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FGIO Geocoin


crake

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On Feb 7 an Astrolabe geocoin was launched into orbit and traveled over 200 orbits for 5 million miles. In celebration of this event I've created a special Astrolabe which will be made available in May. I have a few die tweaks to make, including some additional texture in the background on the front, but in the meantime, here are some pretty pictures :)

 

FGIO_Preview.jpg

 

2", Antiqued Silver, Bronze, and Copper

Trackable (of course)

More details to follow soon...

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The way Groundspeak handled the whole situation and even locked the coin, I wouldn't buy any coin supporting that event that gives money to Groundspeak. Just my opinion ;)

 

Do we have any proof like a picture, NASA acknowledgement or anything that this coin went up in the space shuttle?

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The way Groundspeak handled the whole situation and even locked the coin, I wouldn't buy any coin supporting that event that gives money to Groundspeak. Just my opinion ;)

That's cool.

Do we have any proof like a picture, NASA acknowledgement or anything that this coin went up in the space shuttle?

 

We probably won't get an official NASA statement, but I will try to get a statement from Dr. Love and, hopefully, a photo of him with the coin that went up.

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Hello!

 

Perhaps I can add a bit of information. Last week, I received the orbited coin, and it came with a certificate, signed by Dr. Stan Love that reads as follows:

 

Certificate of Authenticity

STS-122

 

This Astrolabe geocoin was flown for Nate Grumby aboard the United States Space Shuttle Atlantis during a mission to the International Space Station in February, 2008. STS-122 installed the European-built Columbus laboratory module onto the International Space Station.

Launch:2:45 pm EST, February 7, 2008 Pad39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida

Altitude:213 miles

Speed:17660 Maximum Miles Per HOur

Landing:09:07 am EST, February 20, 2008 Runway 15, Kennedy Space Center, Florida

Distance:5,296,892 miles

Flight Duration:12 days, 18 hours, 22 minutes

Signed: Dr Stan Love, Mission Specialist 4

 

It was labeled and archived as item #10 in his personal locker for STS-122. Somewhere in the bowels of NASA, where they keep a record of EVERYTHING, and I mean EVERYTHING, it is listed as part of the manifest for STS-122. I would love to get a copy of that document, just to see what else has been flown in past missions, but that is probably worth an entire book.

 

I can probably get the document scanned and posted. As for pictures, there were evidentally 4 amatuer/semi-pro photogaphers amongst the mission specialists, and they shot lots and lots of pictures and high-def video. One of Stan's tasks is to go through the stuff and help get presentations ready for lectures and other events.

 

He's a bit busy. I will check to see if he has gotten to the shots of him and the coin (on the ground, unfortunately) and will upload them as soon as I receive them.

 

The coin itself, once the mission was done, was unlocked. I think Groundspeak really REALLY blew it, as there are only a few missions left for the shuttle, but I guess that is their option. Stan has been offered a 6 month mission on the ISS, but his wife, who hasn't really seen him for a year, shot that one down. He has been recommended for some of the last missions, and he is an EVA specialist, but there are a lot of rookies who haven't flown, and only 9 or 10 missions left. If he goes again, there may be a last opportunity, but don't hold your breaths.

 

I am going to get the coin that flew mounted in a display box as soon as the photos catch up, and then take the coin to events. Once I'm done, I'll post a note and anyone who finds themselves in the Matanuska Valley up in Alaska can drop by and log it.

 

I am personally going to purchase several of these FGIO coins and get them into the hands of the STS-122 crew. This is a perfect end to what has been years of worry for me, him , our families, etc. I cannot thank CRAKE productions enough.

 

Nate Grumby

 

(BTW, the certificate doesn't actually say 'Nate Grumby' but my own name...forgot to mention that)

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Nate,

 

Thats cool you got a certificate :mad: I bet the coin is buried on that manifest but it still would be neat to see it on there and have a copy.

 

It's to bad GS acted as they did. I'm sure there was a better way to handle it but then again they probably haven't face a situation as this before. As you said, the shuttle program is almost over and a coin may never make it up again(in a shuttle).

 

Hope you get a picture or two as well.

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I was so dadgum frustrated. Oh well, water under the bridge and all. But next time, if there is a next time, I might engineer a web site to tie in to a coin or something. I don't know. I thought I had several excellent suggestions and various Web sites to see the ISS and the shuttle as it flew, and I was more than willing to do the extra work myself, but its their rules. Having worked within a giant organization with various degrees of management, I was simply tired of seeing the big fish/small pond syndrome again. Our brains are for more than keeping our ears apart, after all...

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