posted 10-08-2016 02:36 PM               

Commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy in August 1981, Scott received his Navy wings of gold in February 1983. Based at NAS Miramar with Squadron VF-51 (The Screaming Eagles), he completed two cruises flying the Grumman F-14A Tomcat. In August 1987, Scooter was selected for the Navy Test Pilot School and graduated with Test Pilot School Class 97 in June 1990. Deploying in 1992 with squadron VF-31 and the new F-14D Tomcat, he was awarded the Navy Air Medal for his role as a strike leader flying over Southern Iraq. Following his return from this deployment, he was selected in December 1994 for the astronaut program. He has logged over 7000 flight hours in more than 40 types of aircraft.

It was while stationed at Mirimar that he flew as Tom Cruise aka "Maverick" in the classic 1986 movie "Top Gun" — his middle finger took a leading role as the Mig 28 was given the "inverted bird" and nine fly-bys of the tower at Fallon Airbase Nevada forming part of the "buzzing the tower" scene.

Sixteen years a NASA astronaut Scooter flew four space shuttle missions for a total of 51 days in space: STS-90 piloting Columbia and its Spacelab payload, STS-106 the final ISS assembly mission in preparation for its first crew, and his final shuttle flights, STS-109 and STS-125, as commander of the Hubble Space Telescope's last servicing missions.

In 2010, after a distinguished flying career and a list of honors and awards as long as your arm, Scooter retired from NASA and is currently Vice President of Strategic Planning at the aerospace company ASRC Federal in Greenbelt, Maryland. Since leaving NASA he has been determined to share his experiences and to inspire others to reach for the stars and we are delighted that he has chosen to share his adventures with Space Lectures.

• Friday, March 31, 2017: Evening Dinner and Auction
  Wentbridge House Hotel
  Photo Shoot 18.00 - 18.45
  Dinner 19.00 - 21.00
  Auction and autograph session
  
  
• Saturday, April 1, 2017: Lecture
  Carleton Community High School 'The Infinity Theatre'
  Doors open at 14.20.
  Photo Shoot 14.45 - 15.45
  Lecture 16.00 - 17.00
  Q&A session, approximately 15 to 20 minutes
  Autograph session

posted 10-11-2016 05:42 AM               

We had several for the Kellys, including a couple that were too late in the day to be considered. But thank you none the less to everybody that entered in to the spirit of the event.

There was no outright winner this time around. The final image was not the work of any one individual: rather "designed by committee" but it contrasted well with the blue flight jackets which we asked the Kellys to wear for the event.

Once again, the offer of a unique Scott Altman signed portrait, stood in front of the winning backdrop design (courtesy of Space Lectures and myself) is on offer to the winning designer.

April is a good way off and this is something purely off the top of my head but I did suggest to James from Proffoto a choice of two backdrops on the day and he seemed open to the suggestion.

posted 10-27-2016 02:55 PM               

After listening to Mike Massimino on Tuesday evening I'm really looking forward to it.

posted 10-28-2016 02:47 AM               

Imagine if you will 2 or 3 people stood in the photo and then consider a composition that would still leave exciting detail visible without being obscured by the patches. All 4 patches could run down one side of the image leaving the opposite side "clear" for orbiters, Hubble or whatever.

A quick check of photos from previous events ie. The Kellys or Eileen Collins might help.

posted 10-29-2016 09:47 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by Rick Mulheirn:
...potential Altman photo shoot back drops.

---

posted 11-02-2016 05:25 PM               

Important Notice

Please be advised that the dates for Space Lectures' Scott Altman event in April 2017 have been moved forward by one week. The dinner will now take place on Friday March, 31, and the lecture on Saturday, April 1.

The venues and times remain the same but please note, the doors at the school will open at 2:20 p.m. the photo shoot is likely to start 15 minutes later than planned, and will now last an hour.

For reasons beyond Scott Altman's control, this change has been forced upon him, and us.

Ken Willoughby and the team would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused, but with the event still some five months away we hope any disruption will be minimal. Ken will not be reissuing tickets: tickets mailed out already are all still good, though I would suggest you scribble out the dates and insert the new, as an aide memoir.

It is likely that there will be an advert in Spaceflight magazine in the coming week with the "old dates." Please disregard those dates! This turn of events has happened in the last 48 hours and Spaceflight has already gone to print. David Baker and The British Interplanetary Society have been very supportive of our event and an amended advert should be in the following month's issue.

posted 01-19-2017 06:27 PM               

If there is an opportunity to access the school any earlier we are talking 10 or 15 minutes only... and this will be restricted to the photographer and the memorabilia traders to allow them time to set up.

posted 01-23-2017 02:20 PM               

The photo shoot will as a consequence start at 2.30pm, possibly a little earlier.

posted 02-01-2017 05:30 AM               

Few for the dinner so combi tickets are now limited. Please check availability with Ken Willoughby before placing combi or dinner only ticket orders.

posted 02-13-2017 06:10 PM               

These dates are a week earlier than when the event was first announced.

posted 03-17-2017 12:33 PM               

There are a handful of lecture tickets remaining. £30 each, inclusive of an autograph but you will need to provide your own photo, book or artifact for signing. Our usual traders will be on hand with a plethora of quality goodies.

posted 03-24-2017 08:16 AM               

I will see to it that Dave receives a personally signed solo portrait of Scott stood in front of his backdrop design courtesy of Space Lectures.

posted 03-24-2017 02:52 PM               

He just mailed to say "I'm looking forward to an amazing adventure with you all."

posted 04-02-2017 07:48 AM               

He had me captivated throughout, listening to tales of his career that ranged from flying F-14 Tomcats for the US Navy (and Hollywood) and then on to four shuttle missions that included the final Hubble repair mission on STS-125.

His lecture was informative, interactive and interspersed with humorous anecdotes,that kept the audience on the edge of their seats, proving that the shuttle programme was neither routine or non ground breaking.

There are many great stories still to be told.

As with every lecture that proceeded this, the time just goes too quickly and I am always left wanting more.

It was a privilege to meet such a charming and friendly man. As we approach the time when Apollo era astronauts are a thing of the past at Space Lectures, we can be re-assured that if Scooter's event is anything to go by, space enthusiasts like me have many more years of great events to look forward to.

posted 04-02-2017 02:12 PM            

A little bit disappointed not to see some of our familiar faces there but good to meet those that were. Great though that there were a lot of newcomers which hopefully bodes well for the future.

My thanks yet again to Ken and his hard working team for another superb lecture and looking forward already to the Leonov event in June.

posted 04-03-2017 03:14 PM               

Scott and his wife Jill travelled to Edinburgh the previous Saturday, intent on a great vacation and keen to sample Scottish hospitality. Prior to departure, I sent Scott links to some of the delights Edinburgh has to offer: Edinburgh Castle, the Princes Street shops and bars, The Forth Rail Bridge and the "Scotch Whisky Experience," amongst others. Judging by the weight of Scott's hand luggage and the clinking from within I think it safe to say they found the distillery!

We met first in the lobby of the Wentbridge hotel on Wednesday afternoon. "Hi Scott; it's great to meet you." "Hey Rick" came the reply. "Please... call me Scooter. There are hundreds of folks around Johnson Space Center who have never heard of Scott Altman, but everybody knows Scooter!"

That set the tone for the entire event. Scooter and Jill brought with them a warm informality usually reserved for close family, or a favourite sweater! Anxious to try a typical English pub, the Altmans joined Ken and the rest of the Space Lectures team at the nearby "Bluebell," affording everybody an opportunity to meet in informal and convivial surroundings.

Both shared anecdotes about their home, their children and Scooter's career in both NASA and the US Navy. Within days of their wedding on October 5, 1984, Scooter was posted on his first cruise aboard the USS Carl Vinson. Whenever and wherever the vessel docked, Jill was there to greet him. "Wow Scooter," I said. "That must be every naval officer's dream: a girl in every port?" I quipped. "That's exactly right" Scooter replied. "I just didn't expect it to be the same girl!"

Fortunately for Scooter, previous driving history does not form part of the selection process at the US Navy or NASA. Little did either organisation know that prior to handing him the keys to million or billion dollar vehicles, just how many cars he had bumped, scraped or written off over a number of years. He assures me that he is now a good driver but... if you ever bump in to Scooter and he asks to borrow your car, point him in the direction of the nearest bus stop!

Since leaving NASA, Scooter has made no secret of his desire to speak with youngsters at every opportunity. His modest ambition to inspire them, as Neil Armstrong and others had inspired him, to "reach for the stars." Not surprisingly, when invited to do so in England for the first time he jumped at the opportunity.

Scott D. Altman was to be Mount St. Marys school first astronaut speaker. Founded in 1842, the school is situated in beautiful countryside on the outskirts of Sheffield. The excitement upon arrival amongst staff and pupils alike was genuine and palpable.

Scooter spoke first to 300 pupils aged 11 to 15. These were smart kids! The myriad of hands thrust upward with gusto when Scooter asked for questions bore testimony to that. And what better role model for 150 older pupils at the second talk of the day? Many were members of the school's Army and RAF cadet groups so naturally, they posed for photos afterwards. Scooter was blown away by the whole experience: the school and its history, the grounds and the kids. This visit alone made the whole trip worthwhile.

Friday morning and Scooter was at Wakefield Girls School. Two more packed lectures: 1200 pupils in total. And it was a repeat of the previous day. Everybody from the head teacher and her staff to the dinner ladies, the cleaners and naturally, the students, were thrilled to meet him. And the feeling was mutual. The experience of both days had been marvellous and on the ride back to the hotel Scooter would talk about little else.

Ninety people joined Scooter, Jill and the Space Lectures team at Friday's dinner and auction. I had suspected for some time that Scooter was a good sport and based on what I had seen of him I was now sure of it. So I asked if he would be kind enough to pose for a photo with the team. "Sure. I'd be glad to": Scooter's stock reply to everything that was asked of him.

"Would you object to a gag photo?" I replied. Gag or joke photos have been a feature of NASA crew pictures since the Gemini days: Scooter himself is no stranger to such. When I pulled out a bag of fake, stick on moustaches and showed him what I had in mind he roared with laughter. Jill too thought it was hilarious. "Can I have my own Scooter-tache?" she asked. Who was I to refuse?

As we set about posing the picture Scooter would guide people in to place, peel backings and assist with "tach placement" — a precious moment that had everybody in stitches and meant so much to the team.

Scooter's involvement continued throughout the evening. He addressed the diners before eating, took it upon himself to go around the room speaking with guests after the meal, and he would pitch in with quips, jokes and other "quality" provenance during the auction. Who would have known that at launch on STS-125 Scooter had been waving out of his window at me... trembling at the press site??

After signing items for every guest, Scooter and Jill then retired to the bar and joined team members and guests alike for a night cap happily chatting and answering questions.

Saturday's lecture was the lengthier "full fat" version of that delivered to the schools earlier in the week. By any imagination Scooter's naval career was as impressive as it was exciting. 7000 hours in over 40 types of aircraft and 690 carrier landings. Most of his career was spent developing the F-14 Tomcat: the "Cadillac of fighters." With a little bit of Hollywood magic in the mix you could be forgiven for thinking that Scooter was a shoe-in when he applied to be an astronaut. But even his exploits in "Top Gun" were not enough to earn him his place as a NASA astronaut at the first attempt.

But on the next intake NASA called him, and in March 1995 Scooter finally joined the ranks of astronaut candidates or ascans. Previously he had been an "astronaut hopeful": there-in lies an acronym best left for another time! Sixteen years a NASA astronaut, Scooter flew four space shuttle missions for a total of 51 days in space: piloting STS-90 and its Spacelab payload, STS-106 the final ISS assembly mission in preparation for its first crew, and his final shuttle flights, STS-109 and STS-125, as commander of the Hubble Space Telescope's last servicing mission.

One could be forgiven for thinking that his two missions to the Hubble Space Telescope were the highpoint of his NASA career but one achievement is often overlooked. As the moustachioed "plumber" that installed (and tested) the toilet aboard the ISS, avoiding the nickname "Mario" is arguably Scooter's finest achievement to date.

That got me thinking. How did Scooter acquire the Navy call sign "D Bear"? I had always presumed it was because of his middle initial, but not so. While on shore leave from the Carl Vinson he joined Jill and his shipmates in a night club. Reluctantly, Scooter was dragged to the dance floor to strut his stuff and throw some shapes. Now Scooter's skills and attributes are legion, but he's no Fred Astaire and a masterclass in "Dad Dancing" ensued. Until that is, someone pointed at Scooter and shouted "Hey, there's a dancing bear!" Call signs are bestowed on pilots by their counterparts and the rest as they say is history.

The signing that followed the lecture took only 45 minutes. It would have been quicker but for one of West Yorkshire Constabulary's finest swooping on Scooter to issue him with a citation for double parking Atlantis next to Hubble! The feedback from the audience as they had their pieces signed was overwhelming and much appreciated by Scooter. He took every opportunity to thanks folks for coming to see him, shake hands or pose for the occasional picture. He made a point of speaking with all the children and encouraged them to one day follow in his footsteps.

For more than 10 years now, Ken Willoughby has been bringing astronauts to the UK: each and every one of them inspirational. Inevitably, when the Space Lectures team meet some will ask "Who has been your favourite astronaut?" That's like choosing your favourite child! Al Worden, Fred Haise, Tom Stafford and Jim Lovell were all incredible and I'm convinced some of the team are pressing the Vatican to make Eileen Collins a saint. So picking a favourite astronaut is impossible. Picking a favourite person on the other hand is in my opinion easier. Scooter and Jill Altman were two of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet: period. Oops, there I go — gushing again!

Ken Willoughby would like to thank everybody for making the event such a success. From his team to the hotel staff, the schools, photographers James and Karen, the sponsors and of course everybody that attended, many of whom are now Space Lectures regulars. And I'd like to thank Dave Johnson for the fantastic backdrop design that worked so well.

posted 04-04-2017 04:27 AM               

However, reading Rick's fantastic "match report," it felt like I was there!! Thank you Rick, for a wonderful run-down of events. Sounds like you all did a wonderful job (once again).

posted 04-14-2017 11:56 PM               

From the accounts I saw here as well as those on Twitter during the days following the event, it appears to have been a complete and "smashing" success! A definite tribute to the care and attention to detail that Ken, Rick and all involved at Space Lectures pours into each of these events.