posted 03-24-2018 02:58 PM               

One of the first six women selected for NASA's astronaut corps in 1978, Dr. Seddon is a veteran of three space shuttle flights. She served as a mission specialist on space shuttle flights STS-51D in 1985 and STS-40 in 1991 and as payload commander in charge of all science activities on her final flight, STS-58, in 1993. This brought her total time in space to 30 days.

Retired U.S. Navy Captain Gibson is an aeronautical engineer, test pilot, world aviation record holder and veteran of five space shuttle missions. Selected by NASA in the same class as his future wife, he flew as pilot of STS-41B in 1984 and then commanded STS-61C in 1986, STS-27 in 1988, STS-47 in 1992 and STS-71, the first Shuttle-Mir docking, in 1995. Gibson has logged 36 days in space.

Married in 1981, Seddon and Gibson were the first astronaut couple and they produced the first official "astrotots." Both are inductees in the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, Gibson in 2003 and Seddon in 2015.

Details of the event are as follows:

• Friday, 12 October 2018:
  Evening Dinner and Auction £100
  The Wentbridge House Hotel, Pontefract
  Photo shoot: 18.00-18.45 (£30 payable on the day)
  Dinner 19.00-21.00
  Auction and autograph session
  Two autographs per ticket: one per guest

• Saturday, 13 October 2018:
  Lecture £80
  Carleton Community High School "The Infinity Theatre"
  Doors open at 14.00
  Photo shoot: 14.45-15.45 (£30 payable on the day)
  Lecture 16.00-17.00
  Q&A session, approximately 15 to 20 minutes
  Autograph session
  Two autographs per ticket: one per guest

posted 03-27-2018 03:37 AM               

Charlie Bolden has gone on record as saying that John Young and "Hoot" Gibson were in his opinion the finest pilots he'd ever seen. "They don't fly their aircraft... they wear them!"

posted 03-28-2018 02:23 PM               

"Only attended one lecture, Rhea and Hoot and they were just that (a hoot). Hoot joked that he'd had twenty good years of marriage (they have been married 33 years). They were slick, a great double act. Nice tidbits of info regarding their missions and patches. It was over too soon and no time for Q&A... 5 star value."

posted 03-28-2018 06:29 PM               

Not only is he an amazing pilot and astronaut, he's a very nice person. Really down to earth, has no problems with questions (no matter how silly) and has a great sense of humor.

posted 04-09-2018 03:32 PM               

Ken Willoughby will decide which design is used and the winning designer will receive, courtesy of Space Lectures a bespoke event photo signed by both Hoot Gibson and Dr Rhea Seddon.

In the event the winning design does not originate from collectSPACE, I will personally see to it that the best alternate submitted to the thread still receives a signed photo.

posted 07-04-2018 02:40 PM               

Hoot Gibson! Dr Rhea Seddon! What a perfect way to spend some time up North. It would be a real shame to miss out on this.

posted 07-17-2018 05:57 AM               

Space Lectures has been bringing inspirational astronaut speakers to the UK for more than ten years now: Jim Lovell, Ken Mattingly and Charlie Duke to name but three. Ken and his team are already looking to next year with a number of names "in the frame."

But we are sorry to have to inform you that this year's event due to be held on Friday/Saturday 12th/13th October has been cancelled.

While in the US, Dr Rhea Seddon and Hoot Gibson are in high demand, inexplicably ticket sales for the event in October have been poor. So following consultation with our astronaut guests the decision was made reluctantly, and with a heavy heart to cancel.

As one of the team remarked, "We have missed an unbelievable opportunity."

The mechanics of these events require significant payments in advance, and while ticket sales would in all likelihood have increased as the event drew ever closer the financial exposure for both parties was simply too high.

Therefore, on behalf of Ken and the team, I would like to apologise for the disappointment, especially to those who may have made travel and accommodation plans… but circumstances have conspired against us. Ken will begin sending refunds in the next few days.

posted 07-17-2018 11:30 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Rick Mulheirn:
As one of the team remarked, "We have missed an unbelievable opportunity."

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posted 07-17-2018 03:05 PM            

I have to admit to being guilty of not ordering my ticket but the reason was that I am awaiting an operation on my upper spinal chord a little before the date of the event and couldn't be sure of being fit enough to attend. I was however hoping that I would be and able to obtain one at late notice.