posted May 03, 2007 08:15 PM               

It was an honor.

posted May 03, 2007 08:16 PM               

Sad? No way, he lived a life many would envy. I am glad he was here while he was.

posted May 03, 2007 08:20 PM            

Gutted...just gutted...

I never met the guy, but I always got the feeling I knew him personally... one of those unique men who got on with everybody, one of those guys who is just so down to Earth (and I make no apologies for the awful pun, it's what he would have wanted!).

You know what's weird... I got a copy of "The Real Space Cowboys" signed by Ed Buckbee and Wally himself only two days ago... A sad loss, but I know he wouldn't want us to grieve... so...

Wear the brightest, most colourful ties to work until the period of mourning is over... do something stupid... pull a Gotcha... it's what he would have wanted!

You know it makes sense!

posted May 03, 2007 09:08 PM               

quote:

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Wally took his last flight. Remember this about Wally ‘Skyray’ Schirra. Wally had a lot of boring simulations, rigorous tests, exciting flying and good times with all of us. Now he’s up there in that big hanger in the sky, doing a lot of good flying. But before he went flying, he and Alan ‘Jose’ Shepard pulled some really good gotchas. We miss him and we will be up there soon and try some of that flying ourselves.

Happy landings,

Ed Buckbee

“Levity is the lubricant of a crisis. We resort to jokes, pranks and good natured kidding to relieve tension, stress and boredom.” - Wally Schirra

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posted May 03, 2007 10:31 PM               

A veteran of flight, steadfast and tough,
A chosen man, who had the right stuff.
From Sigma 7 to 6 Gemini,
a mastery of Apollo, to honor those who died.
From '69 to '72, the men who flew were numbered few.
And for those who stirred the dust, you lead the way and gained their trust.
So when the "Gods" gathered to give their hurrah,
"who brought us the moon",
they declared "Wally Schirra".

posted May 03, 2007 10:34 PM            

quote:

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Laura and I are saddened by the death of Wally Schirra. Wally was a member of the Original Seven, our nation's first class of astronauts. "Jolly Wally," as he was affectionately known, was the fifth American to go into space and holds the distinction as the only astronaut to fly in each of NASA's pioneering space flight programs: Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo. His ventures into space furthered our understanding of manned space flight and helped pave the way for mankind's first journey to the Moon. Laura and I join Wally's family and friends and the NASA community in mourning the loss of an American hero.

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posted May 03, 2007 10:50 PM               

I'm honored to have met Wally just a few months ago at an ASE fundraising event in the Bay area. He was just as I imagined him, jovial, smiling, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. He autographed a picture for my baby daughter and then I couldn't resist asking him "Are you a Turtle" I'm sure he heard this a million times, but he obliged without a fuss. As there were a couple of little kids within earshot, he wrote out "YBYSAIA" on a hotel note pad and handed it to me with a wink. I'll treasure that little note and the short time I had with him.

Cheers, great Turtle!

posted May 04, 2007 12:04 AM               

He was a great friend to all space enthusiasts and collectors. My deepest sympathies go out to the Schirra family.

Good bye Imperial Potentate. May God bless.

posted May 04, 2007 04:36 AM               

Also it's induction day for 3 former astronauts to be inducted into the hall of fame tomorrow. It is going to be a mixed feeling for these former astronauts tomorrow.
Walter is one of the 'right stuff' people who paved the way for the people top explore the mystery of space.

posted May 04, 2007 04:42 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by cspg:
Could someone be kind enough to explain to me what is this thing with being a turtle?

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posted May 04, 2007 07:32 AM               

As to an earlier post, when Wally finishes with him, St Peter WILL be a Turtle...

posted May 04, 2007 08:21 AM               

He flys a "textbook" mission with Sigma 7 at a time when spaceflight was new.

He saves the Gemini 6A rocket by staying cool during the shutdown and then flys the first redezvous mission.

He then flys another textbook flight of Apollo 7 after the Apollo 1 fire.

If that does not warrant a Space Medal of Honor -- then what does? No disrespect to Bill Shepherd or Shannon Lucid but their achievements for the Space Medal of Honor just don't match up to Wally.

Let's hope that he will at least be given one posthumously some day.

posted May 04, 2007 09:01 AM            

We'll wear our black armbands for awhile and then get back to finishing the job you started all those years ago.

posted May 04, 2007 09:30 AM            

'Most human of all astronauts'

posted May 04, 2007 09:34 AM               

I am wearing my Hawaiian shirt today to work in his honor. Several students asked me about my shirt today.

I am also thinking about the AHOF I am missing this weekend. I would have probably worn my Hawaiian shirt instead of a suit. We all miss you Wally.

posted May 04, 2007 09:47 AM               

Schirra remembered for space exploits
Astronaut Walter Schirra dies at 84

Also, nice Bergen Record reprint from May 9, 1992:

posted May 04, 2007 11:58 AM               

Wally and I had started working on a new video a few weeks ago. A prototype had been developed, which Wally loved. We were supposed to discuss it further at KSC next month and move the project along. However, it will never get beyond the prototype stage. At the urging of Francis French, I've posted the prototype on Wally's home page. The server is still taking some major hits, so if the video tends to run slowly or stop, that's the reason.