posted 05-21-2008 04:49 PM               

Shuttles Orbiting the Space Coast

More than one hundred uniquely painted, 8-foot Space Shuttle statues will be landing all over the Space Coast this fall for the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation's Shuttles Orbiting the Space Coast program!

In partnership with the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and Florida's Space Coast Office of Tourism, the program will pay tribute to NASA's 50th Anniversary and its longest running manned vehicle -- the Space Shuttle.

This community-wide effort will launch on June 12, 2008 with organizations and individuals securing their shuttle statues, choosing its design, and then proudly displaying it at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in November 2008. Soon after, the shuttles will travel to the sponsor's location of choice to be on public display for approximately 8 months.

Pride is alive on the Space Coast and this project proves it! Whether you are a corporation, artist or space enthusiast -- you must climb on board and be a part of this exciting program!

All proceeds benefit the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, who aids the United States in retaining its world leadership in science and technology by providing scholarships to exceptional college students pursuing these degrees.

posted 05-21-2008 04:53 PM               

Searching for Artists with the "Right Stuff"

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) is commissioning artists to join in a unique opportunity to paint/decorate 8-foot fiberglass space shuttle statues which will be landing all over the county this fall for the Shuttles Orbiting the Space Coast program!

In partnership with the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and Florida's Space Coast Office of Tourism, the program will showcase 100 shuttle statues at businesses and public venues in this community-wide effort while paying tribute to NASA's 50th Anniversary and its longest running manned vehicle - the Space Shuttle.

The ASF is searching for artists to be part of an elite group who will "fuel" the shuttles for launch into the community. Upon completion of a painted shuttle, the artist will receive a $1,000 honorarium. Artist applications are due by June 24, 2008 and are available online or by calling 321-455-7012.

posted 06-20-2008 03:14 PM               

• Artistic Endeavours: Space shuttle statues to be painted for student scholarships (collectSPACE)

  Over 100 space shuttles will land this November at the Kennedy Space Center, though NASA can take credit for only two. The additional orbiters will be courtesy the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, which on Thursday formally announced the "Shuttles Orbiting the Space Coast" program, a public art exhibit organized to celebrate the first half-century of U.S. space exploration.

• Artists to turn 'shuttles' into art (Florida Today)

  The first of a fleet of more than 100 8-foot-long space shuttles entered Brevard County's orbit Thursday.

  The "Shuttles Orbiting the Space Coast" public art project and several white shuttle statues were introduced at Kennedy Space Center's Visitor Complex by a handful of astronauts, including first shuttle pilot Bob Crippen of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.

posted 06-21-2008 07:53 PM               

After unveiling all the white 8-foot-long fiberglass space shuttle orbiter statues, "first" artist Gina Razzano put the final airbrush touches on her 5-foot tall, 80-pound, steel-base structure.

When asked how long the airbrush paint, in beautiful vibrant colors of a stylish-designed American flag, will survive on the statue in Florida's difficult climate-- she replied that a special protective coating would be applied after all the airbrush artwork on the orbiter was completed.

Cocoa Beach's Quiet Flight surfboard artist Gina Razzano had lived on the Space Coast ever since her father became stationed at Patrick AFB, just south of Cocoa Beach, over 24 years ago. She had been producing art as long as she can remember. In high school Gina was bestowed with a Congressional Art Award from Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, a one-time shuttle payload specialist that flew on Columbia in 1986.

Specializing in surfboard airbrushing for the past 15 years as a graphic artist for one of the nation's leading surfboard companies, Quiet Flight, she was commissioned to paint-decorate the first shuttle orbiter statue for the ASF's "Shuttles Orbiting the Space Coast" program.

posted 12-25-2008 04:17 PM               

The statues, which were uniquely painted and decorated by a variety of artists, were put on public display at the Visitor Complex throughout November before they were placed around Brevard County at their individual sponsors' venues of choice.

Unveiling participants included Apollo 15 astronaut Al Worden, Skylab and space shuttle astronaut Jack Lousma, space shuttle astronauts Charlie Bolden and Robert Springer, and Astronaut Scholarship Foundation Executive Director Linn LeBlanc.

These photos of the unveiling ceremony are courtesy Tim Gagnon (KSCArtist), whose designs were selected for two of the shuttles by Communications Concepts, Inc. and The Boeing Company.

Gary Milgrom also toured the shuttles while they were on display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. His photographs, including the one included below, can be viewed at his online gallery.

Two of the orbiter statues, including Tim Gagnon's for The Boeing Company, are now on display at Space View Park in Titusville. Photographs courtesy the U.S. Space Walk of Fame Foundation.

posted 08-28-2009 08:53 AM               

Shuttles Orbiting the Space Coast Auction

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation is proud to conclude its Shuttles Orbiting the Space Coast program by auctioning more than 20 of its 35 uniquely-designed Space Shuttle Statues. Now's your chance to win your very own extraordinarily crafted space shuttle by bidding online here or in-person at the Final Destination Reception at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on October 8, 2009 at 5:30 PM - 8 PM. Admission is free, but please RSVP your attendance to the reception.

The program launched in 2008, when local companies sponsored 8-foot, fiberglass space shuttles, and then chose artists to painstakingly adorn each one. Each genuine work of art has been on tour around the Space Coast and has landed at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to receive its final flight coordinates at the October 8, 2009 auction conclusion!

Registration opens on September 15, 2009. Auction opens on October 1, 2009 at 8:00 am EDT.

posted 10-01-2009 08:49 AM               

1. How do these break-down?
   
2. How much do they weight?
   
3. I see earlier in this post that there were 100, where are they?

posted 10-01-2009 09:25 AM               

1. The orbiters themselves are solid pieces and do not break down. They are bolted to their bases.

2. They weigh approximately 80 pounds. A separate 200 pound concrete base (for outdoor display) is available on request.

3. Though 100 were originally planned, the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation notes that 35 were ultimately decorated by artists, of which only 22 are being offered for sale (the others being kept by their sponsors at an additional fee).

posted 10-01-2009 11:39 PM               

And in Fort Wayne, there was a painted TV exhibit in a park near downtown (Philco Farnsworth is from/born in Ft. Wayne (???) and this was to honor him several years ago...

These Shuttles are so very cool.

If someone needs a place to display theirs and wants to pay all the costs, I know a GREAT farm in/near Walkerton, Indiana (home of John Glenn High School and Harold Urey) that has room!

posted 10-09-2009 05:00 AM               

I had a great time speaking with Andy Allen, Bob Springer and Don Williams who all signed my "Space Shuttle The First Twenty Years" book.

My statue that was sponsored by Boeing was purchased by a true believer, a fellow space cadet and a good friend. It's nice to know it will have a good home.

posted 10-09-2009 12:10 PM               

Yesterday the price reached our own self imposed bidding cap about mid-day. I had e-mailed Tim about our disappointment and wished his art a good home. Tim's response was typical of this community "Would you like me to paint a 1/100 scale model in a similar fashion?" -- a true space comrade and friend.