Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 1973)
Page 6 Heppner, Ore., Gazette-Times, Thurs., Dec. 13, W3 Future astronauts In training to be the Wre first kids in space going By ERNIE CERESA Heppner is noted (or many' things . . , vast wheat (arms, cattle ranches, quaint parking meters and salty, rugged individuals. Heppner also has something else-the (irst youngsters in training to become the (irst children launched into space. One of the boys has been in the space program (or the past (ive years; his co-partner has been in training (or three years. They rigidly (ollow approved diet and excercise rules given them by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), study the problems of space travel, and keep in constant communication with NASA officials and particu larly Astronaut Alan L. Bean, one of the group of 14 astronauts chosen by NASA on Oct. 8, 1963. In pursuit of their goal of becoming the first children in space, they have dispatched 35 letters ranging from persons at the Space Administration at Houston, Tex., to President Nixon. Most have responded, (urnishing the boys advice, encouragement and infor mation about the possibilities of one day riding into space. Some encouragement was received from the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena, Washing ton, D.C., when the boys asked for information regarding spaceships now in orbit and for identification of foreign craft aloft. One letter received was from Sen. Sam Ervin Jr., U.S. Committee on Government Operations and chairman of the Senate Committee on the Watergate Investigations. Ervin was impressed enough to write the boys as follows: "This is to acknowledge receipt of your recent letter," Sen Ervin replied, "telling me of your interest and that of your friend in going into outer space and seeking my per mission to do so. While I always like to be as helpful as possible, particularly to young people, I am afraid that the request you make of me is entirely beyond my control. Best wishes for all your future undertakings." Gov. Tom McCall wrote the two: "I appreciate your will ingness to volunteer to be the first children in space, but I don't think the Nation is ready to take that step just now. Please get the best education you can in the next few years, and maybe some day you will be the youngest man ever to go into space. But I'm sure that no children will be blasting off from Cape Ken nedy in the near future." Neither boy shows any discouragement upon receipt of such advice. Their play mates and fellow students scoff at their hopes, yet they continue their contacts with the space agency at Houston and Cape Kennedy. Officials there cooperate with them and encourage them in their plan. To illustrate, the boys have received a detailed checklist of guidelines for space travel. Both are in constant com munication with Astronaut Alan L. Bean. 1 NOTICE 1 8 Wright's Country Store :g : will be closed Sundays g :$ until further notice. $ 8 i Ruggles-Boyce Insurance Agency 2S Main P.O. Box 247 676 9625 If bo ouwr call toy leyct 676-53W Heppnor 11 VI "Is spinach part of the required diet (or an astro naut?" they asked Bean. No, Bean replied, and submitted list o( (oods approved (or space (light diet. He also recommended they eat plenty o( fresh green vegetables and fruit and to abstain from candy and sweet drinks. John W. King, Public Af fairs Officer, Houston Space Center, encourages the boys to keep up their work. He sends them tests once a month. The tests are completed and re turned to King at NASA for evaluation and, hopefully, for future use. The boys' interest in space age began five years ago when ohe of them received a space game (or Christmas. After playing the game until it was almost worn out, he decided to apply to NASA as the first youngster to go into outer space. He telephoned Houston and asked the operator (or the "man in charge." He got him. "If adults can go into space, why can't youngsters start their own training program and prepare themselves as (uture astronauts?" the boys asked the astonished admini strator. "And," the boy con tinued, "isn't it true that youngsters weigh far less than adults, and being smaller, would not require as much room in a spaceship as an adult?" The NASA officer admitted the boy was correct ; and that if he were dedicated to becoming an astronaut, the time to prepare is now. That's how the boys got involved with President Nix on's office, Sen. Ervin, Gov. McCall, Astronaut Bean and the whole parcel of NASA people. Al Bean is their favorite astronaut, because he replies promptly to their letters. They can weather the rigid spaceman diet, exercise and study. What they find exas perating is that their friends and teachers refuse to believe they're in such close contact with the space administration. Recently, they phoned Hous ton and asked the path Pioneer 10 is taking in its orbital path. When they men tioned it to their teachers and friends, they were met with considerable skepticism. "They think we're kind of odd' they confessed. Not wishing to be chided, they keep their telephone calls and correspondence from the eyes of their friends, and dis cuss "space matters" only amog themselves, to avoid ridicule. Well, meet the future as tronauts. They are Donny Lott, 10, and Robert Bier, 9. Donny and Robert expect to get an invitation to Cape Kennedy soon. But eventually, they want to fly in space. They can wait. They are dedicated. Enjoy the Christmas Magic of Lloyd Center Q Christmas Hours: Monday thru Saturday 9:30 to 9:30, Sunday Uto6Q Alpenrose Storybook lane, Santa phones, spectacular decorations, giant tree Q Park under cover They are determined to be the youngest astronauts, and go into the history books that way. Donny Is the ton of Mr. and Mrs. Randy Lott, 464 Morgan St. She confirms Donny'i Going through astronaut training programs are Donny Lott, left, and hit pal, Robert Bier. Donny is holdlag picture of his favorite astronaut, Alan Bean; Robert la holding a photo of Sky-Lab. story that he has called NASA many times, but doubts he got through to any space official. According to Mrs. Lott, Donny has tried to contact Alan Bean by phone, but couldn't because "there are at least 10 Alan Beans listed in the Houston directory." "Donny has a whole drawer full of letters from various astronauts, and as long as he is interested in the space program he's keeping out of mischief!" Mrs. Lott added. Randy Lott, the father, says p j "They're celebrating! It must be somebody's birthday!" I (JAYMES) IjHBTHtBfttL 333 S. MAIN BUSINESS KNOUTON. OMOON machines RMNITUSE typewriters Richard Wellman CALCULATORS CASH REGISTERS ' Manager COfY MACHINES TT ADDING MACHINES BUIieS DICTATING EQUIPMINT Co OwiW In Heppner Every Thursday t Lotfs JElectrltK T V. SERVICE Oaf A ,TN" ItwM TXCTWIC1ANJ VIDEO-TECH, INC. 461 A E. Main St,' Hermiiton r Lfoyd Center Christmas isn't Christmas until you've visited Lloyd Center. Donny "would do anything to be the first youngster in space, even if he died doing It." Robert is the ion of Mr. and Mr. Jim Bier, 375 N. Gale. His (ather says Robert is not the type who would get interested in the space pro- gram without help from Don ny. "I think this is only phase the boys are going through. But sometimes I wonder," he said. Bier is principal of Heppner High School. Mrs. Lorena Jones, the boys' teachers, says the thinks the boys' project ia "just wonderful." 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