STS 70 Solar Shield blanket question. - collectSPACE: Messages

Space News
space history and artifacts articles

Messages
space history discussion forums

Sightings
worldwide astronaut appearances

Resources
selected space history documents

collectSPACE: Messages

Hardware & Flown Items

STS 70 Solar Shield blanket question.

profile | register | preferences | faq | search

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Author	Topic: STS 70 Solar Shield blanket question.
Ed beck Member Posts: 227 From: Florida Registered: Aug 2000	posted 11-30-2002 07:42 PM I see that Robert has one of these as well as I. My paper work also suggests that it could have flown on one or more missions prior to STS 70. But sheads no light as to which ones. Has there been any kind of follow up research done to find out if it is indeed a multiple mission relic? I am thrilled to have it, and if STS 70 was the only mission it flew on, it would in no way be worth any less to me. But, it would be neat to know for sure if it did take any other shuttle flights. Does any one have any information to add on this wonderful piece of history? Ed ------------------ "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalms 19:1 NIV
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 11-30-2002 10:29 PM Unfortunately Ed, there is no further research to be done. NASA's paperwork -- at least those released with the hardware when it was scrubbed -- only indicates the last mission it flew, not its whole history. So unless you are fortunate enough to find hardware with additional paperwork attached (for example, its installation records, which would at least provide a framework for the missions flown) than the best one can say is that the piece last flew on the mission indicated. (And to add to the ambiguity, the paperwork does not actually reference a mission, but is dated and cites the orbiter from which piece was removed. We then must assume that the mission closest to the removal date noted by the orbiter referenced is the flight the hardware last flew.)
Ed beck Member Posts: 227 From: Florida Registered: Aug 2000	posted 12-01-2002 10:22 AM Thanks Robert! You are right the NASA paperwork does not state STS 70, but Ken Havecotte wrote that it was last flown on STS 70. I trust that he was either privy to additional un included information, or there is some kind of NASA code that does state it, where the layman would miss it. Either way, I am sure that Ken is right about the STS 70 designation. Maybe its time to go to the source. Ken, are you out there? Got your ears on good buddy? Is there any indication that this did fly more then once? And if so, where did it go? My thanks in advance. Ed ------------------ "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalms 19:1 NIV
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 12-01-2002 10:29 AM I of course invite Ken's participation (and please Ken, correct me if I am mistaken), but I think you will find Ed, that Ken uses the same method I do -- looking for the date of removal and the orbiter it was removed from and then comparing it to the flight manifest to determine which flight it last flew.
Ed beck Member Posts: 227 From: Florida Registered: Aug 2000	posted 12-01-2002 08:29 PM My appologies Robert! I did not mean to say that I thought you were wrong. It is possible that Ken used the same logic that you used. It is just that he actually stated that it flew on STS 70 in writing. Now this was a gift, and I am certainly not going to sue him. I am a very happy camper who is not trying to stir up any trouble at all. I realize that Collectspace can be a mine field full of hair triggers waiting to go off . I was just curious if he, or anyone else had any new information to add. That's all. If there is any new info, I will gladly recieve it. If not, no harm done at all. Just rattling the branches to see if there is any additional info available. Thanks again Robert for your attention. Ed ------------------ "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalms 19:1 NIV
Ken Havekotte Member Posts: 2913 From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard Registered: Mar 2001	posted 12-09-2002 04:50 PM All of NASA's paperwork involving the removal of used/flown hardware from a Shuttle Orbiter spaceplane never depicts the flight histories, as there is simply no reason to do so. The paperwork referred to, in most instances, was prepared by aerospace engineers and technicians that are working to process the NEXT or upcoming Orbiter of that same name-designation (i.e. Columbia, Discovery, etc.) being readied for launch. There is simply no reason to indicate the flight history of an artifact, unless however, such info. is requested by NASA for use in a public affairs project or a museum display exhibit. While there are many processing forms that NASA and its contractors use on a daily basis--many of which I have little or no personal knowledge of--one of the forms that I am most familiar with (Form 2-151A, that includes many revisions since the 1980/90s), indicates on two areas what the current Shuttle flight and Orbiter Number are. Nos. 4 and 12 of the forms identify the OV-# and STS #, which includes an overall control number of an item(s) being processed.
Ed beck Member Posts: 227 From: Florida Registered: Aug 2000	posted 12-10-2002 06:25 PM Thanks Ken! Ed
Ed beck Member Posts: 227 From: Florida Registered: Aug 2000	posted 12-12-2002 07:44 PM Once again Ken thanks for your responce, And I want to state that this is in no way ment to be critisizm of you in any way shape or form. I appreciate the solar shield blanket that you sent me. I am a little concerned about the information you have given me. So, I am not shooting the messinger!!! But I am currious. I can think of a good reason to track the flight history of any given part on a shuttle. Without that information, how could you possibley be able gauge, and evaluate the performance of the part? For example, I want to evaluate the performance of the solar shield blanket. If I only have the date of install, and I wanted to see how it has held up, wouldn't be nice to note it's flight history on the documentation? If it is worn out, but never spent a single flight in space, something is wrong, but, If it has traveled a documented 10 million miles on one or more space flights, then I have a good clue as to why it is worn out. I would think that this could, and should be that same for any componemt of the shuttle. For the sake of good maintenance if nothing else. What do you think? Ed ------------------ "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalms 19:1 NIV

All times are CT (US)	next newest topic \| next oldest topic
Administrative Options: Close Topic \| Archive/Move \| Delete Topic
	Hop to:

Contact Us | The Source for Space History & Artifacts

Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47a