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Author
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Topic: First Astronaut Encounter
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donotech
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posted 03-15-2004 08:41 AM
   
I attended a charity auction on Saturday and Dr. Mitchell was the guest lecturer. He was captivating to listen to as well as a really nice guy.
He told us how he was diagnosed with kidney cancer a couple of years ago and he was able to heal himself with positive mental thoughts without any medical treatment.
Someone asked him how far his javelin went on the moon and he laughed said it went 2 feet farther than Alan's golf ball.
He was very nice when signing his book at the end of the evening. It was getting late and I think he was tired because I am pretty sure he spelled betterment (beeterment ) for the betterment of mankind inscription that he signed on my book.
He also described how the LMPs got to enjoy the view on the way back from the moon and he, as well as the other LMPs, was able to comtemplate his connection to the universe as the view from the window of the CM showed the earth, moon and sun every 2 mintues during the bbq roll.
It was a blast. I can't wait for my next encounter. |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 03-16-2004 06:29 AM
My first astronaut encounter was meeting Dr Dirk FRIMOUT, Belgian astronaut on STS-45Which was Your " First Astronaut encounter " ? |
Glint
Member Posts: 1040
From: New Windsor, Maryland USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 03-16-2004 09:31 AM
My first was Pete Conrad in 1970 shortly after Apollo 12. Pete was accompanied by NASA administrator Thomas Paine.I was 12 years at the time and the encounter took place in Nebraska. |
Carrie
Member Posts: 225
From: Syracuse, New York, USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted 03-16-2004 07:01 PM
Mine was just last summer, meeting Rick Searfoss at a Slanted Fedora convention. I also got to meet Dr. Schmitt in the fall. Both were great guys, and made me feel as appreciated for coming to see them as I was appreciative of meeting them. Now it will probably be at least next year before I meet any others...I'm waiting impatiently! -C |
Fra Mauro
Member Posts: 1586
From: Bethpage, N.Y.
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 03-16-2004 09:03 PM
Mine was 5 years ago at the NASM when i met Gene Cernan. Down-to earth guy, signs as well. |
Ed Krutulis
Member Posts: 145
From: Plainfield, IL USA
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted 03-16-2004 09:20 PM
My 1st encounter was the Chicago show, summer of 2000. Met Cunningham, Gordon, Bean, Mitchell & Duke.I'm looking forward to the California show and meeting Schirra, Cooper & Carpenter. |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 03-16-2004 09:24 PM
1966: Wally Schirra and Frank Borman came over to Australia after their tandem Gemini flight, and gave a brief talk at a local shopping centre. I managed to shake Frank's hand afterwards, but missed out on Wally. 37 years later I had dinner with Wally in San Diego - kinda made up for it! |
Rob Joyner
Member Posts: 1308
From: GA, USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 03-16-2004 11:55 PM
My first was Wally Schirra at the 2001 Gala/Induction at KSC. He is as animated and talkative as you would imagine! It was a great night! After Schirra, I also met almost everyone else there - Carpenter, Schweickart, Haise, Worden, Weitz, Garriott, Carr, Pogue and Brand!
Rob |
Wehaveliftoff
Member Posts: 2343
From:
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 03-17-2004 01:15 AM
Geologist Harrison Schmitt was the first actual astronaut I met in person. I asked ALOT of questions at his brief talk of his travels. He pointed it out to his small audience many moons ago. Great guy, never found that signature again, nor have ever met him since. I hear he still is a nice guy, unlike some Apollo astronuts. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 03-17-2004 12:02 PM
1989 or 1990, I spent an enjoyable afternoon with Jim Irwin on a private tour of Canterbury Cathedral. Then back to his hotel and a chat about his moon experiences. It has to be about the best first astronaut encounter I could have wanted, and spoiled me a little (my second was far less memorable). Irwin was a wonderful guy with time for everyone.FF |
RMH
Member Posts: 577
From: Ohio
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 03-18-2004 05:18 PM
Jack Lousma was the first astronaut that I personally got to see and meet. He came locally to give a speech about his recent STS-3 shuttle flight that he just returned from and showed a movie of the mission as well. He was a very nice guy that was happy to talk and sign after the event. |
spaceuk
Member Posts: 2113
From: Staffs, UK
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 03-19-2004 04:05 PM
Yuri Gagarin was the first I got to see when he came to Uk (and Manchester in particular) just after his epoch making flight. The crwods were large but we near the front . I was only 14 then .Only a fleeting glimpse but enough to boost my already ignited passion for space exploration and utilisation.Since then met many cosmonauts and astronauts But,my favourites are still the engineers and managers of space missions and spacecraft - the boys and girls in the backroom who are the unsung heroes . |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 03-19-2004 05:05 PM
Buzz Aldrin..... on the phone, was my first astronaut encounter.Back in the early 80's (the date escapes me) I read with horror in the local daily paper that Buzz had been in the area the previous day; he was visiting the headquarters of Pilkington Glass, in St Helens on Merseyside.The article mentioned that Buzz was then visiting London and rather strangely named his hotel. I seized upon the opportunity to ring the hotel and rather cheekily asked to be put through to Mr Aldrin's room. To my surprise they did, he answered the phone and then was kind enough to chat with me for half an hour about his visit to the UK and his plans for the future. A most genenrous and understanding guy! Regards, Rick. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 03-19-2004 05:44 PM
"Yuri Gagarin was the first I got to see when he came to Uk (and Manchester in particular) just after his epoch making flight. The crwods were large but we near the front . I was only 14 then .Only a fleeting glimpse but enough to boost my already ignited passion for space exploration and utilisation."That is wonderful to hear - what a first to have! I wrote an article about Gagarin's visit to Manchester (my home town) a long time ago, that is archived at:
http://www.nauts.com/bios/cosmonaut/yuri_manchester1.html Link appears to be down right now, but hopefully will be back up again soon. FF |
Rodina
Member Posts: 836
From: Lafayette, CA
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 03-19-2004 10:00 PM
I think I've mentioned this before, but I bumped into Charlie Duke on a flight back from Australia, he was waiting for his turn in the WC, but as I squeezed by him I was so tired and it was so out of context, that I knew I recognized him but didn't process it until I was half way back to my seat. D'oh!The only astronaut I've actually met is Ox Van Hoften, who had business with one of my colleauges, and he walked into my office by accident, so I said hello and directed him to the other office. Nice guy.
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lunarrv15
Member Posts: 1355
From: Cincinnati, Ohio, Hamilton
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 03-19-2004 11:05 PM
Jim Lovell book signing at KSC january 1994. just watch from the side. snap a photo of him signing booksA unknown one with family in the KSC gift few years later. over heard him descriping to his young kids (roughly 5 to 10) watching a satallite floating away from the shuttle. Only a person who was on the shuttle could descript something like that...I thought, so I did a quick head jerk behind me and listen more. The mother gave me a "DO NOT BOTHER US" snear eye glare . I left them be. |
Rizz
Member Posts: 1208
From: Upcountry, Maui, Hawaii
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 03-20-2004 01:54 AM
I got to meet the crew of Apollo 13 at Grumman in Bethpage, Long Island, N.Y.They stopped by to thank the men and women who built the Lunar Module when they returned home from the moon. I was 12 at the time. My dad had a friend who worked at Grumman and made the encounter possible. No autographs that day. The thought never even occured. I did however have my picture taken with the crew in front of a life size mock up of the LM out side of a hanger and managed to leave with one of those cool little contractor lunar modules which remains a fond reminder of that day. Capt. Lovell has since signed that photo for me (at Kim Poors place) and it is proudly displayed right along with my LM. What a day that was for me. I'll always remember it. Rizz [This message has been edited by Rizz (edited March 20, 2004).] |
OV-105
Member Posts: 816
From: Ridgecrest, CA
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted 03-21-2004 09:25 PM
It wasn't the first Astronaut encounter, but was the most memorable. It was at the STS-58 landing at EAFB and I was at the Dryden gift shop about 4 hours before the landing and the crew families were in the shop. Who do I run into but Rober L. "Hoot" Gibson. He is there holding one of his and Rhea Seddon's children. It was really different to see the Chief of the Astronauts just being a dad. It was just a side of someone that I had always had respect for that got just that much more for. He is still one of my favorite Astronauts. |
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