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Author
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Topic: STS-51L Challenger astronauts' signed checks
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Bob M
Member Posts: 2086
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 01-29-2026 03:51 PM
   
Now during the time of the 40th anniversary of the loss of Challenger and crew on STS-51L would be a good time to display autographs of the Challenger crew members. Autographs of five of the seven crew members are shown here, but not on the usual collector-oriented material, such as photos and covers. The 51L Challenger crew members visited the Cape Kennedy Medals gift shop at the KSC Visitors Complex just days before their tragic loss on January 28, 1986, to buy souvenirs to take on their flight. After the flight they would have been used as gifts and personal mementoes of their historic flight with the first school teacher in space. They paid by personal checks and these uncashed checks were later obtained from the Cape Kennedy Medals shop and then later most were put in auctions and, as would be expected, sold for large amounts. They were not mine, but I was given photocopies of some of them and copies of signed personal checks from five of the seven crew members are presented here. Christa McAuliffe, January 26,1986, dated just two days before the launch  Ron McNair, Jan. 25, three days before the launch  Dick Scobee Jan. 24, four days Before the launch  Ellison Onizuka, Jan. 24, four days before the launch. Note that he added: "STS 51-L" to his check.  Judy Resnik, Jan. 23, five days before the launch  These checks have historic significance, but are sad relics of a tragic event, and ended up, not as intended, but rather as collectors' items. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 4033
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 01-29-2026 05:18 PM
There was another CKM check written by Greg Jarvis, another by Jane Smith (wife), and one more by McAuliffe. The crew had actually placed an order for 51-L memorabilia during the week of the tragic launch, but it was not at the KSCVC, but with the ordered merchandise placed by phone calls to KSC's astronaut crew quarters while they were in quarantine for the mission. It's not completely known if any of the mementos were going to be placed onboard shuttle Challenger for the flight. A representative from crew quarters visited the CKM shop in Cocoa Beach for the order's pick up and delivered back to the crew and possibly even for some family members. |
OV-105
Member Posts: 940
From: Ridgecrest, CA
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted 01-30-2026 12:58 AM
I am guessing Judy Resnik purchased the brass medallions for the flight with the memo note. They were a lot cheaper than the Robbins medallions. Anyone ever seen those brass medallions come up as flown for any flight? McAuliffe Teacher in Space pins or patches maybe by the memo. |
Bob M
Member Posts: 2086
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 01-30-2026 06:24 PM
Thanks for clearing all this up, Ken. It would have been best for you to have presented all this since it was you that was involved and who acquired the checks. And, as you corrected, the crew was in quarantine during that time and a NASA representative (usually Nancy Gunter?) possibly took care of their orders at the CKM shop and handled their previously prepared checks.Here are three more checks: from Greg Jarvis, Mike Smith's wife and Ellison Onizuka's wife.  
And relating to all this, Dick Scobee's widow, June Scobee Rodgers, wrote an inspirational book ("Silver Linings/Triumph of the Challenger 7") and signed and personalized it to me.  |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 55869
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-30-2026 06:59 PM
quote:
Originally posted by OV-105:
Anyone ever seen those brass medallions come up as flown for any flight?
I would tend any flew. The contents of the astronauts' personal preference kits and the Official Flight Kit were sealed (literally) weeks before the launch.I am fairly certain these checks were for the gifts at the families' pre-launch parties. It was common during the shuttle days for families to hold their own gatherings and to give out mission mementos to their attendees. It makes perfect sense they would go to CKM for these type of items. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 4033
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 01-30-2026 08:04 PM
Yes, Robert, that's why I didn't want to go in that direction that the purchased souvenirs were going to be flown. Besides, most if not all of their onboard mementoes were already approved, packed-up, and secured in the cockpit for flight. That would be more likely within a few weeks before launch.I think Resnik was getting a few more of either the special large 51-L flight crew pins, or possibly "medallions" that she indicated on the check memo, which would had been some minted silver or bronze Galaxy medallions provided by CKM.
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