Apollo 11/ Airstream

John · 10-13-2003, 11:39 AM

I'm reading "Carl Sagan~ a life in the cosmos" by William Poundstone and I was wondering if anyone knew if the Airstream trailer that Armstrong, Aldrin & Collins were quarantined in on the USS Hornet, was at the Smithsonian?

**john hd** · 10-13-2003, 11:59 AM

john

is it on display or packed away somewhere?

john

John · 10-13-2003, 01:04 PM

John,

I was wondering if it was at the National Air & Space Museum or does NASA still have it?

I don't remember seeing it there in 93, but then again, I don't remember much from last week

!!!

John · 10-15-2003, 09:37 AM

John,

I found it at the NASM Space Artifacts .

Cool A/S history!

rluhr · 12-21-2003, 10:25 AM

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

**Stefrobrts** · 12-21-2003, 02:52 PM

This one's pretty cool too. That must have been some ride, but nothing compared to the ride they'd just been on. Don't drop it!

Unloading the MQF at Houston

Pahaska · 12-21-2003, 03:57 PM

I designed and built test equipment for the Saturn/Apollo instrument ring at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL. My big contribution was a "coolant heater" used to test the ablative cooler for the electronics in the instrument ring.

I also laid out the instrument rooms and "bossed" the union electricians that installed the racks and panels that you see technicians working with in the old photos.

The instrument ring didn't make it to the moon ... it was jettisoned in space on the way.

I can say that I worked on about 3' of the launch vehicle, though.

WayWard Wind · 12-21-2003, 08:03 PM

John--Just wondering if you knew or perhaps worked with Homer Hickam of "October Sky" fame. We had the pleasure of meeting him & his wife this summer at Coalwood W.V.
Best,

Pahaska · 12-21-2003, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by A.E. Milliman
John--Just wondering if you knew or perhaps worked with Homer Hickam of "October Sky" fame. We had the pleasure of meeting him & his wife this summer at Coalwood W.V.
Best,

Sorry, didn't know him. I worked for IBM, but I was on Redstone Arsenal the majority of the time I was there. Later at the IBM facility.

I did get to touch the actual first stage rocket engines and watch them test fired.

bredlo · 12-21-2003, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pahaska
I did get to touch the actual first stage rocket engines and watch them test fired.

Hopefully not at the same time.

apple 1 · 12-22-2003, 08:57 AM

The Airstream will be on display at the NEW Air and Space Museum hanger at Dulles Airport which opened Dec 15th 03. There will be a space wing which will open sometime soon and will have the trailer as well as the space shuttle prototype.

markdoane · 06-22-2004, 04:45 PM

There is a great picture of the Airstream MQF, and story, in the latest Smithsonian magazine. (july 2004, p 20.)

flamingo-kid1 · 06-22-2004, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rluhr

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

I have a close-up shot of this pic, in postcard form, on my counter at work, next to a framed pic of Luna, my '67 Ambasador. I will scan it and add it to this thread tomorrow.

the ponz · 06-22-2004, 09:00 PM

An airstream trailer used by NASA as a Mobile Quarantine Facility (MQF) was on display at the space camp museum in Huntsville, AL. I saw it there nearly two years ago.