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Robert Pearlman

@collectspace.bsky.social

952 followers 46 following 528 posts

editor of collectSPACE.com, on the trail of space history artifacts, missing moon rocks and where space exploration intersects with pop culture

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Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

What a great today at the Lone Star Flight Museum participating in a panel about the new book and documentary "The Barber, The Astronaut, and The Golf Ball"!

My thanks to authors Barbara Radnofsky and Ed Supkis, filmmaker Jonathan Richards and moderator Herb Baker for including me the discussion.

In 1971, Apollo 14 astronaut Alan Shepard returned to Earth after becoming the first golfer on the moon. Exiting quarantine Shepard went to get a haircut, but before he settled into the chair, he gave his longtime barber Carlos Villagomez a golf ball.

Had Shepard brought a spare, third golf ball home from the moon? And did he then give it to his barber as a token of their friendship?

If you like space history mysteries or tales about how astronauts interacted with their community, I highly recommend this book!

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

Spent some time this afternoon at Intuitive Machines learning about their next Nova-C moon lander, "Athena." On schedule to launch in late February, the IM-2 mission payloads include two rovers, a hopper, an ice drill and the first 4G/LTE cellular network demo on the moon.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 23/04/2024

Retro 51 offers Mercury 7 pen to celebrate 40 years of astronaut scholarships: www.collectspace.com/news/news-04...

Retro 51's Mercury 7 Astronaut Tornado rollerball commemorates the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation's 40th anniversary with a look styled after the iconic spacesuits worn by the organization's founders.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 22/04/2024

ESA graduates the 'Hoppers': Europeans, Australian pass astronaut basic training: www.collectspace.com/news/news-04...

ESA's astronaut class of 2022 at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. Katherine Bennell-Pegg of the Australian Space Agency (at left) poses with ESA astronauts Pablo Ãlvarez Fernández, Rosemary Coogan, Sophie Adenot, Marco Sieber and RaphaÃ«l Liégeois in May 2023.

The patch for ESA's 2022 astronaut class, "The Hoppers," features the six astronauts bouncing on hopping toys.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 20/04/2024

Cosmonaut Muhammed Faris, first Syrian in space, dies at 72: www.collectspace.com/news/news-04...

Muhammed Faris, Soyuz TM-3 research cosmonaut, trains for his 1987 spaceflight in a Soyuz spacecraft simulator.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 17/04/2024

Alt-space history series 'For All Mankind' gets 5th season, new 'Star City' spinoff: www.collectspace.com/news/news-04...

Season 5 of "For All Mankind" is expected to pick up in 2012 with the continued activities at the Happy Valley Mars base and efforts to mine an asteroid in orbit around the Red Planet.

A promotional poster for the first season for the alternate space history series "For All Mankind" could now double for the newly-announced spin-off series, "Star City," which will go back to the beginning of the timeline for look at the Soviet side.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 16/04/2024

NASA confirms debris that fell on Florida home came from space station pallet: www.collectspace.com/news/news-04...

Recovered stanchion (at right) compared with a unused unit like the type used to mount International Space Station batteries on a cargo pallet and which fell back to Earth on March 8, 2024.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 15/04/2024

Webb Space Telescope full-size model to be displayed by Space Foundation: www.collectspace.com/news/news-04...

Artist's rendering of Northrop Grumman's full-size model of the James Webb Space Telescope on display at the Space Foundation Discovery Center in Colorado Springs.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 12/04/2024

'Space Shuttle Columbia: The Final Flight' documentary set to conclude on CNN: www.collectspace.com/news/news-04...

CNN is airing "Space Shuttle Columbia: The Final Flight," a four-part documentary about the 2003 tragedy.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 12/04/2024

'Fly Me to the Moon' trailer mixes real-life Apollo history with moon landing hoax: www.collectspace.com/news/news-04...

Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum step into Apollo program history in a scene shot on location at the Kennedy Space Center for the new movie "Fly Me to the Moon."

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 11/04/2024

Japanese astronauts will join NASA moon landings in return for lunar rover: www.collectspace.com/news/news-04...

JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa (left), JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, Japan's Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Masahito Moriyama, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and NASA astronaut Kayla Barron talk by a model of Japan's pressurized lunar rover after the signing of an agreement to advance sustainable exploration of the moon.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 10/04/2024

Soviet-era cosmonaut Vladimir Aksyonov, who flew into space twice, dies at 89: www.collectspace.com/news/news-04...

Cosmonaut Vladimir Aksyonov trains for his first spaceflight, Soyuz 22, in a spacecraft mockup in April 1976.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 09/04/2024

Astronauts' photos capture April 8 solar eclipse from Earth orbit: www.collectspace.com/news/news-04...

The Expedition 71 crew on the International Space Station captured this view of the umbra, or the moon's shadow, cast on Earth during the total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024.

This photograph of the moon partially eclipsing the Sun was taken by NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick using a camera with a solar filter on board the International Space Station while flying off the west coast of Mexico on Monday, April 8, 2024.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 09/04/2024

'Heavy' history: ULA launches final Delta rocket after 64 years: www.collectspace.com/news/news-04...

The last Delta IV Heavy lifts off from Complex 37 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, ending 64 years of Delta launches on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 08/04/2024

Moon rocket money: US Mint releases $1 coin celebrating Saturn V: www.collectspace.com/news/news-04...

The U.S. Mint is launching sales of the 2024 Alabama American Innovation $1 coin celebrating the Apollo Saturn V moon rocket on April 8, 2024.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 05/04/2024

ULA chronicles the rise of Vulcan rocket in new employee-drawn comic book: www.collectspace.com/news/news-04...

Cover art for the first edition, first printing of United Launch Alliance's new comic book, "Ignition! The Origin Story of the Vulcan Centaur Rocket."

United Launch Alliance (ULA) has chronicled the origin story for its heavy-lift rocket, Vulcan-Centaur, in a comic book.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 05/04/2024

In space and on Earth, where astronauts will view the April 8 solar eclipse: www.collectspace.com/news/news-04...

Expedition 70 crew members Jeanette Epps, Tracy Dyson, Michael Barratt, Loral O'Hara and Oleg Kononenko model eclipse glasses ahead of the April 8 total solar eclipse over North America.

More than 30 astronauts will be positioned at locations across the United States and in Canada to help the public understand and enjoy the astronomical sight. Among them, Stephen Bowen (at left) will be at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 01/04/2024

JAXA and Toyota's 'Lunar Cruiser' moon rover is now a Transformers toy: www.collectspace.com/news/news-04...

The "Lunar Cruiser," a pressurized crew moon rover developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Toyota now has an added feature in its Takara Tomy toy format: it can transform into Optimus Prime.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 26/03/2024

'Apollo: When We Went the Moon' exhibit lands at NYC's Intrepid Museum: www.collectspace.com/news/news-03...

The Intrepid Museum's largest temporary exhibition, "Apollo: When We Went to the Moon" is staged under the display of the prototype space shuttle orbit Enterprise.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 25/03/2024

Snoopy leads 'Mission to the MoonPhase' on new Omega x Swatch MoonSwatch: www.collectspace.com/news/news-03...

Snoopy and his pal Woodstock recline on a crescent moon while helping to display the moon's phases on the face of Swatch's new "Mission to MoonPhase" MoonSwatch.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 23/03/2024

Flight attendant becomes first Belarusian woman in space on ISS-bound Soyuz: www.collectspace.com/news/news-03...

Russia's Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft, atop a Soyuz 2.1a rocket, lifts off for the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Saturday, March 23, 2024.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 18/03/2024

Thomas Stafford, NASA astronaut who led Apollo-Soyuz joint mission, dies at 93: www.collectspace.com/news/news-03...

Gemini 9A command pilot Thomas Stafford is photographed during the 1966 mission by pilot Gene Cernan.

Thomas Stafford speaks after receiving the General James E. Hill Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 14/03/2024

SpaceX Starship coasts then crashes on mostly-successful third flight test: www.collectspace.com/news/news-03...

SpaceX's Starship spacecraft is seen during the coast phase of its third test flight on Thursday, March 14, 2024.

A plasma field builds up around SpaceX's Starship as it reenters Earth's atmosphere on its third test flight, Thursday, March 14, 2024.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 13/03/2024

New Lego Technic Mars Crew Exploration Rover is sci-fi but built with NASA's help: www.collectspace.com/news/news-03...

NASA advised designers on the creation of the new Lego Technic Mars Crew Exploration Rover, despite it not being based on a real vehicle or existing space agency concept.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 08/03/2024

Water-themed plaque to fly on Europa Clipper to Jupiter's icy moon: www.collectspace.com/news/news-03...

The engraved art on the outward-facing side of the Europa Clipper vault plate, which will help shield the spacecraft's electronics from radiation, features visual representations of the sound waves formed by the word "water" in 103 languages.

The inner side of the plate mounted on NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft features U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón's handwritten "In Praise of Mystery: A Poem for Europa."

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 06/03/2024

Omega releases white-dial Speedmaster inspired by NASA spacesuits: www.collectspace.com/news/news-03...

The new Moonwatch in white reverses the colorway of the classic Speedmaster dial as a nod to NASA's spacesuits.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 05/03/2024

NASA graduates new astronaut class as it begins recruiting for more: www.collectspace.com/news/news-03...

NASA's newest astronauts take to the stage during their graduation ceremony at Johnson Space Center in Houston on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. L to R: Nora Al Matrooshi (UAE), Chris Birch, Christopher Williams, Andre Douglas, Deniz Burnham, Nichole Ayers, Jack Hathaway, Luke Delaney, Jessica Wittner, Anil Menon, Mohammad Al Mulla (UAE) and Marcos Berríos.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 04/03/2024

Astronauts' mementos packed on Boeing Starliner for crew flight test: www.collectspace.com/news/news-03...

Mission patches, American flags and commemorative medallions are among the mementos launching on Boeing's CST-100 Starliner Crew Flight Test (CFT).

Boeing is flying commemorative medallions on board the CST-100 Starliner "Calypso" for the Crew Flight Test (CFT).

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 04/03/2024

'Family dog' continues five years of zero-g indicators on SpaceX flights: www.collectspace.com/news/news-03...

SpaceX Crew-8's zero-g indicator, a selected by the commander's children, is a small plush version fo the family dog.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 01/03/2024

Rare OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample debuts at Space Center Houston: www.collectspace.com/news/news-03...

A small piece of the asteroid Bennu, which was returned to Earth by NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, debuted on public display at Space Center Houston on Friday, March 1, 2024.

A magnifying glass is incorporated into Space Center Houston's OSIRIS-REx exhibit to aid in viewing the sample.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 01/03/2024

Adam Sandler's 'Spaceman' used NASA artifacts to create sci-fi film's spaceship: www.collectspace.com/news/news-03...

What looks like just another movie prop on the set of "Spaceman" starring Adam Sandler is actually a real NASA artifact.

The "Spaceman" production team used Historic Space Systems' replica shuttle flight deck panels to add a sense of realism to the film's spacecraft cockpit set.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 29/02/2024

Richard Truly, space shuttle astronaut and NASA administrator, dies at 86: www.collectspace.com/news/news-02...

STS-8 commander Richard "Dick" Truly holds a communication kit assembly headset interface unit on the aft flight deck space shuttle Challenger in September 1983.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 29/02/2024

Leftover Apollo flag landed on moon with Intuitive Machines' Odysseus lander: www.collectspace.com/news/news-02...

New images released by Intuitive Machines show the point when its Odysseus lander touched down on the moon carrying in part a U.S. flag left over from Apollo (inset).

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 28/02/2024

Astronaut Scott Kelly on advising Apple's new space thriller 'Constellation': www.collectspace.com/news/news-02...

Record-setting astronaut Scott Kelly (second from left) poses with Noomi Rapace (at center) and other members of the cast and crew of the Apple TV+ psychological thriller "Constellation" on the space station set built for the series in Berlin, Germany.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 27/02/2024

Apollo astronaut's granddaughter opens immersive moonwalk experience in Dallas: www.collectspace.com/news/news-02...

Inside the new immersive experience "The Lunar Light: Discovery," opening in Dallas on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 24/02/2024

China reveals names of new spacecraft to land taikonauts on moon: www.collectspace.com/news/news-02...

China state television graphic promoting the new names for the next-generation crew spacecraft "Mengzhou" (梦舟) and lunar lander "Lanyue" (揽月), which will bring taikonauts to the moon and its surface on scientific exploration missions by 2030.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 23/02/2024

Intuitive Machines' Odysseus achieves first US moon landing since Apollo: www.collectspace.com/news/news-02...

Artist's rendering of Intuitive Machines' Nova-C lander "Odysseus," which landed near the moon's south pole on Thursday (Feb. 22). It was the first U.S. lunar landing since the Apollo program and first commercial mission to reach the lunar surface.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 16/02/2024

NASA's space shuttle and mission control to feature on 2025 US coins: www.collectspace.com/news/news-02...

The Commission of Fine Arts recommended a design showing the space shuttle launching for Florida's 2025 American Innovation $1 coin but wanted a better scene inside Mission Control Houston for Texas' entry in the multi-year program.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 15/02/2024

Lunar lining: Columbia coat tech insulates Intuitive Machines moon lander: www.collectspace.com/news/news-02...

The A2 access panel (at left center) on Intuitive Machines' IM-1 Nova-C lunar lander is covered in Columbia Sportswear's Omni-Heat Infinity technology (at right), insulating the craft's cryogenic propulsion tank.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 15/02/2024

Odysseus' odyssey: Intuitive Machines IM-1 Nova-C lander launches to the moon: www.collectspace.com/news/news-02...

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Intuitive Machines' IM-1 Nova-C lunar lander "Odysseus" launches for the moon from Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center ni Florida, Feb. 15, 2024.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 09/02/2024

Canadian astronaut reveals Indigenous art patch for Artemis II moon mission: www.collectspace.com/news/news-02...

This patch was created for Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen to represent his Artemis II mission to the moon by Anishinaabe artist Henry Guimond.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 06/02/2024

Astronaut Hall of Fame to add shuttle vets David Hilmers and Marsha Ivins in June: www.collectspace.com/news/news-02...

David Hilmers (at left) and Marsha Ivins are the 2024 inductees in the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 06/02/2024

New documentary 'Spacewoman' to share story of shuttle commander Eileen Collins: www.collectspace.com/news/news-02...

Key art for director Hannah Berryman's upcoming documentary "Spacewoman" features astronaut Eileen Collins as photographed by Annie Leibovitz in 1999.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 02/02/2024

Stomp Rocket 'targets' NASA history with new space toy collection: www.collectspace.com/news/news-02...

Stomp Rocket is releasing its first NASA-themed set of flying toys. The Space Collection includes a Saturn V, Space Shuttle Atlantis and the Space Launch System (SLS).

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 31/01/2024

NASA's Artemis I moon capsule to land in renovated Smithsonian gallery in 2026: www.collectspace.com/news/news-01...

Artist's rendering of the new "At Home in Space" gallery, opening at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in 2026. in the rear left is a representation of NASA's Artemis I capsule, which flew to the moon and back in December 2022.

NASA Artemis I spacecraft, now serving as an environmental test article, will go on display in the National Air and Space Museum's "At Home in Space" gallery.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 30/01/2024

Endeavour lifted onto space shuttle stack for California Science Center exhibit: www.collectspace.com/news/news-01...

Aerial view of the retired orbiter Endeavour, covered in shrink wrap, being lowered by crane onto an external tank and twin solid rocket boosters to form a complete space shuttle stack within the work site for the California Science Center's Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center in Los Angeles, Jan. 30, 2024.

A sling and crane hold Endeavour in place as fine adjustments are made to align and attach the winged orbiter to its external tank and solid rocket boosters for display inside the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 26/01/2024

NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter mission ends after 72 flights: www.collectspace.com/news/news-01...

Ingenuity, as imaged by the Perseverance rover on Aug. 2, 2023, a day before the helicopter's 54th flight.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 26/01/2024

NASA honors its fallen astronauts on annual Day of Remembrance: www.collectspace.com/news/news-01...

Family members of the fallen astronauts and officials with The Astronauts Memorial Foundation helped lead a ceremony and wreath laying on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, in observance of NASA's Day of Remembrance at the Space Mirror Memorial at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 25/01/2024

Ohio capitol unveils painting of state's 'Mount Rushmore of astronauts': www.collectspace.com/news/news-01...

"Ohioans in Space" by Bill Hinsch depicts astronauts John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, James Lovell and Judith Resnik, as well as flight director Eugene Kranz as a tribute to the accomplishments by the state's citizens in space travel and exploration.

Robert Pearlman @collectspace.bsky.social · 23/01/2024

Limited edition Oreo Space Dunk cookies liftoff with chance to fly to 'edge of space: www.collectspace.com/news/news-01...

Oreo Space Dunk cookies feature galactic designs, "cosmic creme" and a chance to win a flight into the stratosphere.