Current and future identifiable shuttle hardware

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Author	Topic: Current and future identifiable shuttle hardware
press4meco Member Posts: 44 From: Renton, WA, USA Registered: Jul 2001	posted 03-31-2015 08:36 PM Now that the space shuttle program is some four years retired, and primarily being a collector of space shuttle program items, I've been wondering as of late what sort of readily identifiable or significant items have been or will one day become available to the collectors from this program? I'm not necessarily talking about the random piece of insulation or random bolt, but items that can clearly be identified as coming from the shuttle program. I'm thinking along the lines of the random thermal tile, the frangible nuts that held down the SRBs... items very distinct in their nature. I only wonder because it's remarkable the amount of substantial early space program hardware and other significant items that has become available to the public over the years.
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 03-31-2015 09:10 PM Based on my own experience, the list includes: thermal protection system tiles main and nose gear tires (or segments thereof) reaction control system (RCS) thruster nozzles early shuttle era RCS thruster covers pre-MEDS (glass cockpit) flight deck instruments pre-MEDS (glass cockpit) flight deck switch panels middeck/SPACEHAB lockers and drawer inserts middeck floor panels orbiter window sections solid rocket booster separation engine nozzles solid rocket booster drogue chutes external tank foam sections hold-down post frangible nuts and bolts The list grows if you include items that are recognizable in engineering photos, such as main engine gimbal bolts, leading edge insulation and RCC segments, solid rocket booster zero-second riser cutters, slag (spent solid rocket booster fuel), and any number of mission-specific equipment examples (e.g. the BBXRT that has been for sale on eBay for years). And then there is astronaut equipment, such as flight suits, EMU components, multi-timers, checklists and more. quote: Originally posted by press4meco: ...it's remarkable the amount of substantial early space program hardware and other significant items that has become available to the public over the years. A good percentage of those items came from the astronauts themselves, which won't be the case with shuttle. Because the space shuttle was reusable and because of additional constraints placed on crew members, the shuttle astronauts do not have the same type of equipment collection as did their Mercury, Gemini and Apollo counterparts.
SpaceAholic Member Posts: 4437 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999	posted 04-01-2015 07:14 AM Perhaps structural components should also be included... like hatch frames?
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 04-01-2015 10:05 AM Indeed, though only perhaps recognizable to space shuttle enthusiasts without explanation. (What Scott is referencing is the door frame to an orbiter's drag chute, which I received from him this week as part of a in-kind barter.)
press4meco Member Posts: 44 From: Renton, WA, USA Registered: Jul 2001	posted 04-01-2015 10:47 PM Thanks for the information, Robert. I thought you might chime in as I thought I recall reading once that you too were shuttle-era focused collector. I figure eBay and the big auction houses (although possibly cost prohibitive) are the key sources for these sorts of items. Any recommendations on any other particular sources to be watchful of? Is NASA still surplusing items or is that mainly complete?
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 04-02-2015 09:23 AM NASA still surpluses property (though most of it is not what anyone would consider to be artifacts) through the General Services Administration (GSA). There is a "NASA Shuttle/Hubble" category on the GSA Auctions site (currently no lots are listed). Otherwise, the auction galleries and space memorabilia dealers are the primary sources, together with eBay (though the latter is hit and miss).

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