Space Shots (trading cards)

Space Shots was a non-sports trading card series produced beginning in 1990 by Space Ventures Inc. of Houston, Texas. Three series of cards were produced from 1990 to 1992, while the last, fourth series (of the intended five) came in two different issues of special 3-D space cards in 1993.[1]

Concept

The card collection was launched in 1990 by Ed White III, son of astronaut Ed White (II), who died in 1967.[2] Space Ventures collected investment capital from several astronauts, including Michael Collins, Eugene Cernan, and Jim Lovell, to fund the project.[1]

History

Pack-inserted entry blanks for a “$150,000 Space Trivia Challenge” enticed both young and adult collectors to read the card backs and answer 25 space flight history questions,[3] with entry blanks being sent by mail to those interested.[4] The first 100 people to submit correct answers to 100 trivia questions posed on the first four series of cards were to receive a $1,500 scholarship.[2][5]

The original promo sheet for the first series featured an uncut card sheet of six different card images and featured the pre-printed signatures of Lovell, Cernan, and Pete Conrad.[6]

The first collectors' edition of 25,000 sets of 110 cards sold out in 10 months.[2]

The promo card for the second 110-card series was an uncut six-card sheet signed by Lovell, Bruce McCandless, and cosmonaut Vladimir Dzhanibekov.[6] The series of 100,000 sets was issued in 1991 and was sold for $18[2] in card shops and by mail.[7]

The promo sheet for the third series, entitled the International Edition, featured a packet of nine cards handsigned by Lovell, Dzhanibekov, and Buzz Aldrin. Most of the astronauts and cosmonauts eventually left the project.[6]

A special edition set, the fourth released, was called "Moon/Mars". This series retailed for $30.[8]

The cards were embraced by the National Education Association.[9]

Controversy

The fifth and final series was never produced. Originally, 25% of every series' profits were designated for the Astronaut Memorial Foundation to build the Center for Space Education at Kennedy Space Center,[9] in exchange for guaranteeing a $160,000 loan. However, the proceeds were never forwarded[10] despite a projected $400,000 being owed to the Foundation.[11] The $150,000 in scholarships for the 100 trivia contest winners was also never awarded.

Some astronauts refuse to sign cards from the Space Shots series.[12][13]

References
  1. "Astronauts refusing to sign SpaceShots cards". CollectSpace. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  2. Minor, Debra. "Demand For Space Cards Soars". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  3. Thomas, Scott. "Non-Fiction in the Cards". Non-Sports Update. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  4. Thomas, Scott. "Spaceflight retrospectives". Trading Card Hobbyist. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  5. Moore, Arden. "Trading Space Astronaut's Son Creates Collection Of Cards Telling Of Orbits And Liftoffs". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  6. "SpaceShots trading cards signed promo sheets". collectSpace. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  7. "For the record". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  8. ""Space Shots" ad". Boys Life: 7. August 1991. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  9. Maschi, Bob (June 1993). "Cardboard Spacecraft". Starlog (191): 35–40.
  10. Clary, Mike (19 August 1991). "As the Space Mirror turns, focus is on funds : Amid structural problems at the Astronauts Memorial, a probe of its financing is launched". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  11. "Auditors tracking Challenger tag funds". Ocala Star-Banner. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  12. "James Lovell Signing – August 2014" (PDF). NovaSpace. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  13. "Gene Cernan Signing – June 2015" (PDF). NovaSpace. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
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