Piers Sellers (1955-2016)

Piers Sellers has died. Though not unexpected, unfortunately. Sellers was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in October 2015. 

From Charles Bolden, NASA's administrator said this of the three-time (STS-112/Atlantis, STS-121/Discovery and STS-132/Atlantis) Shuttle astronaut:

"Piers devoted his life to saving the planet. As a climate scientist, his work in computer modeling of the climate system, satellite remote sensing studies and field work using aircraft, satellites and ground teams broke new ground in our understanding of Earth’s systems. His legacy will be one not only of urgency that the climate is warming but also of hope that we can yet improve humanity’s stewardship of this planet. His cancer diagnosis became a catalyst for him to work even harder on efforts to save the planet from global warming for the benefit of future generations."

In January, Sellers had this to say in a New York Times editorial:

"After handling the immediate business associated with the medical news — informing family, friends, work; tidying up some finances; putting out stacks of unread New York Times Book Reviews to recycle; and throwing a large “Limited Edition” holiday party, complete with butlers, I had some time to sit at my kitchen table and draw up the bucket list.

"Very quickly, I found out that I had no desire to jostle with wealthy tourists on Mount Everest, or fight for some yardage on a beautiful and exclusive beach, or all those other things one toys with on a boring January afternoon. Instead, I concluded that all I really wanted to do was spend more time with the people I know and love, and get back to my office as quickly as possible.

...

"As for me, I’ve no complaints. I’m very grateful for the experiences I’ve had on this planet. As an astronaut I spacewalked 220 miles above the Earth. Floating alongside the International Space Station, I watched hurricanes cartwheel across oceans, the Amazon snake its way to the sea through a brilliant green carpet of forest, and gigantic nighttime thunderstorms flash and flare for hundreds of miles along the Equator. From this God’s-eye-view, I saw how fragile and infinitely precious the Earth is. I’m hopeful for its future.

"And so, I’m going to work tomorrow."

Sellers was a guest - not an attendee - at the April 2012 ceremony where shuttle Discovery was transferred to the Smithsonian and Enterprise was moved out.

Most of the astronauts headed back to the museum along a "cattle chute," so it was relatively easy to call out their names in hopes of getting an autograph: "Mr. Sellers, Mr. Sellers, a moment please, to sign our books."

He did so, and with amazement, asked, "How did you know my name?" as he was wearing a business suit, not the blue NASA flightsuit.

"Um, you're wearing a name tag, sir," I pointed out.

The Discovery transfer ceremony, incidentally, my only time meeting Sellers, was the only time I met John Glenn. I might have had a chance to meet Sellers earlier, when the STS-132 crew did a meet-and-greet in 2010, including a stop in Georgetown, Maryland, but I opted instead to again see Garrett Reisman (who also was on STS-132), who did a presentation of a flown item to a Brooklyn eatery owner.

John Glenn (1921-2016)

John Glenn, the last of the Mercury 7 astronauts, has died.

In some ways, it's not surprising. He was 95 and had a stroke two years ago. He was also in declining health:

"I've got problems. I had a little stroke after the surgery that affected my eyes. I only have about half my vision. I have trouble recognizing people. Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic and at Johns Hopkins hope it will get better with time, but it's been eight months and it hasn't gotten better at all."

Up until then, Glenn signed autographs - including the one seen here, from (I believe) the "John Glenn American Hero" press kit.

In all the years, Glenn never charged for a signature. In the later years, he would every so often visit Ohio State University (where his requests went) and sign items that people sent in.

Those that didn't enclose an item would receive a signed and personalized portrait of Glenn in his Shuttle launch and entry suit (the main image of this photo.) Glenn presigned a whole bunch of them, then would be inscribed (most likely by running the litho through a computer.)

Even items sent to him were normally personalized a matter of course. Myself and another collector who sent them same photo were surprised to see they weren't.

In-person, Glenn was just as great. In fact, even after his stroke:

"I saw that he kindly signed a helmet for one person and the body of a rocket for another but that was it and away he was driven off. He advised the two gentleman with the items that he couldn't guarantee the quality of the signatures."

I had the fortune of meeting most of the Mercury 7 astronauts, except obviously Gus Grissom and Alan Shepard (who died in 1998, before I was really into astronauts.)

Deke Slayton was among the first I met, followed by Gordon Cooper, who signed a book I brought for a friend. Walter Schirra was at the same event, but I didn't interact with him.

Scott Carpenter did his book tour, and Glenn was the last one, at the shuttle Discovery transfer at Udvar-Hazy in April 2012.

(And it's scary to think that of the Mercury astronauts I have met, I've met them in the order which they died!)

Friends and I were hanging around before the shuttle Discovery event really started, waiting to see if we could spot any astronauts. Along comes Glenn and his wife in a golf cart. They got out and waited for the elevator.

"Excuse me, Mr. Senator?" I asked, thinking fast. "Could you sign our books for us?"

Always at the ready, I had Glenn's page bookmarked in my copy of "Space Shuttle: The First 20 Years" as well as a Sharpie in my pocket. He said sure, I opened up our books, uncapping the marker. He signed both as ding! the elevator arrived. I thanked him, he got on, and I didn't see him for the rest of the day.

A friend noted, "I remember seeing you get Sen Glenn's autograph at that event. He was so gracious. What a memorable meeting for you."

But boy oh boy were people dismayed that I was able to get Glenn's signature. (I was beyond happy as he was one whose autograph in my book I wanted for a long time, and as I mentioned, I didn't see him the rest of the event.)

Someone also asked to borrow my Sharpie - hey, you want an autograph, you gotta come prepared and bring your own materials!

Footnote: While at Monmouth Museum's Becker Children's Wing I was surprised to see what appears to be 1:1 replica of Friendship 7, Glenn's Mercury capsule.

The museum merely notes, " ... blast off in a Friendship 7 capsule in our Space Exhibition ... " and it appears to be running Windows (no I didn't see whether it was running Windows 7!) However, at the time of my visit it didn't appear as though the simulator was working, given the desktop appearance on the monitor.

Footnote 2: When Glenn's second flight, on STS-95/Discovery was announced, I had in mind that he should have a personal patch.

As a big Star Trek fan at the time, I believe I had based it on the movie Starfleet symbol - that is, the Starfleet delta surrounded by a circle.

I may or may not have the sketch,  but I remember there was a bar from the lowest apex from the delta going right, most likely with the word "Discovery" on it.

And I may or may not have the rejection letter about Glenn declining it. As a result, I don't think I ever gave a color scheme for the proposed patch. Maybe if I run across it in my tote of miscellaneous papers I'll post it here.