Posts: 42982 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-19-2010 10:20 AM
TIME magazine video
Neil deGrasse Tyson Opens A Rocket In His Office
In 2008, TIME went to interview Neil deGrasse Tyson and noticed a huge crate had been delivered to his office. He was then kind enough to open it on-camera.
The back story of this gift is that Neil was adamant that ABC News include the Saturn V Rocket on its list of The 7 Wonders of America. The folks at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama were so grateful, they sent Neil a replica.
randyc Member
Posts: 779 From: Chandler, AZ USA Registered: May 2003
posted 07-19-2010 10:51 AM
UN-FREAKIN'-BELIEVABLE!
Even the model shop at the Marshall Space Flight Center can't get the correct paint configuration!!
Philip Member
Posts: 5952 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Jan 2001
posted 07-19-2010 10:56 AM
Is that a 1/100th (1/144th) scale? Where are these available?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42982 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-19-2010 11:05 AM
quote:Originally posted by randyc: Even the model shop at the Marshall Space Flight Center can't get the correct paint configuration!!
Unless the model shop was recreating the configuration of the rocket on display at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, where ABC's Good Morning America filmed its '7 Wonders of America' segment...
quote:Originally posted by Philip: Where are these available?
As noted, this was made by Marshall Space Flight Center, which means it is/was not for public sale.
Jay Chladek Member
Posts: 2272 From: Bellevue, NE, USA Registered: Aug 2007
posted 07-19-2010 11:32 AM
quote:Originally posted by randyc: Even the model shop at the Marshall Space Flight Center can't get the correct paint configuration!!
Looks accurate to me for Saturn 500-F, which as Robert pointed out is essentially the vehicle that Alabama has. Granted it isn't accurate for a flight vehicle, but 500-F was stacked at KSC with that paint job for checkout of the VAB and the pad. Even Apollo 4's stages had some of the 500-F type paint scheme before they were repainted in spots due to potential thermal control issues.
Of course, if Neil wants to send it to me, I'll be happy to make it look like a flight article, complete with all the proper trim markings.
As for scale, if it is about 1/100, then the 4D Vision cutaway will be close to that scale if you want something pre-built. The Revell of Germany 1/96 Saturn V kit would also be close enough to that size. Even Estes is reissuing their 1/100 Saturn V flying model rocket kit as well.
posted 07-19-2010 01:23 PM
Good on him. A nicely animated love of spaceflight.
Just stop calling the moon "a world".
ringo67 Member
Posts: 179 From: Seekonk, Mass., USA Registered: May 2003
posted 07-19-2010 01:31 PM
You gotta love his enthusiasm for space flight.
If he would only run for president...
KSCartist Member
Posts: 2896 From: Titusville, FL USA Registered: Feb 2005
posted 07-19-2010 01:42 PM
He doesn't have to run for President but it sure would be nice if he was the President's Science Advisor.
tegwilym Member
Posts: 2331 From: Sturgeon Bay, WI Registered: Jan 2000
posted 07-19-2010 02:47 PM
Hey, that is what I do when I get a box with a new rocket!
My latest (Lego Space shuttle) will be a little while though since I have about 1,600 pieces to assemble first.
MarylandSpace Member
Posts: 1336 From: Registered: Aug 2002
posted 07-19-2010 03:25 PM
Wouldn't the scale be more like 1:50 or 1:60 as the Saturn V is 363' tall?
Side Saturn question: Did we use Saturn V to launch Apollo Soyuz and the Apollo Skylab missions?
Jay Chladek Member
Posts: 2272 From: Bellevue, NE, USA Registered: Aug 2007
posted 07-19-2010 03:31 PM
quote:Originally posted by MarylandSpace: Side Saturn question: Did we use Saturn V to launch Apollo Soyuz and the Apollo Skylab missions?
Saturn V was used to launch the Skylab workshop itself (built from the S-IVB rocket stage). But the Saturn 1B was used to loft the Apollo ships for both Skylab and ASTP (same booster from Apollo 7).
For Apollo 9's Earth orbit flight, a Saturn V was needed to loft both an Apollo CSM and a LM since a Saturn 1B could loft one or the other, but not both into Earth orbit. But, ASTP's docking adaptor didn't weigh as much as a fully fueled LM, so the booster could handle the weight of it and the CSM just fine.
Scale of the model might be 1/72 as it looks a little bigger then 1/100. Nice to see Neil is a geek like the rest of us because honestly, who doesn't play with their rocket models once in awhile (especially when they get uncrated)?
posted 07-19-2010 10:20 AM
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