Author
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Topic: Hardest through-the-mail shuttle space signers
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BMckay Member Posts: 3218 From: MA, USA Registered: Sep 2002
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posted 11-17-2006 04:52 PM
Anybody care to give their opinion for the top 10 hardest to acquire through the mail for the current corp of astronauts? |
Bob M Member Posts: 1744 From: Atlanta-area, GA USA Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 11-17-2006 07:07 PM
Here's a quick list: - Yvonne Cagle
- Mike Fincke
- "Gus" Loria (not active)
- Jeff Williams
- Leland Melvin
- Alan Poindexter
- Sunita Williams
- Doug Hurley
- Steve Bowen
- Steve Robinson (signed OK for a while)
Dishonorable mention: - Lisa Nowak (has shown some positive signs)
- Peggy Whitson (signed well at 1st)
- Ken "Hock" Ham (signed early on)
- Greg C. Johnson (has been known to sign)
- Garrett Reisman (signed early)
- Neil Woodward (signed early)
- George Zamka (signed early)
- Tony Antonelli (never very good)
- Barry Wilmore (signed early)
- Steve Swanson (signed early)
There are others... |
RMH Member Posts: 577 From: Ohio Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 11-18-2006 11:01 AM
I agree with the above and would add: - Stephanie Wilson
- Douglas Wheelock
- Michael Gernhardt
- Charles Hobaugh
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Bob M Member Posts: 1744 From: Atlanta-area, GA USA Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 11-18-2006 11:29 AM
quote: Originally posted by RMH: I agree with the above and would add...
What's sad is that these four all used to be good signers, along with most of the ones I listed (Cagle, Loria, Fincke, Suni Williams, Bowen and Hurley being the main exceptions). But opportunists & those posing as space fans asking for their autographs just to sell on eBay and elsewhere, and the general overall commercialization of astronaut autographs, has made many previously good or fair signers into non-signers.The large majority of these 24 listed signed okay or well for a while, especially just after being selected and announced as NASA Astronauts and for a while after reporting to NASA/JSC. |
mjanovec Member Posts: 3811 From: Midwest, USA Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 11-18-2006 12:47 PM
A few I can think of: - Cady Coleman
- Ken Bowersox (just left NASA)
- Kay Hire
- Mario Runco (not active, but I heard he can be tough in-person too)
The early successes with some of the people on Bob's list makes one wonder how much mail they receive after they are selected as astros. Are they just swamped with requests from collectors initially... leading some to retire early from signing? Or do they start seeing repeat mailings from certain people that turn them off?Anyone have tough in-person encounters from the Shuttle astros? |
Hart Sastrowardoyo Member Posts: 3445 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 11-18-2006 04:55 PM
quote: Originally posted by mjanovec: Anyone have tough in-person encounters from the Shuttle astros?
If you mean in-person encounters with shuttle astronauts that wouldn't sign, John Young comes to mind. If you mean in-person encounters with people on this list that are hard to obtain by mail, Leland Melvin signed for me (though strangely, he signed his photo with just his first name), and Cady Coleman also signed in-person. None of these latter two were recent, though. |
rpb2 New Member Posts: 7 From: Willoughby, Ohio USA Registered: Oct 2006
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posted 11-18-2006 10:46 PM
I had no problems with Mike Fincke, as he did an Astronaut Encounter today here in Cleveland and was more than happy to sign for everybody. Signed his NASA lithos and your own stuff, if you brought it with you. I didn't see anybody with anything other than photos, or the lithos he had. Nice guy. |
sikotic19 Member Posts: 80 From: Chattanooga, TN, USA Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 11-20-2006 11:05 PM
quote: Originally posted by Bob M: Here's a quick list...
Of the top list, I've tried all of them through the mail and only had a success with Steve Bowen. He's a submarine engineer though, and my dad served on subs for 22 years, so I had something in common to talk about. From the other list, I had early successes from Whitson and Zamka as well, and have had successes from Reisman and Swanson within the last year or so, but that's all. I have Steve Robinson and Jeff Williams through other kind astronauts sending me completed crew photos. Oh, and managed to lose my one Zamka autograph after sending the photo to someone else. |
disglobes Member Posts: 594 From: Orting, WA Registered: May 2000
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posted 11-21-2006 05:26 AM
I have never had a problem with Jeff Williams, Alan Poindexter, Steve Bowen, Peggy Whitson, Greg C. Johnson, Garrett Reisman, George Zamka, Doug Wheelock or Michael Gernhardt. |
capoetc Member Posts: 2169 From: McKinney TX (USA) Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 11-23-2006 08:41 AM
quote: Originally posted by Bob M: But opportunists and those posing as space fans asking for their autographs just to sell on eBay and elsewhere, and the general overall commercialization of astronaut autographs, has made many previously good or fair signers into non-signers...
As someone who has collected very few shuttle-era autographs (first four missions, Eileen Collins, John Glenn, and a couple guys I have flown with), I am curious: is there really a problem of "commercialization" of shuttle era astronaut autographs (other than Challenger/Columbia)?Most of the shuttle autotographed photos I see on elsewhere have tepid bid responses and sell for such a low price that it hardly seems worth the bother. It would probably cost more in time and postage to get the free autograph than you would make selling it on eBay, at least at the moment. Or, am I missing something? (And, no, I am NOT looking for a new business venture, thank you very much!) I don't want to give the impression that I think the shuttle program is not worthy in some way... it is a fascinating program, and I follow each mission closely. It just doesn't seem that modern astronauts garner the interest (or attract the speculative buyers) of the early-era astronauts. |
RMH Member Posts: 577 From: Ohio Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 11-23-2006 02:18 PM
John, I agree. There are very few shuttle astronaut autographs that sell beyond $10 it seems. The only autographs that do are from the astronauts that don't or have stopped signing through the mail. I have always wondered why astronauts stop signing because they see their autographs being on the market. It's one thing to see an autograph for sale but if it doesn't generate a buyer then it isn't being sold. I know that their are some who write to astronauts only to try to get a quick buck from selling, but if the astronaut signed, then no one would need to buy.Some shuttle astronauts don't sign for other reasons but this is just for the ones that don't sign because of commercial reasons. |
mjanovec Member Posts: 3811 From: Midwest, USA Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 11-23-2006 09:32 PM
quote: Originally posted by RMH: I know that their are some who write to astronauts only to try to get a quick buck from selling, but if the astronaut signed, then no one would need to buy.
To some people, the idea that someone would abuse or exploit their generosity (for even a modest profit) is very distasteful. And for certain astronauts, they find it so distasteful that they'd rather not continue to be eploited in that manner. So they quit signing altogether. Or, like the older astronauts, they decide to take the matter into their own hands and do the selling themselves...one can't really blame them for doing so. I don't look at it as a situation of "if they would sign for everyone, nobody would need to buy it." I look at it as a situation where a few people have abused a good situation and ruined it for the rest of us. Let's lay the blame on those who deserve it. Also, the astronauts (especially the active ones) have such busy schedules that they use up precious time to answer their mail. I suspect that once an astronaut feels they have been taken advantage of, suddenly spending hours answering autograph requests is no longer a priority to them. Once again, who can blame them? We cannot help but be thankful for the kind souls who still answer their mail and still provide free autographs. They are truly a dying breed. |
BMckay Member Posts: 3218 From: MA, USA Registered: Sep 2002
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posted 11-25-2006 10:19 PM
I wanted to find out what type of luck people had with the astronauts, not get into a thread about why they don't sign. It has been mentioned many times already.Maybe I'll ask George Zamka on Monday when he is in Massachussetts. |
thump Member Posts: 575 From: washington dc usa Registered: May 2004
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posted 11-28-2006 11:31 AM
I've had no trouble with Zamka and Resiman in the last year, with both adding very nice inscriptions... |
BMckay Member Posts: 3218 From: MA, USA Registered: Sep 2002
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posted 01-11-2008 10:06 AM
Just wondering from people why some of the recent crews have been hard to get and why some of the prices for current crews seem to be going up? |
mjanovec Member Posts: 3811 From: Midwest, USA Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 01-11-2008 11:01 AM
quote: Originally posted by BMckay: Just wondering from people why some of the recent crews have been hard to get and why some of the prices for current crews seem to be going up?
I suspect the reason is simply because the more recent classes of astronauts have more non-signing astronauts. So it's hard to find a crew today that doesn't have at least 2-3 tough signers among them. In the past, one could likely assemble signed crew photos by sending the same photo to each crew member until the item was complete. Today, that is virtually impossible. Your best chance is to receive an already-signed crew photo from one of the crew members...or to meet the crew in person and obtain the signatures that way. |
Flying Dutchman Member Posts: 161 From: Heemstede Registered: Jan 2007
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posted 12-29-2009 01:47 PM
Any updates for difficult signers now in 2009? |
Daugherty Member Posts: 11 From: Romance, AR, USA Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 12-29-2009 07:13 PM
I have had a very quick response this year from Alan Poindexter with nice inscriptions, Garrett Reisman and Steve Swanson signed two each with inscriptions and Peggy Whitson scrawled a signature on one. My hard ones have been John Grunsfeld - nothing except a signature on an agenda at a meeting where I actually spoke with him face to face. Pam Melroy has never responded nor has Steve Bowen. Some of my very best responses have come from the older NASA test pilots and people like Joe Kittinger. They often sent letters and recommendations of sources for me to get more info. Bill Weaver, who survived a mach 3+ breakup of an SR-71 even sent a picture of himself with an SR-71 when I couldn't locate one on the web. With that said I am very appreciative of those who will take the time to sign for those who truly want the autograph as memorabilia not as merchandise. |
disglobes Member Posts: 594 From: Orting, WA Registered: May 2000
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posted 12-30-2009 05:19 AM
I have had Pam Melroy and Steve Bowen both sign for me through the mail. |
Flying Dutchman Member Posts: 161 From: Heemstede Registered: Jan 2007
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posted 12-30-2009 11:51 AM
Okay thanks so far, but who has positive reactions received in 2009 from: - Mike Fincke
- Mario Runco
- Ron Sega
- Dave Wolf
- Greg Harbaugh
- Charles Hobaugh
- Randy Bresnick
I am curious because I have to write these guys. |
eurospace Member Posts: 2610 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 12-30-2009 12:38 PM
quote: Originally posted by Flying Dutchman: I am curious because I have to write these guys.
Nope on all accounts. |
jrguined New Member Posts: 4 From: Houston, TX, USA Registered: Aug 2009
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posted 01-22-2010 10:21 PM
I have had positive responses from: - Mike Fincke
- Dave Wolf
- Charles Hobaugh
- Randy Bresnik
Only caveat to this... they were obtained in person. Very nice, and very willing to sign though. |
dogcrew5369 Member Posts: 750 From: Statesville, NC Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 02-01-2010 12:36 AM
It's been a while, but I received a nicely inscribed astronaut photo from Pam Melroy with a personal inscription of "Thanks for your support of our space station and our women pilots!" |
Hart Sastrowardoyo Member Posts: 3445 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 09-13-2013 02:31 AM
A year after the last shuttle mission, has anything changed — who's the hardest shuttle signers, both through the mail and in-person, both career NASA and payload specialists, not counting the unflowns? There are those, like Ken Bowersox, who will sign in-person but not through the mail. Who do you have to catch on a good day and who (like Bryan O'Connor) once signed and now will simply not sign — at all? |
DCCollector Member Posts: 227 From: Washington, DC USA Registered: Dec 2006
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posted 09-18-2014 01:47 PM
Has anyone had any luck recently with Stephen Robinson? I have an STS-95 crew photo that is missing only his signature. |
MarylandSpace Member Posts: 1336 From: Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 09-18-2014 06:17 PM
I have had very good success with shuttle astronauts signing my "Space Shuttle: The First 20 Years" book at events.Handlers have made it difficult to get autographs in the book at the National Air and Space Museum and at the Astronaut Hall of Fame dinner. I always have the astronaut's picture, their essay, or an appropriate photo picked out for them in the book. Sometimes I am fortunate to get a litho signed, too. I cringe when someone has a stack of the same litho. Sometimes I am disappointed but I have fun as it is my hobby and a great memory of meeting astronauts. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo Member Posts: 3445 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 09-18-2014 09:45 PM
I believe MarylandSpace (Garry) got Robinson in-person at the Discovery transfer event in 2012.I'm finding that shuttle astronauts are getting harder to get through the mail — and that's only sending a photo. I successfully sent an STS-28R crew photo already signed by Leestma and Brown to Richards and Adamson, and consider that complete. Meanwhile, I'm nervously awaiting a photo I sent to van Hoften, which was signed by others. It seems like the best bet is getting shuttle astronauts in person at events. But even then, this year so far I believe I have gotten only 10 such astronauts (that is, those that actually flew on the space shuttle). I could have gotten another two more, theoretically — astronauts that I could have driven to but time and other circumstances just didn't allow. Regardless, the 10 shuttle signers I got are the smaller number since I re-took up collecting five years ago. Granted, the meet and greets from STS-134 and 135 as well as the Discovery transfer event have boosted my numbers those years. But last year I did pretty good. Just seems like a smaller number of astronaut appearances along the East Coast this year, and not because I have a smaller number (about 160 out of 355) shuttle astronauts to get. |