Author
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Topic: NASA astronaut candidate (ascan) chaperones
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ASCAN1984 Member Posts: 1049 From: County Down, Nothern Ireland Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-20-2012 11:13 PM
For each astronaut class, there were one or more experienced astronauts who were entrusted with looking after the ascans throughout their training, e.g. Barbara Morgan and another astronaut I cannot remember worked with the 2004 class. Would anyone know of any others for previous classes? |
Skylon Member Posts: 274 From: Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 02-21-2012 08:42 AM
I think George Zamka was the other Astronaut working with the 2004 class. I got the impression Alan Bean and Ed Gibson worked with the TFNG's, but I could be wrong. Likewise with Jim Buchli, who I think served a similar function with the 1984 Astronauts (and coined their nickname, as only a Marine can, "The Maggots"). |
kr4mula Member Posts: 642 From: Cinci, OH Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 02-21-2012 12:06 PM
Several of the '78 class have mentioned Al Bean being their "Mother Hen." |
astro-nut Member Posts: 946 From: Washington, IL Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 02-28-2012 10:41 AM
If I remember correctly I believe astronaut Jeff Ashby was the class mentor for astronaut group/class 16 or 17 (one of the two). |
ASCAN1984 Member Posts: 1049 From: County Down, Nothern Ireland Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 07-03-2017 05:31 PM
What is the role of an astronaut class chaperone and what type of things do they do? Also, would anyone happen to know who else has been chaperones for past classes? |
Michael Cassutt Member Posts: 358 From: Studio City CA USA Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 07-04-2017 12:28 PM
Chaperone is the wrong word. These senior astronauts are actually training chiefs. For the 1978 and 1980 groups, it was Alan Bean in his capacity as acting chief astronaut. The structure and role has changed over the years and I may have notes on who did what with which groups. But, for example, training for the 2013 group was directed by Vegas Kelly. |
MarylandSpace Member Posts: 1337 From: Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 07-04-2017 01:45 PM
Chaperone/Handler is the term some of us use to describe the individuals who shield the ascans and astronauts from autograph seekers at the National Air and Space Museum and Udvar-Hazy. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-04-2017 02:16 PM
I wonder if "chaperone" being used here originated from Alan Bean's NASA oral history, where Jennifer Ross-Nazzal asks: Were there any lessons you learned with the '78 class that you applied to training and chaperoning of the next 19? That is the only relevant use of "chaperone" I can find searching across NASA's many websites. |
Michael Cassutt Member Posts: 358 From: Studio City CA USA Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 07-05-2017 11:19 AM
quote: Originally posted by ASCAN1984: What is the role of an astronaut class chaperone and what type of things do they do? Also, would anyone happen to know who else has been chaperones for past classes?
Here are some ASCAN training leaders, an incomplete and possibly inaccurate list, since the titles and functions changed frequently. - 1984 group - Hilmers
- 1985 group - Grabe
- 1987 group - Gregory
- 1990 group - Voss (also Bud Ream)
- 1992 group - Readdy
- 1995 and 1996 groups - Thuot and Apt
- 1998 group - don't have
- 2000 group - Foreman
- 2004 group - Zamka
This is a start, at least, for addition and certain correction. |
astro-nut Member Posts: 946 From: Washington, IL Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 07-08-2017 10:42 AM
If I remember correctly, I think Jeff Ashby was ASCAN chaperone for Group-17/1998 Class? |
astro-nut Member Posts: 946 From: Washington, IL Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 07-12-2017 10:32 AM
Patrick Forrester was the chaperone for Astronaut Group 21/Class of 2013. |