I found this in a special edition section of the Boston Globe from 1969. Caption reads, "President Nixon greets astronauts in the Isolation Van." From left to right, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin Aldrin Jr.
Must be crowded in that bathroom!
-- RL
Here is my postcard that I told oyu guys about. It's pretty cool, in "person."
Aboard the USS Hornet. Though separated by the Mobile Quarantine Facility's window, President Richard M. Nixon and Apollo 11 astronauts, left to right, Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin E. Aldrin share joke following their splashdown on July 24, 1969.
The Smithsonian Magazine notes that NASA acquired four of these units at a cost of $250,000. So call it $83,000 apiece. That's roughly the list price of a new 34' coach today. So much for inflation.
Of course, we don't get four roof a/c units. And it is just barely possible that a few "options" like the sophisticated air filtration units ran up the bill a bit. But we do get wheels!
Mark,
I think the fact that it was a gov'mint purchase had a lot to do with the price. Compare the cost of the first Mercury sub-orbital flight to the $20M that Paul Allen just spent to send a man into space.
Compare the cost of the first Mercury sub-orbital flight to the $20M that Paul Allen just spent to send a man into space.
Actually there is a much more exact parallel. The Rutan Rocket operates in amost exactly the same manner as the X-15 program - even to the altitute acheived. I'm guessing that sucker was more than $20 million even in 1962, counting the B52 mother ship and all.
Actually there is a much more exact parallel. The Rutan Rocket operates in amost exactly the same manner as the X-15 program - even to the altitute acheived. I'm guessing that sucker was more than $20 million even in 1962, counting the B52 mother ship and all.
Mark
Yeah, except the X-15 had three skids, and the Rutan rocket has one skid and two wheels.
Just wanted to confirm the Airstream MQF with external power distribution units and 4 roof-top air conditioners is proudly displayed on main floor of new Udvar-Hazy Center next to Dulles Airport. I was there over Father's Day weekend, and saw the unit next to modules and scale missiles... It is serial #3, the actual unit used for Apollo 11 as loaded onto carrier Hornet. Interior rather spartan, but it worked as intended..
New museum has actual Space SHuttle, Concorde, Boeing 707 serial #1, PLUS a pair of genuine Bowlus Gliders, of Airstream founder fame... There's a Baby Albatros glider on floor, and a larger Albatros record-holder hanging from the ceiling...
John McG
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Condoluminum
In Theory, there's no difference between Theory and Practice, but in Practice, there is usually a difference...
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Lotalabor
Not funny! My postal person is from MARS, and you could be right! 
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