posted 06-09-2007 06:18 AM               

This weekend I am working on report cards for my fifth-grade class. Almost as good as seeing a space launch with hundreds of fellow space enthusiasts, followed by a chat and photo with an astronaut. (Ha ha ha sob.) So please let me live vicariously through you. I've read the itinerary- can you give me specifics about what it's like to actually be there?

posted 06-09-2007 08:59 PM               

I was there for most of Friday and thoroughly enjoyed meeting Lovell, Mitchell, Worden, Liebergot and Kranz. (They were the only ones I was there to meet... frankly, I couldn't afford much more after them anyway!) All were extremely friendly and chatted away with everyone who stopped by their tables.

Liebergot was very interesting and recounted in great detail the seconds after the oxygen tank exploded on Apollo 13 to my cousin and I. Kranz, who I was told donated 100% of his very reasonable $30 signing fees to Habitat for Humanity, added "Solve the problem!" above his signature and "Flight" under it without me asking for either, for which I was most grateful.

I saw some very unique items getting signed... most notably two flight helmets and a baseball bat that all had tons of signatures already on them. Several people brought beautiful Saturn V and Titan rockets to get signed as well.

I was very surprised by how short the lines were, especially for Lovell, Aldrin and Cernan. Did anyone else notice this?? In my opinion, Lovell was the key attraction at this show as I believe it was his first-ever U.S. show (could be wrong on that one). I only had to wait about 15 minutes in Lovell's line and noticed there was no line at all by mid-afternoon on Friday. His $150 base fee was a bit steep and could have scared off some people. Aldrin was charging $175 and Cernan $125, both of which were increases from the last show I attended which kept me from adding any of their signatures.

Alan Bean had the longest line I saw on Friday, which I found puzzling. I left for about 3 hours to go check out the rocket garden and take the bus tour of the KSC. When I got back, Bean had arrived about an hour earlier and had at least 50-70 people waiting in his line. I was surprised.

It was another stellar effort by Steve and Nolan, who I met for the first time and thanked for putting on such a great show. This was the third Sims/Hankow show I've attended and they keep getting better each time. I look forward to hearing everyone else's accounts of the weekend.

posted 06-09-2007 11:49 PM            

I especially like talking to Guenther Wendt and Charlie Duke. Mr. Wendt asked my 8-year old daughter to sit on his knee while we had our picture taken together and he freely shared a story related to the photo I was having signed - a great gentleman.

It would be nice to read such experiences from other CS members if anyone would care to share.

posted 06-10-2007 06:39 AM               

I won the tickets to attend the baseball game for last Wednesday with Jeff Roth and Paul Basta who are the two great guys who created "The Wonder of It All."

The game was rained out so the group that was there went to dinner and enjoyed sharing stories and listening to Jeff and Paul tell us about their experience.

Thursday evening was the screening in Merritt Island. A great movie. What I liked about it best was that you weren't watching the astronauts be interviewed, you didn't even know the questions being asked. They were filmed so it was like YOU the viewer were having this conversation. How many of us will have an opportunity to spent that much time with them. NOTE: When this documentary makes it to DVD do yourself a favor and add it to your collection.

I told Paul and Jeff that while this production was fantastic and will stand alone, they might consider speaking with the Apollo astronauts who didn't walk on the Moon as well as people like Gene Kranz, Chris Craft, Guenter Wendt, etc. That production could be a companion piece or combined with the original. Saturday morning I overheard Dick Gordon telling Al Bean about how much he enjoyed the film. Dick appreciated the fact that Al was able to be reflective about the experience. When I later spoke with Gordon, I told him about my suggestion to the filmmakers and he said maybe they will because he had already been contacted by Jeff Roth about it. So obviously they had already been thinking along the same lines.

I also responded to Steve's request for volunteers so I was in the door! I told him my first responsibility was to obtain autographs for those who sent me items. He respected that and I was able to complete my mission.

The history in that room! From Walter Danneberg to Brian Binnie. Incredible. I had the great pleasure of meeting the CDR of Aurora 7 and his lovely daughter Kris. A highlight of my weekend to be sure. Many of you saw the drawing I created when Wally Schirra passed away. I presented Scott with it on Saturday with my condolences. He had seen it because Kris put it on his website and he thanked me for the sentiment and expressed his appreciation for my creativity. He signed the photo of him that I brought, "Many Thanks and Much Respect." What a true gentlemen and American Hero. Thank you again Kris.

Speaking of art. I had the opportunity Saturday mornig to share photos of some of my artwork with Alan Bean (as well as Scott Carpenter and Kris). I also brought along a painting that I just completed. Bean looks it over and offers me a critique. We spoke of light and dark values, shading and the use of color and how you need to make the painting work together. What an incredible experience! Then he gives me his business card and tells me that he looks forward to seeing my future work. He says "Artists need to help other artists." I'll feed off that high for a long time.

I was able to share stories about patch designs with a number of astronauts. Ed Gibson and Paul Weitz helped me to finally understand the numbering system and apparent discepancy of the Skylab missions. Since there were four launches, they were known as Skylab 1 (the Workshop), Skylab 2, 3 & 4 (the manned missions). To differentiate the missions from the launches, the missions were to be known as Skylab(s) I, II, & III in Roman numerals. Weitz says then Jerry's crew messes up the whole thing by putting a "3" on their patch. So what we know as Conrads crew is Skylab I/2, Bean's crew II/3 and Carr's crew III/4 or as Ed Gibson put it one half, two thirds and three quarters.

Paul Weitz had some patches and medallions at his table and after our discussion I asked if they were from his private collection and if he was offering them for sale. He askes me, "Would you like them?" I respond "Yes sir." He hands them to me and says "with my pleasure." So I now have a LB Skylab I with a "CKW" watermark as well as a LB STS-6 that he said Story Musgrave designed, in my collection. I was speachless. I couldn't thank him enough.

I also spoke with Jon McBride about his patch. He designed the 41-G and 61-E patches. I had written to him in 1985 to ask if I could help design the patch for 61-E. I still have his reply. As many of you know 61-E was to be the mission after 51-L in March of 1986. It later flew as STS-35 in 1990. I'll post later about the details of his explanation about the patches in that space later. Jon was a great guy to talk to also.

I could go on but I'll do that another time.

posted 06-10-2007 02:05 PM               

I'm sitting at the airport right now waiting for my flight home. I had the absolute pleasure of working with Jim Lovell all weekend along with his incredible assistant, Mary - and the REAL boss, Marilyn Lovell. We did our best to keep the line moving. Jim said that he really liked meeting everyone and commented how it really had a reunion feel to it, not only for the astros, but for the attendees. He commented how gracious everyone was and he especially loved the kids.

For a show that had every potential to be a logistical nightmare, it came off without a hitch. Steve, Nolan and Wendy should be incredibly commended for pulling off THE BEST show once again. How can you beat a line up like that AND a shuttle launch AND an incredible dinner AND watching Al Worden play straight man for Bill "Jose" Dana? A laugh a minute. Incredible!!!! I need sleep - and more alcohol. Kudos Kudos Kudos!!!

More when I get home and get some sleep.

And, once again, it was good to see the "old gang" once again [you too, Larry] - but there was a big hole where Wally and Cece usually are.

posted 06-10-2007 10:51 PM               

Scott Carpenter was my favorite. Seemed to be a true gentlemen. He signed a final frontier on the Scott Carpenter story I had from years ago. My mom took time out from watching my kids to sneak and get me a Buzz Aldrin autograph. Couldn't believe it. All of the Skylab guys I met were very personable. Mcbride was just a nice guy. Signed and 8x10 for my kids. Basically ran out of funds and had to leave before I went in debt financially and with my wife.

I then reminded myself these guys are almost all engineers/physicists/mathematicians. Myself an engineer/physicist nowhere close to their level. If someone would actually pay me for my signature, how nice would I be to them?

Will attend another. And with the flight too. Wow. What a great Friday and Saturday. My boys are hooked now too.

posted 06-10-2007 11:59 PM               

Ironically, this was the show where I spent the least amount of time on line to get autographs, but I was there with my now (apparently legendary to a few!) autographed Soviet helmets and my baseball bat!

This was our first trip to KSC, and was also our first ever launch. The KSCVC was for us the "other" star of the show, and we took our time to check it out. Imagine our surprise Saturday morning when after exiting the Shuttle Launch sim, we ran into Walt and Dot Cunningham who tried it out the same time we did!

Hanging around KSCVC Friday evening was electric as the reality of a launch crept closer and closer. Although the engine roar was less than I was expecting when it finally arrived, what I was not prepared for was the intensity of the exhaust flames, which were like a slice of the sun to look at in their intensity, even from 3.5 miles away. They were electric.

Of course we got caught in the post-launch traffic jam on 528, but once back to the hotel we enjoyed the company of several astros and friends!

Saturday we got back to the KSVC early, did the sim thing, plus the IMAX, spent too much $ at the gift shop, and then high-tailed it over to the Hall of Fame, which was a huge treat.

The dinner Saturday night was truly exceptional, in no small part as I kept looking up at the business end of the Saturn V that was dangling just a few feet above our heads! I sat next to Gene Cernan and it was a huge evening.

We left around 8:30 Sunday morning, but I ran into both Scott Carpenter and Jack Lousma at the Orlando airport around noontime prior to my own flight leaving.

Just one great freakin' time! Thanks to Nolan, Steve, and all that made it possible. It was also great to put some faces to names, especially Tracy.

Steve

posted 06-11-2007 04:22 AM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Machodoc:
Ironically, this was the show where I spent the least amount of time on line to get autographs, but I was there with my [...] baseball bat!
Steve

---

posted 06-11-2007 08:28 AM               

And for those of you who waited patiently on Jim's line and were subjected to "the comedy stylings of Tracy Kornfeld", please accept my humble apologies. Those that knew me, expected it, those that were new had this "who IS this guy?" look on their faces.

The best part was running down Jim's pricing to those in line - which I probably said hundreds of times. After awhile, I added "that it's an extra $50 to get past me at the door; $50 to Jim's assistant, Mary, in order to get to Jim; then there's Jim's fee; and if you want Marilyn Lovell, it's an additional $400. I stopped that after getting some very strange looks from the newbies and/or locals.

As I said earlier, I had the pleasure of driving Bill Dana to the airport. When we were approaching our destination, I said "Here we are Bill, Terminal B". To which he replied [as Jose] "Oh, please don't say Terminal". A good laugh right till the end of the show.

posted 06-11-2007 10:54 AM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by divemaster:
"that it's an extra $50 to get past me at the door; $50 to Jim's assistant, Mary, in order to get to Jim; then there's Jim's fee; and if you want Marilyn Lovell, it's an additional $400.

---

Actually, you bring up a point I was meaning to ask. Did Marilyn Lovell sign for anyone who asked for her signature?

posted 06-11-2007 11:36 AM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by mjanovec:
Actually, you bring up a point I was meaning to ask. Did Marilyn Lovell sign for anyone who asked for her signature?

---

To be perfectly honest, I don't really know. I was just guarding the door and keeping the line flowing. Mary was collecting the money. I'm not sure if or what she may or may not have signed and if there was a charge.

posted 06-11-2007 12:21 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by divemaster:
After awhile, I added "that it's an extra $50 to get past me at the door; $50 to Jim's assistant, Mary, in order to get to Jim; then there's Jim's fee; and if you want Marilyn Lovell, it's an additional $400.

---

The $650 I gave you was worth every penny to get Marilyn Lovell's autograph and the photo with Mary that Capt. Lovell insisted on being in also! (just kidding about the first part folks - not kidding about the second part!)

Next year, I'm bringing Tracy a pair of Rollerblades so he can move around even faster, if that's possible!

What a weekend!

posted 06-11-2007 01:12 PM               

Everyone I talked to that went to the causeway were thrilled and had some pretty amazing photos. I opted to stay at the visitor's center with the thousands of visitors, many children. For most it was there third launch as it was my third, but I had never been that close. KSC had set up a big screen TV and seating to view the launch. They also had Rick Searfoss come out every hour and explain what was going on and answer questions. They also took the opportunity to unveil the latest addition to KSC- the robot from "Lost in Space." It seemed that they were going out their way to get the kids to think and enjoy the space experience. That works for me! I decided to video tape since I knew everyone was going to shoot stills. (If anyone can send me some of their better shots, email me off line if you could) When the engines lite, we could see it on the big screen but it was behind the trees. Those three seconds or so of anticipation were agonizing and then there was the sheer elation of seeing it as it rolled on it's back and rode the flame and cloud plume straight up. I couldn't help notice the gasps from the crowd as it disappeared as it went over the hill and then reappeared for solid booster sep. As we left everyone noticed the weird cloud formation the contrails had evolved into.

Speaking of experiences, three days at KSC-three visits to the Shuttle experience simulator. Thanks to all the CS posts that warned about puttting your head on the headrest. I immediately thought of those paint shakers you see at Home Depot. The big finish of the opening of the bay door to see the earth was a bit less exciting but overall a great addition to Cape.

posted 06-11-2007 04:30 PM            

It's an experience to go to KSC / Canaveral and see where it all happened. It's an experience to meet these pioneering spacefarers. Having both at once was an unbeatable combination... and that's before a manned launch is added to the equation!

Being at a banquet held under the first stage of a Saturn V rocket with so many of the guys who flew it in attendance really brought home the human side of such awe-inspiring technology.

Best of all for me, I think, was watching a beautiful shuttle liftoff from the upstairs balcony of the Saturn V center, surrounded by most of the signers. That included at least one person from every flown Apollo and Skylab crew. That's a priceless memory, for which I'll be forever grateful to Dee, Steve Hankow, Nolan Sims and the tireless Linn LeBlanc of the ASF. Thank you so much.

Thanks too to Robert Pearlman for having copies of "Into That Silent Sea" available for sale. I really enjoyed meeting so many people who bought a copy or brought their own to be signed, and it was quite moving for me to see them make the rounds of the room and be signed by other signers whose stories are told in the book. I loved meeting so many of you for the first time, and seeing so many old friends too.

posted 06-11-2007 04:44 PM               

Great to meet...

Moonpaws (Vince) - Nice shirt! Thanks for the ride to my motel after the launch, I was stumbling around in a daze with a vacant smile on my face and you lead me back to my motel.

Ben - Great to see you again. Too bad the Shuttle Launch Experience had a realistic 'scrub' when we tried to go on it. I did ride it on Thursday, and it was pretty cool. Heidi Piper was on that ride with me!

Herman - Fun to meet you and join you for the launch, banquet, and someone else that is just as crazy about old Saturn Vs as myself.

Robert P. - Glad to finally meet you in person and see the guy that has caused many hours of lost work during the day with the fine website. Hehe! (like right now)

The two guys from England - I forget your names, but I ran into you many times after meeting on the Cocoa Beach Shuttle that first dark rainy night.

Steve and Nolan - THANK YOU!!! This was awesome and you guys did a great job putting this all together. It must have been a huge amount of work.

Atlantis STS-117 - My lifelong dream of seeing a shuttle fly. Finally! The launch was....uh...I'm speechless....

I got home at midnight last night and had to show my girlfriend everything I got. She got her birthday gift early too (the signed Dee O'Hara urine bottle photo).

*whew* Now I'm back at work and can relax after taking a vacation. Ha!

I'll share a few photos later.

posted 06-11-2007 11:14 PM               

I went over and shook Konrad's hand. I didn't know he was coming. There are so few of his caliber left. I would have liked to have sat down wih him and with Guenter and listen to the OLD stories.

Jerry Carr gave me a Skylab 4 sticker to put on my credentials. He said that without that sticker, I couldn't have been part of Skylab 4. So, I now know where I spent the early 70's. Those years have been very foggy in my memory, so this gives me a very good and reasonable answer. And I now have the credentials to prove it.

Seeing Dee O'Hara was thrilling. She is such a wonderful person. She invited me to come visit her in Northern CA.

I always enjoy seeing the Cunninghams. Dot had sent me a letter about a trip to Moscow and Baikanor (sp?) and how they watched [and touched] the Soyuz as it was rolling out for the next flight to the ISS. I really would like her permission to post it somewhere. It is quite the eye opener.

It was very good to see "the gang" again. As many of you now know, it's been a very tough 8 months for me. Sy said "You're in your element - and it's making you feel and look good". I apprecated that, and it was true. So thank you to you all.

posted 06-12-2007 10:27 AM               

Miranda and I drove from southeast Kansas to Huntsville and visited the Space and Rocket Center on the way to the Cape. The Rocket Center was nice. It was very impressive to see the replica Saturn V stacked in the vertical position. The rocket is so tall it has flashing strobe lights as a warning to low flying planes. The rocket seemed to be in fairly good shape but due to the new construction we could not get real close. The construction on the new building for the real Saturn V is coming along. I was surprised to see the new building was being erected away from the location of the Saturn V. They are going to have to move the Saturn V into the new building instead of putting the building up around the Saturn V. There is lots of history on display there. One thing that I thought was neat was the instrumentation ring from the Saturn V. It seemed larger than the instrumentation ring on display at the Saturn V building at the Cape. I guess the one in Huntsville is from a different stage. The Orange County Chopper’s Statue of Liberty bike is currently on display at the Rocket Center and it was neat to see it.

We arrived at the Holiday Inn Wednesday evening. While waiting for Steve in the lobby we saw Guenter chatting with some people. Right after that Dee O’Hara came in and walked past us. We smiled and waved and she stopped and called us by name and chatted for a minute. She told Miranda that she looked taller and Miranda thought it was neat that Dee remembered her. Later Sy came in and he stopped and gave Miranda a hug and told us he was happy to see us.

Thursday was kind of hectic at the Cape. Security was a pain. Don’t know what else can be said about it. While we were waiting in line for our tickets I recognized Craig and Sharon from Auckland. I introduced ourselves and we were glad to meet them. The tour was great. We started off at the observation tower looking at the Atlantis and hoping that we would be able to see it launch. From there we went to the VAB and actually stopped there! We were able to get out of the bus and look at the building. Next was the shuttle landing strip. Other things that were neat from that tour was the original launch sites. Seeing the blockhouses used to launch the Mercury was impressive. We were able to push the same button pushed to launch Alan Shepard into space. How did they launch people into space using those simple buildings? The flame deflector was so small and the water sprays were done from behind a low cinder block wall that seems too close. Those sprays looked like small fire hoses. It was a moving experience and I was glad to see a replica Mercury Redstone setting outside the blockhouse. We stopped at the Mercury Memorial and Pad 34. At Pad 34 the tour guides were telling us that we only had time for a short photo op because they needed to get us back to the visitors center for the lectures. While the lectures were important I don’t think the guides realized how much the people wanted to stop and see Pad 34. It was a great experience. When we travel along the coasts we like to tour the lighthouses and it was nice to be able to see the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse too.

We made it back to the visitor’s center in time for the lectures. If you liked Guenter’s talk then I suggest you read his book. Many of the stories he told are recounted in his book. Sy and Al’s talks were great too. Rusty decided to talk about asteroids and the hunt for Near Earth Objects. I am an amateur astronomer and I enjoyed hearing this talk. We finished the evening watching The Wonder of It All and Ed Mitchell was in attendance. It was a great documentary, go see it if you get the chance. Ed stayed and answered questions after the showing and he stayed by the door and offered everyone a handshake as they left.

Friday morning we hit the autograph show. We were there early waiting in line when I saw a friendly face. Phyllis Cole, the gift shop manager from the Kansas Cosmosphere, was standing in line with us. I went over and chatted with Phyllis and learned she was there for all of the weekend’s events. I took a photo last year of Miranda and Sy setting together. They were wearing the big black plastic glasses from that era and Sy signed that photo “To Miranda, You look better than Clint Howard in these glasses. Sy Liebergot APOLLO 13 EECOM”. Next we talked with Charlie Duke. I e-mailed with Charlie before the show and requested an unusual inscription on a print. Charlie said he would have to think about it and decide at the show. When I showed him the print he suggested a slightly different inscription and I agreed. He signed it and personalized it to Miranda. We had Jerry Carr and Ed Gibson sign a couple of prints and books. Jim Lewis has always been very friendly with warm with me and this year was no different. He remembered me from last year and we had a nice chat again this year. He signed a couple of things and it was nice to see him and his lovely wife again. It was nice meeting Kris Stover and seeing Scott Carpenter. I had been told to ask Scott about a brand of telescopes that I own but Scott did not see to know about them. He did seem to like the idea of Miranda taking guitar lessons. Maybe we should have brought her guitar and asked Scott to play something for us. I had Brian Binnie sign a print then he showed me a print of him and Mike Melvill standing next to the Space Ship One. Mike had signed that print. For 20$ people could buy that print and Brian would sign it for free. What a bargain.

In addition to the print of Sy and Miranda I had 5 more prints of Miranda and other celebrities. We had them signed by Al Worden, Gene Kranz, Guenter Wendt, Walt Cunningham, and Richard Gordon. I knew that Richard Gordon was a Navy man and when we stopped by his table Miranda was wearing an Air Force t-shirt. We chatted for a while and I showed him the print of him and Miranda. He was getting ready to sign it when I asked him if he had noticed her shirt. He looked at the Air Force shirt and took the print and pushed it back to her and said he was not going to sign the print. He was smiling all of the time and shaking his head. I asked Miranda if we should ask Richard to sign it and add something about good luck in the Navy. Richard got a mischievous look on his face and he looked at me. I told him he could write anything on it that he wanted. He smiled and started writing. When he handed us the print it said “To Miranda. GO NAVY. Richard Gordon Apollo XII”. Both of us got a laugh out of that. We enjoyed showing that print to other Navy astronauts at the show. When we went through Gene Kranz’s line Gene looked up at me and said, “There is a familiar face. Where have I seen you before”? I told him that we were at the show in San Antonio and he said “Well, where else have I seen you”. Then I told him that we had met at John Aaron’s induction in to the Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame. Then he smiled and said, “That was it. I remember you.” Gene is a class act and it really made me feel great to think that he would remember me from an event almost 3 years ago. Gene signed the prints that we had and invited Miranda around for a photo.

We also had a nice talk with Paul Weitz. He signed a print for us and we noticed the patches and stickers from his flights on his table. We knew that other celebrities were selling items so we asked him about them. He said they were from his missions. I asked if they were for sale and he said that we could have them. He gave us a Sky Lab patch and a patch from his shuttle mission. I noticed later that the Sky Lab patch was a Lion Brothers patch. I offered to pay for it but Paul said no. I have a couple of Sky Lab Lion Brothers patches but not this one. Needless to say we will enjoy having it. Robert Gibson had a neat print he was signing for the ASF. I think it was taken from the Mir showing Robert looking through one of the windows of the Shuttle.

Friday evening we were walking around checking out the lines for the buses going to the causeway when we ran in to Craig and Sharon again. They said they were getting on the buses and asked us to join them. We did. When we reached the causeway they were more crowed than I expected. I had taken a Celestron C-90 spotter telescope with me and I was hoping to get it set up so Miranda could watch the liftoff through that scope. We were able to find a spot but we had a few people in front of us. We were right next to a food service tent and the boss of that tent was keeping people away from the tent. Just before the launch she decided to let a group of people in. She told Craig that he would be the first. Well we followed right behind him. We got the scope set up and from the causeway we could see the windows in the top of the shuttle, the white room, and the venting coming out near the engines. We shared the view with the people around us and at one time I attached my camera to the scope. As a camera lens the scope is a 1,000mm F 10 and as a scope it is a 25x spotter with a 90mm aperture. I took some photos of the Atlantis on the pad but before the launch I changed the C-90 back to a spotter and let Miranda watch the launch through it.

From the causeway you are looking right down the back of the shuttle. You can see the tower and behind the shuttle are the boosters and the ET. When the engines were lit the exhaust came toward our line of sight and covered the shuttle but within a few seconds we saw the shuttle lift off through this exhaust cloud. It was a neat prospective. The exhaust was much brighter than I expected. I watched the launch through the camera lens and a 400mm F 5 lens and I was having trouble focusing because of the brightness. I took a few photos then I put the camera down and watched the launch. Then Miranda and I grabbed our own binoculars and watched the shuttle, as it got higher in its flight we were able to watch the boosters fall off. We saw them tumble a couple of times but then we lost them in a thin cloud. It was our first launch and one that we will not forget. The wind was blowing at a right angle from us to the launch pad. I did not think the launch was as loud as I was expecting but we did hear the popping of the boosters. People did say they felt some vibration in the air but I don’t think I did.

Saturday we attended the autograph show again but we left a little early so we could go enjoy the beach. On the way out we saw Marta Kranz slowly walking toward the Rocket Garden. She was alone and she looked at us and said she had gotten turned around and asked which building the show was in. I pointed it out for her and she thanked me. Miranda and I cooled off at the beach then cleaned up and headed to the autograph show. When we walked in we visited with other guests and I was talking with someone when I felt someone pulling on my sleeve. It was Gene Kranz. He looked at me and asked if I would pose for a picture with him. Gene Kranz was asking me for a picture!! We could not refuse him. When they said it was time to set down I was very pleased and grateful to see that Miranda was seated right next to Sy. Thanks go to Judy for that.

The meal was great. Al Worden and Bill Dana did the famous routine of Jose Jimenez. Not only did they do the reluctant astronaut they also did some lines from some of Bill’s other acts. Tom Stafford and Ed Buckbee paid tribute to Wally Schirra that evening.

Someone named Tim was assigned to set with Sy after the nametags had been placed. Tim was funny and we were lucky to have him. He wrote his own name on the extra tag and under that he wrote “lobster” as his meal choice. Sy was very kind to all of his guests. We talked about SPACE. We talked about the differences between the Russian and American programs. Sy told about his visit to Russia during the ASTP training. He also talked about the problems with that mission. We talked about Apollo 13 and we talked about the upcoming programs. He also talked about the good times and the not so good times with other Mission Control personnel and the astronauts. Sy went out of his way to make the evening very enjoyable. He even signed a few things for people who sat with him. I did not take a flash for my camera with me because I expected the Saturn V building to be brighter so Sy asked Tracy to take a photo of Miranda and I with him. Thanks Tracy, we received that photo. After the show Miranda was in tears again but only because she was thinking of Wally and because she knew the weekend was coming to a close.

We attended the show last year and I was not sure I wanted to do it again this year but when Miranda said she wanted to set with Sy I had the feeling the show would be a great one. The banquet with Sy was a great cap to a fantastic weekend. We spent lots of money but it was well worth it. Miranda and I spent all day Sunday at the Space Center just to catch up on the things we did not have time to do. We rode the Launch Experience 3 times and we spent a few hours in the Saturn V building.

Thanks to everyone who made our weekend. Thanks to John C. for talking with Miranda about the Air Force. Thanks to Judy for seating Miranda next to Sy. Thanks to Craig and Sharon for spending time with us. Thanks to John and Marylyn for your visits. Thanks to Francis for his continuous kind words and friendship. A special thanks go to Dee O’Hara and Francis for their gift to us after Miranda gave Dee another cartoon. That print is very special to us. Thanks also go to Brenda and I hope she enjoys this week at the Cape.

Thanks go to Steve and Nolan too. Lets do it again.

posted 06-12-2007 10:34 AM               

I'm going to give you my honest opinions on the show- positive and negative.

I enjoyed the show a great deal. Many of what I saw beforehand as serious concerns with security and logistics turned out to be unfounded for my experience at the show.

I had a scare at the gate on the first day of the show when a security person looked at my cart of models and said, "No sir. You'll have to take all of that back to your vehicle." Within about a minute, he was approached by his supervisor without my having to protest. The supervisor told him to let me in.

While this was good news for me, I had a buddy who was not so lucky and was told to store his items in the KSC dog kennel...seriously. He had to go back among the Schnauzers and Pomeranians to retrieve various items to be signed. And he had a lot of flown and extremely valuable items. Thankfully, he said nothing had been urinated upon by the canines. I'm not kidding.

Concerns with parking at the museum were no issue. As long as you got there early, you did not need a parking pass. I didn't need one.

I was impressed with the improvements done to the grounds in the five years since my last visit. I don't know much of anything about Delaware North, but they have added many attractions to what before had been a pretty vacant plaza area. There are now lots of stuff for kids, like play areas and large water fountains that they can play in. I was very impressed with the improvements.

Once in the show, the lines weren't long. The room was sufficiently big so that lines didn't run into or run closely to one another. The air conditioning worked great despite the prohibitive heat. Bathrooms were located just outside the signing room.

For Cernan's and Lovell's lines, provisions had been made for their lines to run out the door into a separate little waiting area no as not to clog the room. This was a good idea. Logistically, everything in the signing room worked like clockwork.

Tracy Kornfield provided color commentary for all lines. It was great to see my friend Tracy.

Bill Pogue did not show. Ed Gibson told me that Bill had had a death in the family.

Issues with fees: Though Steve promised up front to post fees to the website beforehand, he did not. As we got closer to the event it became apparent that this was not going to happen, as many public requests on cS went unanswered. My feeling is that if an organizer isn’t going to post the fees, he shouldn’t promise beforehand that he will. I think it is reasonable to expect someone to do what he says he will.

I was disappointed at Buzz' $350 model fee. Though the base fee ($175) had been stated on cS beforehand, I wish it would have been stated that models would require collectors to pay double the $175 flat item fee. Many people on cS asked these questions prior to the show, but received no public answer. Hopefully next time Buzz' prices- all of them- will be stated in full. That's the right thing to do. I didn't like paying $750 to have two models signed, but I got over it. I had no choice.

That being said, everyone in Buzz' line- and in every line- was professional and friendly. These volunteer guys are our peers- they know how to handle things carefully and safely, and I sure appreciated the TLC.

Now here is what went RIGHT regarding fees: I was NOT nickeled and dimed at this show. Though a few astronauts had posted surcharges for additional missions, dates, etc, very few if any of them followed it. Lovell was happy to add additional words here and there on items and did not want extra money. Buzz was equally cool. Cernan was extra cool. Buzz and Cernan and Lovell did not ask me for extra money for dates, extra missions, and the occasional extra word. I was not charged a single completion fee. The rest of the guys- Carpenter, Worden et al-did not nickel and dime at all. They were very kind. I appreciated that.

A word here: I feel that nickel and dime surcharges are the main source of all of any bitterness toward astronauts and their handlers on the part of collectors. These hidden fees did not exist until only a few years ago. The extra fees and surcharges- which penalize collectors who have broken their backs and wallets to accumulate quality pieces- are the biggest source of resentment on the part of collectors toward astronauts and handlers than anything else I know about. Surcharges make most of us feel like we’re being taken advantage of, and we begrudge them. That’s why- with only the one exception for me- it was so refreshing to attend this show. The astronauts and handlers largely ignored penalizing us for having nice items. Thank you for that.

It was a real pleasure to visit with Scott Carpenter and Kris Stoever. It felt like my wife and I were talking to old friends. Linda Gordon, Claire Johnson (Cernan), and Mary (Lovell) were a real pleasure to speak with. These are good people.

The Wonder of It All was great. In my view, it captured extremely candid insight into many of the astronauts that no other documentary has achieved. The film did not rehash facts, rather actually broke some new ground for me in that I learned things I hadn't known regarding the participants' thought processes on a deeper level looking back at Apollo 40 years later.

Friends Rich, Bruce, Rob, Leon, Ricky, Jason, Noah, Leslie, Tracy, Larry, Bill and Vickie, Gerhard, and Vince made it like a reunion. It was great to see each of you again.

The banquet was a first-class affair. I saw no logistics issues whatsoever. Dining with all of the legends beneath that behemoth in the Saturn V Center was the ultimate space experience for me. It was very well-done.

And the launch...Wow, that was pure gravy.

All in all, the show was my best to date. I loved it. It wasn't perfect, but a lot of things that could have gone wrong didn't go wrong and instead went right. It was well-done. Thanks to all who made it a success. Steve and Nolan pulled off successfully what initially may have looked to be nearly impossible. Bravo.

Now I'm going to regroup, take out a second mortgage, and prepare for Spacefest in Phoenix. This will prove to be a golden summer for space collecting. I can’t wait. I really think this will be one to remember.

posted 06-12-2007 10:53 AM               

There are so many stories that I remember and I want to write them down. Needless to say that I have to thank Steve and Nolan for getting these men and women of the space age together every year. It is a true experience to see them and hear their stories. I never get tried of those stories. I learn something or meet someone new every time I attend these shows.

I need to thank Delaware North for providing the facilities for the show. They are first class.

Then there is Linn LeBlanc, who, in her capacity as Executive Director of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, was instrumental in helping put the above two groups together in order to put on this show at the KSC. She worked behind the scenes to help and deserves a large thanks too.

You have thank NASA. They provided a launch that did not disappoint. It was the most beautiful and loudest launch that I have ever attended.

I did see so many collectors that I know there. Leon, Tracy, Francis (with an "i") and all the rest. Still I managed to meet new collectors which bodes well for this hobby.

The astronauts and ground support people were great. I just did my thing getting items signed and then once done, just sitting and listening.

I ran into Jeff Roth and Mark Gray. They were wonderful. Collectors, you must buy Roth's "Alan Bean - Artist/Astronaut" for nothing else that I took the Bean photo on the cover. You also need to buy Mark Gray's new DVD on the "First Flattops." My underwater video of the USS Saratoga is on the second disk. See guys I told you that I would promote your products.

There is so much more to talk about and more people to say hi to, but it would take up too much space on the thread. I just wanted to say thank you to Steve, Nolan, Linn and Delaware North for combining to put on one hell of a show.

It was great to be there.

posted 06-12-2007 11:39 AM               

You will need Real Player to view it.

It's now easier to pick out the people in the room AFTER the launch as the backlighting was putting everything into shadows.

posted 06-12-2007 11:59 AM               

Open Real Player
Go to File - Open
When it asks for a file name, key in: http://www.wowiewebdesign.com/shuttlelaunch.rm

Works like a charm on all platforms.

It looks especially nice in full screen theater mode, too