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Author
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Topic: 2006 Astronaut Autograph Club
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-24-2005 03:33 PM
   
Seen on the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation's website today: The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation is proud to debut the 2006 Astronaut Autograph Club featuring U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame honorees.Join today and you (or the person whom you designate) will receive a letter from such notable astronauts as Sally Ride, James Lovell, Gene Cernan and Story Musgrave! In total, 12 Hall of Fame astronauts will send AAC members personalized letters and authentically-autographed photographs. You will also receive a handsome box with archival sleeves to protect, store, and display your growing collection of astronaut photos and correspondences. All members receive two Maximum Access tickets to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, including the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Participating Astronauts in 2006 include: - Joseph Allen, (STS-5, STS-51A)
- Eugene Cernan (Gemini 9, Apollo 10, Apollo 17)
- Walter Cunningham (Apollo 7)
- Ed Gibson (Skylab 3)
- Joe Kerwin (Skylab 1)
- Jim Lovell (Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8, Apollo 13)
- Bruce McCandless (STS-41B, STS-31)
- Story Musgrave (STS-6, STS-51F, STS-33, STS-44, STS-61, STS-80)
- Sally Ride (STS-7, STS-41G)
- Kathryn Sullivan (STS-41G, STS-31, STS-45)
- & two additional Hall of Fame Astronauts!
The Club is limited to just 350 members. |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 10-24-2005 03:58 PM
What types of photos are usually signed and sent to club members? Portraits (new or old)? Photos taken from missions? Something else? Just wondering... |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-24-2005 04:04 PM
The photographs are always action shots taken during their historic missions or training. Quite often they are of lesser seen scenes culled from the Johnson Space Center archive. |
machbusterman
Member Posts: 1778
From: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Registered: May 2004
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posted 10-25-2005 03:14 PM
I've never been disappointed with anything received from the 2005 AAC and was more than happy to sign up for the 2006 AAC before most of the above-named astronauts were even mentioned. Please remember that the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation is a charitable concern and that the astronauts receive NO FEES for their signatures/time and do this merely to help the ASF raise funds for future scholarships.C'Mon folks... DIG DEEP!! |
Cameron Stark
Member Posts: 45
From: United Kingdom
Registered: May 2005
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posted 10-27-2005 01:55 PM
I agree with Derek. I've been very pleased with AAC photographs. They come well packaged, and in a protective cover, with an archival storage box. Not all are action shots (Fred Haise this year, for example), but with guaranteed authenticity and a good cause, it's hard to argue with it as an idea.2004 and 2005 each included two moonwalkers, so with a bit of luck the ASF will manage that again as well! |
DOX32
Member Posts: 242
From: Lakewood Ranch FL USA
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 10-27-2005 06:14 PM
I have been a member since 2004 and this is just a fantasic set of photos and signatures that will only increase in value.Also a very worthy cause. I am well pleased with the staff, excellent shipping and they make a great collection. |
paul prendergast
Member Posts: 429
From: crawley west sussex UK
Registered: Apr 2004
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posted 12-22-2005 12:46 PM
Just received the first photo of the 2006 collection, Walt Cunningham Apollo 7.
A great photo to start off the new collection. |
machbusterman
Member Posts: 1778
From: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Registered: May 2004
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posted 12-22-2005 04:55 PM
Well Paul, you beat me to the punch  . My package from the ASF arrived today also and to say I'm happy is an understatement. The astronauts who give their time to sign the photographs and write the letters for the AAC are to be commended... as are Linn, Grace and the rest of the ASF team.All I have to say is roll-on February to December 2006! |
Mark Zimmer
Member Posts: 289
From:
Registered: Aug 2004
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posted 01-03-2006 11:09 AM
It would sure be nice if the two unannounced astronauts would be some of the more elusive characters like Michael Collins or John Young.... |
DChudwin
Member Posts: 1096
From: Lincolnshire IL USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 01-03-2006 03:39 PM
How about Bill Anders??I also urge everyone to consider this worthy endeavor from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. They give $10,000 scholarships annually to 17 students in engineering or science.The students they have helped in the past have been an impressive bunch, many of whom have gone on to responsible positions in NASA or industry. The U.S. is graduating fewer and fewer engineers while China and other countries are graduating more. The ASF is doing something about this problem in a positive way (and the autographed photos are really neat!). |
BMckay
Member Posts: 3218
From: MA, USA
Registered: Sep 2002
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posted 01-10-2006 03:31 PM
One of the additional astronauts that were not named but has since been added (according to ASF) is Fred Gregory.It would be nice if it is crew walk out photo when they are all wearing bald caps in honor of Story. |
paul prendergast
Member Posts: 429
From: crawley west sussex UK
Registered: Apr 2004
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posted 01-31-2006 01:05 PM
Just received the second part of the collection, it was Fred Gregory (STS-51B, STS-33, STS-44). The photo is of him in a NASA coverall.Looks like the collection will be an added bonus. |
paul prendergast
Member Posts: 429
From: crawley west sussex UK
Registered: Apr 2004
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posted 03-01-2006 04:16 AM
Jusat received the latest edition from the club, it was Joe Allen (STS-5, STS-51A). The shot is him working in space, a really great shot, another great edition to the collection. |
paul prendergast
Member Posts: 429
From: crawley west sussex UK
Registered: Apr 2004
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posted 03-31-2006 12:08 PM
Just received April's: Bruce McCandless, another nice signed piece. |
machbusterman
Member Posts: 1778
From: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Registered: May 2004
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posted 03-31-2006 12:58 PM
Got mine on Tuesday... very nice SP with mission info added on a very uncommon photograph. You can't top the AAC for value... just a pity more folks don't snap up the memberships; after all, it is for a most worthy cause. |
Cameron Stark
Member Posts: 45
From: United Kingdom
Registered: May 2005
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posted 04-02-2006 08:28 AM
Yes, I couldn't have picked Bruce McCandless out in a crowd - too used to the MMU shot!Any word on who the final astronaut is this year? It might not bode well for the future if the ASF are having trouble finding a last contributor. It's clear from the price of autographs on the market that many collectors don't value Shuttle astronaut autographs as highly as earlier programmes (combination of availabilty, number and recency?). I feel this will change a bit when the Shuttle fleet is retired. It might be difficult to sell another year of the programme, however, as the balance shifts towards Shuttle astronauts. I agree that it's odd that it doesn't sell out. What price guaranteed authenticity, and the money going to a good cause? |
leslie
Member Posts: 231
From: Surrey, England
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 04-04-2006 05:06 AM
I agree, the value is excellent and the cause worthy! I am in my second year of membership and appreciate the quality of the pictures whenever they arrive.Yes, the big guns (Young & Collins) would be a bonus but I would prefer Anders & Co who just don't sign these days. Now, that type of picture would surely attract more members (not to denegrate any current participants). |
paul prendergast
Member Posts: 429
From: crawley west sussex UK
Registered: Apr 2004
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posted 05-05-2006 12:52 PM
Just received mine at home. A great picture of Sally Ride. |
BMckay
Member Posts: 3218
From: MA, USA
Registered: Sep 2002
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posted 05-23-2006 12:05 PM
It looks like Charlie Bolden is the final astronaut. A great choice. |
machbusterman
Member Posts: 1778
From: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Registered: May 2004
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posted 05-23-2006 02:21 PM
I had heard that JY was almost on board (for the 2006 AAC) until someone put a spanner in the works  . |
paul prendergast
Member Posts: 429
From: crawley west sussex UK
Registered: Apr 2004
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posted 05-24-2006 11:46 AM
Derek any idea of the builder? |
machbusterman
Member Posts: 1778
From: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Registered: May 2004
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posted 05-24-2006 03:12 PM
I have a fair idea... but I ain't posting it online Paul. Feel free though to ply me with cider at Autographica to loosen my tongue |
paul prendergast
Member Posts: 429
From: crawley west sussex UK
Registered: Apr 2004
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posted 06-04-2006 12:42 PM
Just received this month's: another great picture, this one of Kathy Sullivan on board STS-41G. Looks like she is filling up at a Petrol station (gas Station for our friends across the pond). I hope the next few will be good as the others. |
Cameron Stark
Member Posts: 45
From: United Kingdom
Registered: May 2005
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posted 06-28-2006 05:20 AM
The June issue is Jim Lovell - very nice letter, and he's added 'Gemini 7' under his signature in the walk out picture. It's great when the astronauts go to the trouble of adding mission info to these photos. |
Dennis Beatty
Member Posts: 356
From:
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 06-28-2006 02:14 PM
Thanks for the report. It sounds like a great selection this month...just like every month. However, does it seem odd that a package can be delivered to Scotland before we (US residents) receive ours?Anxiously waiting... |
Mark Zimmer
Member Posts: 289
From:
Registered: Aug 2004
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posted 06-29-2006 09:47 AM
I received my photo (which is a beauty) of Lovell Monday the 26th here in Wisconsin. |
machbusterman
Member Posts: 1778
From: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Registered: May 2004
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posted 06-29-2006 02:47 PM
Mine arrived on Tuesday also... and the photograph is FANTASTIC... and the letter is very interesting also! |
paul prendergast
Member Posts: 429
From: crawley west sussex UK
Registered: Apr 2004
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posted 06-30-2006 06:47 AM
quote:
Originally posted by machbusterman:
Mine arrived on Tuesday also...
You got yours before me Derek. I have been away. I will have to go the the local sorting office to pick it up. It sounds a great photo. |
machbusterman
Member Posts: 1778
From: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Registered: May 2004
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posted 06-30-2006 04:01 PM
The photo is the business and is the nicest Lovell autograph I have in my collection. Well done and thanks to all at the ASF for all their hard work, y'all make the start of each month such a happy one for me! |
paul prendergast
Member Posts: 429
From: crawley west sussex UK
Registered: Apr 2004
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posted 07-01-2006 04:05 AM
I have received mine from the sorting office the signature is smudged as it was placed in the cellophane. Has anyone else got this problem? Should I contact them to get another one? |
machbusterman
Member Posts: 1778
From: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Registered: May 2004
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posted 07-01-2006 06:55 AM
Sorry to hear your photo is smudged Paul. You should definately contact the ASF. A friend of mine had an issue with damage on one item from last years club, contacted the ASF and received a replacement but also sent the damaged item back as far as I can recall. |
Cliff Lentz
Member Posts: 655
From: Philadelphia, PA USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 07-06-2006 07:50 AM
Paul, definitely contact them. I've had a few problems, this month included, with creased photos and they have replaced them every time. I would keep the letter from the astronaut since I don't believe they will replace that part of the order. |
paul prendergast
Member Posts: 429
From: crawley west sussex UK
Registered: Apr 2004
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posted 07-06-2006 11:28 AM
Thanks guys, I have just received a email from the team at the ASF and they said they would replace it. That is what I call service. |
paul prendergast
Member Posts: 429
From: crawley west sussex UK
Registered: Apr 2004
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posted 09-03-2006 11:29 AM
Just received September: Gene Cernan, another great addition to collection. |
taneal1
Member Posts: 230
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Feb 2004
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posted 09-03-2006 07:44 PM
Can anyone post this Lovell-signed Gemini photo, please? |
machbusterman
Member Posts: 1778
From: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Registered: May 2004
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posted 09-04-2006 02:03 PM
As requested Tom!  (I was VERY happy with the Cernan lunar EVA photo also!) |
taneal1
Member Posts: 230
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Feb 2004
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posted 09-06-2006 12:23 AM
quote:
Originally posted by machbusterman:
As requested Tom!
Thanks, Derek! I agree with everyone. THAT'S a nice photo. |
Cameron Stark
Member Posts: 45
From: United Kingdom
Registered: May 2005
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posted 09-26-2006 05:49 AM
A good Charles Bolden photo this month, taken while on his last shuttle flight. I liked the accompanying letter - signed 'Semper Fi'. |
paul prendergast
Member Posts: 429
From: crawley west sussex UK
Registered: Apr 2004
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posted 09-26-2006 12:07 PM
Just got mine, another great photo. |
paul prendergast
Member Posts: 429
From: crawley west sussex UK
Registered: Apr 2004
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posted 10-06-2006 11:39 AM
Has anyone heard about next year's astronauts? |
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