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Author
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Topic: Availability of NASA space shuttle thermal tiles
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OV3Discovery
Member Posts: 100
From:
Registered: Mar 2015
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posted 03-16-2015 07:36 AM
  
Does anyone know whether NASA gives away the thermal protection system (TPS) tiles from its space shuttles? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-16-2015 07:42 AM
NASA has a program through the General Services Administration (GSA) to offer unflown thermal tiles to museums and educators, if registered with the state as a valid organization. These tiles cannot be given away to individuals for personal use. As a general rule, tiles are restricted from export outside the United States unless approved under a U.S. State Department waiver. |
OV3Discovery
Member Posts: 100
From:
Registered: Mar 2015
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posted 03-16-2015 07:53 AM
Knew there was a catch. I would have so loved to have one as part of my collection. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-16-2015 08:00 AM
Yes, unfortunately, a complete tile (flown or not flown) won't be an option for you, but you might still be able to acquire a fragment of a flown tile embedded in lucite, if that is something that interests you.For example, the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation's 2010 Space Artifact Series included an STS-51D tile fragment that I believe they ship overseas (you'll need to check with them). |
rgarner
Member Posts: 1193
From: Shepperton, United Kingdom
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 03-16-2015 08:51 AM
Though if you fancy something cheaper I'd go for the ones made by Winco on behalf of the Space Store here. |
ramedog
Member Posts: 37
From: Overland Park KS USA
Registered: Feb 2014
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posted 03-17-2015 07:47 AM
You can buy flown tiles that were removed due to a defect. There's a Lunar Legacies auction near the end of the month that has some intact (with damage) items. I don't know what your budget looks like, but they tend to be rather steep. |
OV3Discovery
Member Posts: 100
From:
Registered: Mar 2015
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posted 03-17-2015 07:57 AM
I don't really mind, even the smallest tile. It would great to have if it is at a reasonable price. I am huge fan of the shuttle. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-17-2015 09:03 AM
Just to reiterate, the same (and more) restrictions apply.Tiles removed from the space shuttle (such as those being offered by Lunar Legacies) need to have first passed through NASA's property disposal process to be legally owned, and then can only be in the possession (or sold to) U.S. citizens within the country. |
OV3Discovery
Member Posts: 100
From:
Registered: Mar 2015
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posted 03-17-2015 09:12 AM
Do the museums actually own the shuttles, or does NASA still have ownership of the orbiters?
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-17-2015 09:20 AM
Orbiters Enterprise and Endeavour are now the property of their respective museums. Discovery and Atlantis remain federal property; the earlier as part of the national collection curated by the Smithsonian and the latter as NASA property. |
MrSpace86
Member Posts: 1618
From: Gardner, KS, USA
Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 03-17-2015 01:36 PM
I thought they were all owned by their museums. Is there a reason why two are owned and two are not? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-17-2015 01:44 PM
The Smithsonian is administered by the United States government, so while Discovery is no longer in NASA's control, it remains in federal property as part of the national collection.As for Atlantis, its home is the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, which is owned and managed by NASA. The visitor complex is operated by Delaware North under a contract with the space agency, but with the exception of concessions, it does not own the facility. |
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