Brush With Space Pioneers

Marian Monta fondly recalls her days as a teacher at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. In the early 1960s, the base was home to the first U.S. astronauts and Monta was always running into the space pioneers and their children.

"One time," Monta says, "we were putting on a production at the base school. I asked Scott Carpenter if we could borrow some astronaut helmets and he said of course, but someone got upset and we couldn't do it. So the kids ended up using shower caps instead."

Carpenter was among the "Mercury Seven" -- the original group of astronauts selected by NASA in 1959 to begin the nation's exploration of space. The astronauts' children attended the base school, and Monta recalls Carpenter was an active parent. "All the parents were involved in their kids' education," Monta recalls.

Monta often purchased books for her class. One book -- "The Astronauts: The Story of Project Mercury" by Martin Caidin (New York: E.P. Dutton & Co. Inc., 1960) -- was particularly relevant to the kids in her class. "I gave it to Scott Carpenter at a PTA meeting and said, 'Can you get the other guys to sign it?' and he said sure."

Several days later, Carpenter's son returned the book to Monta, signed by his dad and fellow astronauts Alan Shepard Jr., Virgil "Gus" Grissom, John Glenn Jr., Walter "Wally" Schirra Jr., Leroy Gordon Cooper Jr., and Donald "Deke" Slayton. "They were friendly men, always promoting space exploration," Monta says. "They were incredible ambassadors for the program."

Monta, now retired and living in South Texas, has kept the book in her personal library ever since. "I saved it for my daughter to read, and I've loaned it to family and to kids in my classes over the years."

Now, Monta has decided to sell the book. It is scheduled to be auctioned by Dallas-based Heritage Auctions (HA.com/Space) on April 21, 2010. It's expected to fetch up to $8,000.

"I just felt it was time to put it in the hands of someone to whom it would mean a great deal," Monta says about her decision. "I want it to have a good home."

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Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com

Tags: Astronauts

, John Glenn

, Buzz Aldrin

, Heritage Auctions

, Langley Air Force Base

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