Well done Chris, excellent message to the NSC,
I have been to see Bernard Harris and Buzz Aldrin, both time's it was
a bun-fight. Take Bernard Harris, I felt the people there did not
have a clue who he was and only wanted his autograph for a certain
reason. He graciously signed my book and we shock hands and I thanked
him. Buzz Aldrin, well what can I say, the NSC's '...only had room
for 300 books' ya, right and he was not signing anything else!!! It
was a farce, and it cost me a fortune, petrol, the charge to get in
plus something to eat. Personally I don't think I would go to a NSC
event again, they don't advertise anything; they don't know what day
of the week it is if you ring up! I have heard from a former employee
there that allegedly (quote) '...the manager in charge could not find
his back side with both hands if he tried!' (un-quote).
When the crew of STS-112 visited the National Museum of Film and
Photography, again that was unadvertised and a farce, I got in for
free after pleading with the staff, very good of them but again
(quote) "...you can't have autographs because they are going to
Edinburgh and there's a security risk..." (un-quote) I was given a
very nice cloth patch, so thank you STS-112.
The West Yorkshire Astronomical Society had Charlie Duke and The
Round House, London had Al Bean and those events were brilliantly
organised and again for events that had Soviet/Russian cosmonauts
(WYAS, Hull University, Cleveland and Darlington AS and York
University's) all were fantastic events.
I think the problem is with the NSC and anything that is officailly
organised and involves US 'officialdom', I some times look back at
Gus Grissom's comment '...how we going to get to the Moon if we can't
talk between two buildings...' I think he had something there...
Regards and bests to all,
Martin
PS Next time you are at the NSC ask some one how they intend to
remove the Thor-Able or the Blue Streak if the owners want them back,
look at the blow-up/plastic 'building' they are in, look at how it
unzips and look at the new building that is in the way... ummm, some
one was thinking that day...





--- In midlandspaceflightsociety@..., "CHRIS"
<Chris@...> wrote:
>
> Gentlemen,
>
> I have felt the need to send the following e-mail to the National
Space Centre today. I do not enjoy having to be critical, but
yesterday's event was the proverbial 'straw'.
>
> Your comments would be welcome.
>
> Subject: "Ask an Astronaut"
>
>
> Dear Sir/Madam,
>
> I attended this event yesterday. This was the third time I have
visited for an Astronaut appearance event. Unfortunately, once again
I was disappointed.
> I thought that yesterday was particularly badly organised. The
Astronauts were whisked out of the theatre faster than a speeding
Shuttle, with no photo opportunity allowed. Then we were informed
that there were to be no autographs. Thank you to Malika for
appeasing some of us with a crew photo and mission patch sticker. But
why couldn't these have been handed out when the tickets were issued?
I'm sure some of the children there would have cherished these as a
momento of the day. The day ended in farce. Finally, some of us were
able to obtain autographs in the darkened car park as they left.
> This is only my opinion, however I know that a number of people
were also disappointed and hold similar views. Many had taken a day
off work and travelled considerable distances to visit. It was also a
shame that the theatre was not full. More often than not, I find out
about your events via the Collectspace.com website. If I recall
correctly, when Buzz Aldrin visited it didn't even make your website!
> I don't know who was responsible for yesterdays' problems. However,
as a registered charity I would have thought that satisfying your
visitors would be of paramount importance. I do intend to visit any
future events but would hope to see some organisational improvements.
>
> Yours Faithfully,
> Chris Lee.
>