U.S. Senate in 1984. I was in the fifth grade then, and my mom had driven me to Republican Headquarters here in Saginaw, Michigan where he had stopped to campaign. When we arrived, we learned that we had just missed him. When my mom explained my story to the secretary, she called over to him and he walked back to see me. He knew he wasn't going to gain any votes from it, except for maybe my mom's. As the wife of the executive director of Michigan's Own, Inc., Military & Space Museum says, he is a "Prince of a guy." |
machbusterman Member Posts: 1778 From: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland Registered: May 2004
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posted 03-03-2012 11:51 AM
quote: Originally posted by Lola Morrow: He and Gratia are two of the nicest people you would ever meet.
Amen to that! I had the pleasure of Jack being our tour guide during the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation show in 2008 and was also sat at his table during the ASF show gala dinner at the Radisson at Port Canaveral.One of the nicest guys one could ever wish to encounter. |
Dave Shayler Member Posts: 127 From: Halesowen, West Mids, UK Registered: Dec 2009
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posted 02-29-2016 01:40 PM
Yes, Jack is indeed one of the nicest people you could meet. I had the pleasure of getting to know him through my book research and Autographica, but years before he sent me a nicely signed image from STS-3 which I still treasure. Prior his first Autographica he stayed with my mom and afterwards gave a talk at the BIS. He has always been generous in offering help in my research into Group 5, Skylab, Jerry Carr's biography and a couple of children's projects. A true gentleman, and a U.S. Marine to boot (respect from a former Royal Marine!). |
Blackarrow Member Posts: 3146 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-28-2020 08:33 PM
Today, 29th February, 2020, is the 21st birthday of evergreen Skylab and shuttle astronaut Jack Lousma. Happy birthday to one of NASA's real "nice guys." Of course, retired Marine Corps Colonel Lousma is a little older than 21, but today is only the 21st time the date of his birth coincides with the calendar. Enjoy your day, sir! |
randy Member Posts: 2200 From: West Jordan, Utah USA Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 02-28-2020 08:35 PM
Happy Birthday Colonel! |
PowerCat Member Posts: 194 From: Herington, KS, USA Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 02-29-2020 03:16 AM
Happy birthday wishes to Colonel Lousma. |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4184 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 02-29-2020 04:14 AM
A nicer chap than Colonel Lousma you could not hope to meet. Happy Birthday Jack! |
Kite Member Posts: 841 From: Northampton UK Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 02-29-2020 06:19 AM
Happy Leap Year Birthday Colonel Lousma. |
p51 Member Posts: 1653 From: Olympia, WA Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 02-29-2020 10:29 AM
My Dad has the same birthdate, been joking that this is his 21st actual birthday... |
Cozmosis22 Member Posts: 978 From: Texas * Earth Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 02-29-2020 10:52 AM
Happy Birthday to Skylab and shuttle Columbia astronaut Jack Lousma! Great guy, and along with Gordon Fullerton the only crew to land a spaceship in New Mexico. Met him a number of times at the now-closed Michigan Space Center, which had been located in Jackson, Michigan, back in the 1980s. |
Mike Isbell Member Posts: 554 From: Silver Spring, Maryland USA Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 02-29-2020 03:55 PM
Happy birthday Col. Lousma. May you have many more! |