How many Apollo astronauts have you met?

I suggest you also read Chris Hadfield's 2013 autobiography, An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth (: What Going to Space Taught Me About Ingenuity, Determination, and Being Prepared for Anything). I saw Hadfield at a conference in 2015 and he is very personable, easy-going and accessible. The book is sheer joy, insight and enlightenment. Very modest and mature person. The type of guy we should send to space and an improvement on the only military type of earlier space missions. Astronauts are more well-rounded 50 years later, including personality and teamwork traits.

My dad was a consultant at CSA, so I met two other astronauts: charming and smart Julie Payette and brilliant Dafydd Williams, unfortunately before his 3 spacewalks!!! Both shared some nice insights one-on-one with me. It is a privilege and responsibility to be an astronaut and a privilege to interact with them.

Meet one if you can and share more on this interesting board.

(ps: I have not met Apollo astronaut but hope my post is still relevant and helpful)

I'd love to meet Mike Collins! Did you talk to him for long?

I've already acheived my life dream of meeting Buzz Aldrin and chatting with him for half an hour -- though I confess it wasn't enough! I could talk to him all night; he's a fascinating man.

But now I really want to meet Dave Scott, a personal hero of mine. Unfortunately I can't do a lot of traveling and he rarely, if ever, shows up at KSC. But you never know...if I keep attending these (expensive) autograph shows, sooner or later he's bound to show up.

Collin R. Skocik

I also met Mike Collins, though I didn't talk to him long, and it was some years ago. I also heard him speak to an audience. He came off pretty much the same way he does in his book, I thought.

I shook hands with Dick Gordon and Pete Conrad, but I don't know if that counts as a meeting, since they were in motion and surrounded by lots of other people.

"So, Collin, have you ever asked any astronauts what they thought of the mini-series?"

No, I've only had the chance to talk to them for a couple seconds, so I chose my questions/comments very carefully. I did talk to Buzz Aldrin and Ed Mitchell for quite some time, but somehow it just didn't seem appropriate to ask them what they thought of a miniseries when we were talking about orbital mechanics and landing radar and the nature of consciousness. Hopefully I'll get another chance to talk to them in depth this November, and maybe I'll find a chance to ask about it.

When I met Alan Bean, the woman in front of me told him how much she enjoyed the Apollo 12 episode. He told her a bit about how nervous Dave Foley was about getting the accent right. I got the impression Bean had not seen the episode, because if I heard correctly, he asked her "So did he do a good job?" I didn't hear her answer.

Collin R. Skocik

My husband and I were able to meet several that were up at a (very expensive) autograph show in Burbank, CA in September 2004. The highlights were Buzz Aldrin and Gene Cernan, with Scotty Carpenter, Wally Schirra, and Gordo Cooper right behind. Also, two others on the important ground crew. We both were pleased that we'd taken the time to meet Wally and Gordo, since we've lost them since then. At that one, they had 3 from the Hollywood realm of "space", as well: Bill Daily, Richard Kiel, and one of the Lost in Space crew.

It's very important to know that Buzz Aldrin will either not sign anything already signed by Neil Armstrong, or will charge 200% more. It cost us $150 to get his photo and autograph - but those who wanted his autograph on a photo already signed by Neil (who rarely signs them anymore) were going to have to pay $300 for that autograph at this particular show. He will only personalize them, too, which is good for you but puts a damper on people who want to sell them on eBay.

Anyone within driving distance of San Diego should check out:
http://www.spacefest.info

Spacefest 2009 will be held at the Town & Country in San Diego, in February 2009. More astronauts will be coming - there's a list on the website. Their Hollywood realm of "space" so far only has one from the original Battlestar Galactica series.


Donna

Did you ask any of them what they thought of the mini-series?

Well, the Cold War was still going on at the time, so there was still a lot of suspicion on both sides. Perhaps he would have been a bit more mellow about it in later years, had he lived longer. His commander Dave Scott actually worked on the mission in a management position.

Edgar Mitchell (handshake, autograph, and photo for free). It was a thrill.