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Author
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Topic: Apollo 11 flown patch to fly with crew to Mars
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-20-2014 05:01 AM
   
collectSPACE Apollo 11 patch flown on 1st moon landing to launch with astronauts to MarsWhen American astronauts make the next "giant leap" by launching to Mars, they will bring with them a memento from the first moon landing 45 years ago today (July 20). NASA on Monday will present the Kennedy Space Center in Florida with a mission patch that Apollo 11 crew mates Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins carried to the moon in 1969, collectSPACE has learned. The patch will be held at the spaceport until the first crew is ready to lift off for the Red Planet on a mission NASA plans for the 2030s.  |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-20-2014 06:20 AM
By launch time Neil's signature will be completely faded. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-20-2014 10:04 AM
My understanding is that Kennedy Space Center plans to limit the display of the piece in favor of keeping it out of direct light in an attempt to extend the life of the autographs.That said, even if the signatures fade beyond recognition, the Apollo 11 crew will be well represented by the patch aboard first Mars mission, mimicking the flight of the Wright Flyer cloth and wood on the first moon landing. |
mode1charlie
Member Posts: 1169
From: Honolulu, HI
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 07-20-2014 04:34 PM
Speaking of which, where are those Wright Flyer artifacts now? With NASA, or the Smithsonian? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-20-2014 05:55 PM
A portion of the Flyer artifacts were donated to the Smithsonian and a portion were returned to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, which was their original source. |
p51
Member Posts: 1642
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 07-20-2014 06:54 PM
Considering all the flown non-mission-essential stuff each Apollo mission carried, can you imagine how much 'stuff' not related to the mission would go on the first trip to Mars? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-20-2014 08:36 PM
Time will tell, but the constraints put on the trip out to Mars may be more restrictive than Apollo. Going to the moon required a relatively small pantry of supplies. The sheer distance to Mars may necessitate that every bit of available volume be taken up by food and spare parts. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 07-20-2014 09:37 PM
I'm sure the first Mars crew will say, "Aw shucks, the Smithsonian can keep it," but does the inscription convey any kind of ownership to the first Mars crew - and if so, to who? The commander? Pilot? Rest of the crew? |
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