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Author
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Topic: San Diego Air & Space Museum: VIP guests
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FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 05-25-2007 06:34 AM
  
I'm used to hosting former astronauts for talks, but it was quite a different experience to have someone fresh off the most recent flight come to the museum yesterday, having spent all morning in Houston working on designs for the next generation of manned spacecraft. Nick Patrick gave a great, very personal talk to a select group of local engineering students, then spoke at the opening of a new museum flight exhibit, while returning a piece of the museum's replica Spirit of St. Louis aircraft that he took on his shuttle flight with him. He also gifted the museum with a flown patch and flight presentation. While touring the exhibitions, he became very interested in Apollo 9, studying its internal design in relation to the work he is doing on new manned spacecraft interfaces. Today, he is visiting two of the museum's partner schools to talk with the students about his spaceflight.
While technically a US astronaut, it's interesting how thoroughly British he still is. Analogies to cups of tea do not usually get used in NASA presentations. And his descriptions of taking Marmite into space were especially English!  
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Steve Procter
Member Posts: 1031
From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 05-25-2007 01:30 PM
And he's a fellow Yorkshireman to boot!Despite living in the States both he and Piers Sellers are still very English. I recall Piers talking to me at Leicester about food particularly 'curry and a KitKat'. Whether this is what he lived on whilst at the University of Leeds only he could tell you! |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 05-25-2007 02:08 PM
Yes, there seems to be quite a connection between Yorkshire and British space travellers, with Helen Sharman coming from Sheffield, Sellers getting his doctorate in Leeds, Nick born in Yorkshire too... ...of course, as a Mancunian, I am not supposed to say nice things about people from Yorkshire... but have to admit they are a most impressive bunch!  |
Steve Procter
Member Posts: 1031
From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 05-25-2007 02:22 PM
If you take the 'Yorkshire & Lincolnshire' region (our TV region) then you can count Michael Foale (b.Louth) in there too! |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 05-26-2007 09:15 PM
True - and if you count unflown British spacefarers who went through training - Sharman's backup, Tim Mace, was born in Catterick, Yorkshire. So whichever of them had flown, Mace or Sharman, the first British spacefarer would have been from Yorkshire. And if the first Briton had been on the Shuttle, as originally designed before the Challenger disaster, they would again have been from Yorkshire - Nigel Wood, Skynet Payload Specialist for STS-61H, born in York. His backup, Richard Farrimond, was also a northerner, born in Birkenhead.
Had a fun day yesterday taking Nick Patrick to some local schools who partner with the museum. 
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FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-31-2010 06:25 PM
Charlie Bolden's son, daughter in law and grandchildren were at the opening of our new exhibition here at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. 
The exhibition includes a copy of the record attached to the Voyager spacecraft.  |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 01-31-2010 08:50 PM
Francis, I believe Charlie has a son who is a military pilot. Is this the pilot, or another son? |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-01-2010 04:12 PM
This is him. |
Shalene
Member Posts: 47
From: San Diego, California
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 05-13-2010 06:11 AM
Gene Kranz was a VIP guest at the museum this week, and here he is with some museum staff myself included in front of Apollo 9.
Plus signing books for special guests. 
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blue_eyes
Member Posts: 165
From: North Carolina, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 05-13-2010 08:00 PM
That second photo of Mr. Kranz is so incredibly moving... there he sits, quietly plugging along, signing so diligently for the zillionth time... and I have heard that he has some troubles with his hands.But here he is anyway for us in the world -- and he just goes and goes and goes! He doesn't show any signs of slowing down -- and, you know, that can't be easy at his age. When you think of that, along with his energetic and unrelenting dedication to spaceflight... and along with his sincere kindness towards EVERY person, whether they are big or small or famous or not... well, I think Gene Kranz is pretty amazing! Not to mention, he ALWAYS wears the coolest ties. |
bobzz
Member Posts: 100
From: Batavia, Illinois
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 05-13-2010 11:54 PM
Great pictures!! Proof positive the space program inspires!! |
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