Author
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Topic: Apollo CM Forward Heat Shields
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aneedell Member Posts: 66 From: Washington, DC Registered: Mar 2004
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posted 03-02-2004 10:02 AM
I have a question for all of you out there. Are you aware of what became of the forward heatshields jettisoned by the Apollo CMs at 24,000 ft prior to drogue chute deployment. We have the Apollo 17 heatshield in the National Collection (on display at the Kansas Cosmosphere.) There is another that I am trying to collect, but cannot deteremine its actual provenance and history. How many were recovered? Where are they now?
------------------ Allan Needell Space History Division National Air and Space Museum |
documick New Member Posts: From: Registered:
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posted 03-02-2004 11:51 PM
Where did they recover the Apollo 17 forward heat shield? Could the other forward heat shields have hit the water somewhere, and then sank? Or would they have all been recovered? |
aneedell Member Posts: 66 From: Washington, DC Registered: Mar 2004
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posted 03-03-2004 06:13 AM
I have a first hand account of the recovery of the Apollo 15 FHS. (see also, http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a15/a15mr-11.htm) I know Apollo 17's FHS was recovered (it is in the collection) and I have an anecdotal account that it splashed down disturbingly close to a recovery helicopter. I do not have information of the status of the other units, except a report that several were seen at NASA-JSC at one time.------------------ Allan Needell Space History Division National Air and Space Museum [This message has been edited by collectSPACE Admin (edited March 03, 2004).] |
documick New Member Posts: From: Registered:
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posted 03-03-2004 06:10 PM
That's interesting. Would they become Smithsonian property automatically under the agreement with NASA, or because they were jettisoned prior to landing are they not covered by the agreement? |
LT Scott Schneeweis unregistered
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posted 03-04-2004 12:22 AM
Most items that are declared lost at sea (i.e. anything which lands/sinks in international waters outside the territorial seas of a soveriegn nation and is subsequently abandened) is generally considered salvage and becomes the rightful property of the individual/organization that recovers the item. There are exceptions which are covered by international law (generally established via prior precedent) however think this falls into the former catagory (im sure we have some lawyers lurking who can provide a definative answer).R/Scott ------------------ Scott Schneeweis URL: http://www.SPACEAHOLIC.com/ |
LunarRover Member Posts: 95 From: N. California Registered: Nov 2003
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posted 03-04-2004 04:26 AM
A quick request to Allan (Needell)to please contact me off list. The NASA History Office has suggested I contact NASM on a matter not related to your post. I'd be very grateful for your input. Many thanks.Welcome to CollectSpace! Rover kosb |
aneedell Member Posts: 66 From: Washington, DC Registered: Mar 2004
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posted 03-04-2004 06:18 AM
quote: Originally posted by documick: That's interesting. Would they become Smithsonian property automatically under the agreement with NASA, or because they were jettisoned prior to landing are they not covered by the agreement?
The NASA/NASM agreement states NASM has a right of first refusal to acquire artifacts deemed to be of historic sugnificance, once they are declared surplus by NASA and offered for disposition. FHSs recovered by NASA remained NASA property. The A-17 heat shield was transferred to NASM under terms of the agreement. If any were not recovered, it is an issue for NASA as to whether they remain government property. In the case of Liberty Bell 7 NASA maintained that it retained ownership rights and negotiated its disposition with relevant parties. As far as I know, ownership of lost FHSs has not been subject to review or determination. ------------------ Allan Needell Space History Division National Air and Space Museum [This message has been edited by aneedell (edited March 04, 2004).] |