George D. Nelson Autographs, Memorabilia & Collectibles
GEORGE D. NELSON
Born: July 13, 1950 in Charles City, Iowa
George D. (nickname Pinky) Nelson (Ph.D.)
NASA Astronaut (Former)
PERSONAL DATA: Born July 13, 1950, in Charles City, Iowa. Considers Willmar, Minnesota, to be his hometown. His wife Susie is from Alhambra, California. They have two daughters. Pinky enjoys playing golf, reading, swimming, running, and music.
EDUCATION: Graduated from Willmar Senior High School, Willmar, Minnesota, in 1968; received a bachelor of science degree in Physics from Harvey Mudd College in 1972 and a master of science and a doctorate in Astronomy from the University of Washington in 1974 and 1978, respectively.
SPECIAL HONORS: NASA Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal, NASA Exceptional Service Medal, 3 NASA Space Flight Medals, AIAA Haley Space Flight Award, Federation Aeronautique Internationale's V. M. Komarov Diploma.
EXPERIENCE: Dr. Nelson performed astronomical research at the Sacramento Peak Solar Observatory, Sunspot, New Mexico; the Astronomical Institute at Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands, and the University of Gottingen Observatory, Gottingen, West Germany, and at the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics in Boulder, Colorado.
NASA EXPERIENCE: Dr. Nelson was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in January 1978. He flew as a scientific equipment operator in the WB 57-F earth resources aircraft; served as the Astronaut Office representative in the Space Shuttle Extravehicular Mobility Unit (space suit) development effort. During STS-1 he was the photographer in the prime chase plane. He also served as support crewman and CAPCOM for the last two OFT flights, STS-3 and STS-4, and as head of the Astronaut Office Mission Development Group. A verteran of three space flights, Dr. Nelson served aboard STS-41C in 1984, STS-61C in 1986 and STS-26 in 1988. He has logged a total of 411 hours in space, including 10 hours of EVA flight time.
SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: STS-41C Challenger (April 6-13, 1984) was a seven day mission during which the crew successfully deployed the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF); retrieved the ailing Solar Maximum Satellite, repaired it on-board the Orbiter, and replaced it in orbit. The mission also included flight testing of Manned Maneuvering Units (MMUs) in two extravehicular activities (EVAs), and operation of the Cinema 360 and IMAX Camera Systems.
STS-61C Columbia (January 12-18, 1986) launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and returned to a night landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California. During the six day flight the crew deployed the SATCOM KU satellite, and conducted experiments in astrophysics and materials processing.
STS-26 Discovery (September 29 to October 3, 1988) was the first mission flown after the Challenger accident. During the four day flight, the crew successfully deployed the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-C), and operated eleven mid- deck science experiments.
NASA Astronaut (Former)
PERSONAL DATA: Born July 13, 1950, in Charles City, Iowa. Considers Willmar, Minnesota, to be his hometown. His wife Susie is from Alhambra, California. They have two daughters. Pinky enjoys playing golf, reading, swimming, running, and music.
EDUCATION: Graduated from Willmar Senior High School, Willmar, Minnesota, in 1968; received a bachelor of science degree in Physics from Harvey Mudd College in 1972 and a master of science and a doctorate in Astronomy from the University of Washington in 1974 and 1978, respectively.
SPECIAL HONORS: NASA Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal, NASA Exceptional Service Medal, 3 NASA Space Flight Medals, AIAA Haley Space Flight Award, Federation Aeronautique Internationale's V. M. Komarov Diploma.
EXPERIENCE: Dr. Nelson performed astronomical research at the Sacramento Peak Solar Observatory, Sunspot, New Mexico; the Astronomical Institute at Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands, and the University of Gottingen Observatory, Gottingen, West Germany, and at the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics in Boulder, Colorado.
NASA EXPERIENCE: Dr. Nelson was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in January 1978. He flew as a scientific equipment operator in the WB 57-F earth resources aircraft; served as the Astronaut Office representative in the Space Shuttle Extravehicular Mobility Unit (space suit) development effort. During STS-1 he was the photographer in the prime chase plane. He also served as support crewman and CAPCOM for the last two OFT flights, STS-3 and STS-4, and as head of the Astronaut Office Mission Development Group. A verteran of three space flights, Dr. Nelson served aboard STS-41C in 1984, STS-61C in 1986 and STS-26 in 1988. He has logged a total of 411 hours in space, including 10 hours of EVA flight time.
SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: STS-41C Challenger (April 6-13, 1984) was a seven day mission during which the crew successfully deployed the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF); retrieved the ailing Solar Maximum Satellite, repaired it on-board the Orbiter, and replaced it in orbit. The mission also included flight testing of Manned Maneuvering Units (MMUs) in two extravehicular activities (EVAs), and operation of the Cinema 360 and IMAX Camera Systems.
STS-61C Columbia (January 12-18, 1986) launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and returned to a night landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California. During the six day flight the crew deployed the SATCOM KU satellite, and conducted experiments in astrophysics and materials processing.
STS-26 Discovery (September 29 to October 3, 1988) was the first mission flown after the Challenger accident. During the four day flight, the crew successfully deployed the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-C), and operated eleven mid- deck science experiments.
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GEORGE D. NELSON Signature in blue ink on an envelope Envelope signed: "George D. Nelson/Shuttle Astronaut", 6½x3½. George D. "Pinky" Nelson (b. 1950), an astronomer with a PhD from the University read more...
Sale Price $81.00
$90.00
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GEORGE D. NELSON Signature in black ink on an envelope Envelope signed: "George D. Nelson " in black ink, 6½x3½. George D. "Pinky" Nelson (b. 1950), an astronomer with a PhD from the read more...
Sale Price $72.00
$80.00
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GEORGE D. NELSON The First Day Cover celebrating the Viking I and its Mars mission is signed by the NASA astronaut First Day Cover Signed: "George D. Nelson". 6½x3¾. Postmarked July 20, 1978. Honors the Viking I mission to Mars. read more...
Sale Price $126.00
$140.00
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GEORGE D. NELSON The First Day Cover celebrating the Viking I and its Mars mission is signed by the NASA astronaut First Day Cover Signed: "George D. Nelson". 6½x3¾. Postmarked July 20, 1978. Honors the Viking I mission to Mars. read more...
Sale Price $126.00
$140.00
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GEORGE D. NELSON Official NASA photo of the astronaut shown smiling Printed Photograph inscribed and signed: "To Brian Sutherland -/ George Nelson". Color, 8x10. George Driver "Pinky" Nelson (b. 1950) earned a Ph.D. in astronomy before becoming a NASA astronaut. read more...
Sale Price $378.00
$420.00
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GEORGE D. NELSON Official NASA photo signed with his nickname, "Pinky Nelson" Photograph inscribed and signed: "To J. C. Youngblood/with my best wishes/Pinky Nelson". Color, 8x10. George Driver "Pinky" Nelson (b. 1950) earned a Ph.D. in astronomy before becoming a NASA astronaut. read more...
Sale Price $252.00
$280.00
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GEORGE D. NELSON This color photograph of the boyish-looking NASA astronaut is signed by him Printed Photograph Signed in Ink: "George D. Nelson". Color, 8x10. George Driver "Pinky" Nelson (b. 1950) earned a Ph.D. in astronomy before becoming a NASA astronaut. read more...
Sale Price $252.00
$280.00
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SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA (61-C) CREW: ROBERT L. GIBSON, CHARLES F. BOLDEN, JR., FRANKLIN R. CHANG-DIAZ, STEVEN A. HAWLEY, GEORGE D. NELSON, ROBERT J. CENKER and BILL NELSON The Space Shuttle Columbia (61-C) Crew signs a philatelic envelope for the Columnia OV102 mission. Philatelic Envelope signed: "Robert L. read more...
Sale Price $450.00
$500.00
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COLUMBIA STS-61C. Philatelic Envelope signed: Commander "Robert L. Gibson", Pilot "C F Bolden Jr", Mission Specialists "George Nelson", "Steven A. read more...
Sale Price $414.00
$460.00
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COLUMBIA: 1986. Photograph signed: "Charlie Bolden Jr.", "Pinky Nelson", "Steven A. Hawley", "Robert L. Gibson" and "Franklin N. Chang-Diaz". Color, 8x10. Official NASA photo, caption on verso. Inscribed in another hand at top: "To Joseph/Best Wishes from 61-C". read more...
Sale Price $510.00
$600.00
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SPACE SHUTTLE CHALLENGER: STS-41C MISSION Commemorative Envelope signed by all five crew members: Crippen, Scobee, Nelson, van Hoften and Hart Commemorative Envelope signed: "Bob Crippen", "Dick Scobee", "Terry J Hart", "Ox van Hoften", "George Nelson", 6½x3½. read more...
Sale Price $405.00
$450.00
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Commemorative envelope signed by all four surviving crew members: Crippen, Nelson, van Hoften and Hart. An odd collector's item, postmarked where and when the mission was scheduled to land read more...
Sale Price $405.00
$450.00
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SPACE SHUTTLE CHALLENGER STS-41C CREW The crew that launched the Long Duration Exposure facility and repaired the Solar Maximum Mission satellite signs a commemorative envelope Commemorative Envelope Signed: "Dick Scobee", "Bob Crippen", "G.D. read more...
Sale Price $405.00
$450.00
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Commemorative envelope from the "Return to Flight" mission, the first flight since the Challenger disaster. The 5 crewmembers, all space veterans, have signed: Hauck, Covey, Lounge, Nelson and Hilmers read more...
Sale Price $270.00
$300.00