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Author
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Topic: Signing experience: NASA's active astronauts
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COR482932
Member Posts: 230
From: Cork, Ireland
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 06-29-2012 07:47 AM
   
Could someone tell me who are the best signers at Johnson Space Center? I am talking in terms of how long it takes for them to sign basically.If anyone could let me know that would be great help. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3473
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 06-29-2012 08:50 AM
Three weeks for Pat Forrester and Janet Kavandi (sent my own pics). Still waiting for Charlie Camarda and Anna Lee Fisher, sent out late last year, also my own pics. |
COR482932
Member Posts: 230
From: Cork, Ireland
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 07-01-2012 08:31 PM
Would it be a good idea to send an autograph request to an astronaut who has just come back from 6 months aboard ISS, or should I hold off a while? |
dogcrew5369
Member Posts: 760
From: Statesville, NC
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 07-23-2012 03:14 PM
Who are the best signers from the class of 2009? Has anyone mailed requests to everyone in this class? |
Bob M
Member Posts: 1984
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 07-24-2012 12:14 PM
quote:
Originally posted by dogcrew5369:
Who are the best signers from the class of 2009? Has anyone mailed requests to everyone in this class?
Here's one collector's experiences with the 20 members of the Class of 2009/Group 20 Ascans. Of course, others could have different results:Being mainly a signed cover collector, I sent two covers to each ascan as soon as they were announced, and months before they reported, and didn't have to wait months for their portraits to be available to them. Generally, the earlier you ask a new astronaut for an autograph the better. All six ESA ascans were good about signing, and also the two CSA ascans. The three JAXA ascans, however, have been basically non-signers. NASA ascans: - Aunon: No response through the mail and I only managed to get her autograph thru one of her appearances
- Epps: No response through the mail and I had the good fortune to acquire her autograph in person
- Fischer: has been a good signer
- Hopkins: has signed some, but busy training for an ISS flight
- Lindgren: has signed through the mail recently
- Rubins: early response for me (Sept. 2009), but understand that she hasn't been good through the mail
- Tingle: has signed through the mail
- Vande Hei: has signed through the mail
- Wiseman: good through the mail, but training for an ISS flight
I've also been able to get signed portraits from six of the nine.Strangely, the three female NASA ascans have been the poorest signers of the nine NASA Ascans — but that could change. |
Daugherty54
Member Posts: 622
From: Cabot, Arkansas, USA
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 07-24-2012 07:06 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Hart Sastrowardoyo:
Still waiting for Charlie Camarda and Anna Lee Fisher, sent out late last year, also my own pics.
I have never had a response through the mail from Camarda or Fisher, but I caught Camarda at Texas A&M a while back and he was gracious and signed readily. |
dogcrew5369
Member Posts: 760
From: Statesville, NC
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 07-24-2012 07:52 PM
Thanks Bob M, your information should be very helpful in who to send requests to. Since I just want signed portraits, maybe I will have more luck with them. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3473
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 07-25-2012 09:54 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Hart Sastrowardoyo:
Still waiting for Charlie Camarda and Anna Lee Fisher, sent out late last year, also my own pics.
Would be interesting to see those pics now show up.I was able to get Anna Fisher through a recent appearance in California (I believe), through a friend. Camarda I got at the Samsung SPACEFEST on the Intrepid.  
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Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 2286
From: West Yorkshire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 07-25-2012 11:47 AM
I have to say that I found Anna Lee-Fisher to be excellent through the mail. In fact, I had sent again thinking she had not received my first request and eventually got two signed photos back. |
Bob M
Member Posts: 1984
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 07-25-2012 02:32 PM
quote:
Originally posted by dogcrew5369:
...your information should be very helpful in who to send requests to.
It would be advisable to send requests to all 20 Group 20 (former) Ascans - but perhaps to the better signers at first. Some astronauts who don't sign at first, start signing later and others that sign well at first, stop later. Probably some who have signed at first, stop as soon as they start seeing their autographs on eBay. |
dogcrew5369
Member Posts: 760
From: Statesville, NC
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 07-28-2012 06:52 PM
I'd like to know from other autograph seekers whether you saw a difference in getting autographs returned if you wrote out a letter by hand or printed one out? When I was young I hand wrote letters, but over the last decade or so I used a computer. Seems to me astronauts would prefer a more intimate letter from a pen or pencil. Just curious how best it works for others in this forum. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3473
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-09-2012 08:39 PM
I use a computer to send out letters because it's easier to read that way.That said, we'll see if there's a difference in returns, as I'm starting to get some photos back (that is, I didn't enclose a photo for the astronaut to sign.) Two weeks for James Kelly and Terry Wilcutt, interestingly in the same envelope, both autopens. |
cycleroadie
Member Posts: 454
From: Apalachin, NY USA
Registered: May 2011
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posted 08-10-2012 06:27 AM
I sent out a dozen or so letters a couple of months ago. They were all done on the computer, but hand-signed. I did personalize them somewhat for each astronaut as best I could.I received hand-signed lithos from Steve Bowen and Eric Boe within about two weeks, that's all so far however. |
Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 2286
From: West Yorkshire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 08-10-2012 09:15 AM
I have found from experience that it can take six-months or more sometimes, so hang on in there! |
Mike Dixon
Member Posts: 1625
From: Kew, Victoria, Australia
Registered: May 2003
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posted 08-10-2012 07:55 PM
I wrote a letter to each of the STS-135 astronauts. Rex Walheim responded inside 2 weeks, Chris Ferguson was about 3 months and Sandy Magnus almost a year. Still not heard from Doug Hurley. Hope it comes through as I want to frame the entire set. |
Fezman92
Member Posts: 1031
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 08-16-2012 12:39 PM
I sent my DC Tweetup badge to Ron Garan about two and a half months ago asking him to sign it and today I got it back along with a litho saying "David best wishes and it was great meeting you at the DC NASA tweetup." They were all done by hand and the envelope was written out by him. My first reply in a very long time. |
COR482932
Member Posts: 230
From: Cork, Ireland
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 08-16-2012 04:56 PM
I was just wondering if someone could help me out on this one. I currently have 15 pending requests to active astronauts at JSC and I plan to send out another three more. I was just looking to see if anybody here thought that I have too many requests sent out at the moment, and if you think I should hold off a while, get a few returns in, and then send out a few more requests. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3473
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-23-2012 05:08 PM
Received today an inscribed signed photo of Shane Kimbrough in his EVA suit, about a month. |
Chuck_Joe
Member Posts: 62
From: Belgium
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 08-24-2012 06:15 AM
In 2010 I was able to watch the launch of STS-132. After the mission I managed to obtain the autographs of all the crew but I received no answer from Tony Antonelli.Any signing experience with 'Tony'? Is he still an active astronaut? Thanks |
Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 2286
From: West Yorkshire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 08-24-2012 01:47 PM
I'm pretty sure he is still active. |
Bob M
Member Posts: 1984
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-24-2012 02:02 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Tykeanaut:
I'm pretty sure he is still active.
Active, yes, but not an active signer - one of the worst. But it's never a bad idea to at least try. |
dogcrew5369
Member Posts: 760
From: Statesville, NC
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 08-24-2012 04:32 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Bob M:
Probably some who have signed at first, stop as soon as they start seeing their autographs on eBay.
Yep, I saw a Hopkins autograph photo last week on eBay. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3473
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-24-2012 05:29 PM
Jim Dutton, autopen, and an STS-131 sticker, about two weeks - along with a card: Thank you for your interest in the United States Space Program. Unfortunately, the astronaut you are trying to reach has either retired or is no longer with NASA, and we are unable to process your request. We have, however, enclosed some other materials we hope you find interesting. As of today, though, Dutton is still listed as a Management Astronaut, so I'm confused. |
BMckay
Member Posts: 4109
From: MA, USA
Registered: Sep 2002
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posted 08-24-2012 08:26 PM
Dutton is at the Air Force Academy. |
Fezman92
Member Posts: 1031
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 08-24-2012 10:49 PM
How are the remaining 134 crew with signings? I would love to get theirs. |
Bob M
Member Posts: 1984
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-25-2012 09:38 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Fezman92:
How are the remaining 134 crew with signings? I would love to get theirs.
Juergen Esders would have more experience about these six guys' signing habits, but from my own experience, Fincke and Chamitoff are well-known as basically non-signers thru the mail. GH Johnson has signed and so has Feustel, with Vittori known as a rare signer. But all you have to lose is a stamp and some time, so it's worth a try, as non-signers have begun signing at times, especially shortly before they leave NASA/JSC. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3473
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-28-2012 01:52 PM
Shannon Walker, inscribed signed photo of her in Sokol suit, about a month; and Clayton Anderson, inscribed signed photo in a launch/entry suit, about two weeks. Each also had my name and address either cut from the letter or envelope and placed in the NASA envelope. |
Cliff Lentz
Member Posts: 664
From: Philadelphia, PA USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 08-28-2012 06:57 PM
Received a nicely personalized litho from Clay Anderson. According to my records, the reply took almost 4 years. I really gave up hope and thought my best bet would be to meet him in person. |
eurospace
Member Posts: 2686
From: Berlin, Germany
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 08-30-2012 06:46 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Bob M:
Juergen Esders would have more experience about these six guys' signing habits...
Basically confirm what is said: - Fincke is no go through the mail, but terrific in person.
- Chamitoff no TTM, but accessible in person
- Feustel terrific both ways
- GH Johnson - I have not heard from him since he went for the one year assignment to Glenn
- Vittori takes his time, but is a reliable signer - through the EAC at Cologne only.
Good luck! |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 53833
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-30-2012 06:49 AM
Not that there is any word about them autographing, or if the entire crew will be there (or even a schedule for the appearance, yet) but the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has said that the STS-134 crew will be visiting as part of the space shuttle Endeavour ferry flight activities next month... |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3473
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 09-10-2012 07:59 PM
Brent Jett, autopenned photo in nine days (and my original photo returned unsigned.) |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3473
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 09-12-2012 01:03 PM
Don Pettit was good about signing in-person. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3473
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 09-20-2012 05:09 PM
Mike Foreman, inscribed signed photo, about two weeks. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3473
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 09-27-2012 07:19 AM
Although not on active flight status, reports are Stan Love was good about signing in-person this past weekend at a sci-fi con. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3473
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 09-28-2012 08:08 PM
John Casper, inscribed signed photo, two months. Sent to usual Mail Code; return mail code was GA. As well, it looks like Casper ran out of usual LES (with STS-62 patch) lithos, as I got not an 8 by 10 but an 8.5 by 11. Granted, it has the usual NASA text on back, but I'm wondering if someone double-sided copied his usual litho.  |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3473
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 09-28-2012 08:10 PM
quote:
Originally posted by COR482932:
Would it be a good idea to send an autograph request to an astronaut who has just come back from 6 months aboard ISS, or should I hold off a while?
I sent out to Acaba a few days ago, so we shall see.
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cycleroadie
Member Posts: 454
From: Apalachin, NY USA
Registered: May 2011
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posted 10-12-2012 05:24 AM
Just recieved a nicely inscribed EVA suit Litho from Tracy Caldwell-Dyson. Took about 5 months or so. |
Fezman92
Member Posts: 1031
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 10-12-2012 09:27 AM
Same here. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3473
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 10-14-2012 10:00 PM
Also Caldwell-Dyson, with an STS-118 sticker, about two months and a half. Stan Love, inscribed signed photo, a month and a half. 
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Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3473
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 12-04-2012 09:51 PM
Joe Acaba was great about signing in-person. |
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