Remembering Georgy Grechko (1931-2017)

Cosmonaut Georgy Grechko and the author, March 1993.

This one in particular saddens me.

Grechko was the first cosmonaut I met - and I had the fortune of meeting him twice.

Back in 1990, ICon was doing a series of science and science-fiction conventions at what was then known as SUNY-Stonybrook. That year, Deke Slayton (which is another story) and Grechko were there.

I didn't know how to get photos, so I did the next best thing. I found a copy of the "Almanac of Soviet Manned Space Flight" (which I still have!) and waited in line for Grechko's signature.

When Grechko saw the book, he exclaimed, "Soyuz!" as he saw the line drawing of his spacecraft. He excitedly thumbed through it, and I asked whether or not he wanted a copy. His handler replied the best thing would be to send Grechko one through his address, not through the embassy. Grechko took out his business card, signed that (and I still have it, too!); and I did send him a copy of the almanac.

Second time was at Ocean County College in New Jersey. I was heavily into Star Trek at time, and wrote articles for an international Trek news magazine.

Knowing Grechko was a spacecraft designer, I presented him a copy of the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" technical manual. A photo of that made the local paper (and yes, that is my Starfleet Press Corps badge I'm wearing.)

I never got him to sign that picture, unfortunately, not wanting to lose the only copy I had (I since located the first-generation print), despite a friend taking it to two Association of Space Explorers meetings.

Damn. Despite meeting him only briefly, and many years since those encounters, I will miss him.