COLONEL BUZZ ALDRIN - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 03/18/1990 - HFSID 217580

BUZZ ALDRIN
The second man on the Moon invites a film producer to a shuttle launch.
Important TLS: "Buzz", 1½p, 7¼x10¾. Laguna Beach, California, 1990 March 18. To Producer David Geffen (now with Dreamworks), The Geffen Company, Los Angeles. In full: "On Thursday, April 12th, 1990, we will witness the launch of an extraordinary American space mission, possibly the most significant such mission since Neil Armstrong and I became the first humans to walk on the moon. On that day, the space shuttle Discovery will carry the Hubble Space Telescope into space. This $2.0 billion telescope and astronomical laboratory will explore the origin and limits of the universe itself. I am writing to ask you to join me at the launch of the space shuttle Discovery at Cape Canaveral on April 12th, and thus to lend your support to our new conquests of space. This is an exciting time, one that marks the dawn of a new era in our space program and will unravel many of the mysteries of our universe. It will enable us to return to the moon, explore Mars and peek at the outer reaches of our galaxy. And we will do so with greater insight and understanding than we have had at any time since the beginning of our space program. The Hubble Space Telescope will so revolutionize our understanding of space and the universe that all of our textbooks and theories may soon be rewritten. I believe deeply in further manned exploration of space - for both scientific and commercial purposes. This new effort needs the support and encouragement of people not previously associated with the space program and on a scale not previously envisaged: visionaries, educators, businessmen and others, who share my strong belief that the continued manned exploration of space is necessary and vital. A new coalition of support needs to be developed and I'd like you to become part of this effort. Please take a look at the materials I have enclosed. If you can join us on April 12th for the launch of the Discovery and Hubble Space Telescope, or if you wish further information, please contact my representative, Larry Weinberg, in Los Angeles .... I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at the Cape." On April 25, 1990, the Space Shuttle Discovery STS-31, with five veteran shuttle astronauts aboard, successfully launched the Hubble Space Telescope. The still orbiting reflecting telescope has sent a wealth of information from space to astronomers on Earth via radio waves. Ink note, "Passed/3/28/90", at upper right corner of first page. The name and telephone number of Aldrin's representative are circled in red ink (unknown hand). Lightly creased. ¼-inch stray red ink mark at lower right blank corner. Staple holes at upper left blank area. Overall, fine condition.