Space Related Riverfront Investment Property by KSC

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Author	Topic: Space Related Riverfront Investment Property by KSC
capejeffs New Member Posts: From: Registered:	posted 01-24-2005 12:14 PM Some of the small observatory posts for rockets, which have appeared in some movies, are still around (a more commonly seen one is in Cocoa Beach, south of the popular Ron Jon's area at the end of Ocean Beach Blvd). One has been for sale, an apx. $3 million contract is pending but they are taking back-ups. The observatory is dilapidated. But a space fan/investor might find this a good property in the fast growing Kennedy Space Center area, or to build on as a nice sunshine state winter residence. Split zoning for residential & business, 7 acres with riverfront. Address, 4910 N Cocoa Blvd, 32927. Just 3 miles N. of the "Bee Line" expressway (between Orlando/Cocoa Beach), and just a straight 8 miles south on US 1 from Tico (Space Ctr. Executive) Airport. Through TROPICAL REALTY & INVESTMENTS, 453-4881, agent S. Carla Jones. A little south, but maybe a great site for SWOF museum too!! I'm not related to the realtors, just hope to see the property in the hands of a space enthusiast. This was one of Charlie Bell's properties -- a name that some might recognize. Apparently two of Charlie Bells SATURN ROCKET ENGINES are still avail. in the deal as well. http://tinyurl.com/6zqc7 Map Link - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pleiades cometstreams ."..consider the heavens..". Click page's beautiful image to enlarge: http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/ataglance/article_110_1.asp -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [This message has been edited by capejeffs (edited January 24, 2005).]
Matt T Member Posts: 1368 From: Chester, Cheshire, UK Registered: May 2001	posted 01-24-2005 12:24 PM Hi Jeff, Do you know if any remaining smaller items from Charlie Bell's collection might be surfacing through the same channel? Cheers. Matt ------------------ www.spaceracemuseum.com
capejeffs New Member Posts: From: Registered:	posted 01-24-2005 12:52 PM No, Matt, sure don't. You know, this property's been for sale a couple weeks. We go by it on the way to church, but it didn't seem clear if the tracking station was part of the deal, and I actually thought the station was still government property. Was meaning to call about it, a crying shame I didn't get it to collectSPACE folks earlier. So did you know much about Charlie Bell? What a great, uh, "character" he must've been!! I couldn't believe that incredible, unusual rocket he had just lying right there by Courtenay Hwy. in his space "junkyard"! BUT MATT, THE REALTORS DO NOT HAVE, and I repeat, THE REALTORS DO NOT HAVE space collecting info, they just threw in the detail that they know someone tied to the ownership of this property has ONLY the Saturn engines left. Oh, and Matt, did you get much of this blizzardy storm that november25-Brenda was mentioning? "Cheers" to you too! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pleiades cometstreams ."..consider the heavens..". Click page's beautiful image to enlarge: http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/ataglance/article_110_1.asp -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [This message has been edited by capejeffs (edited January 24, 2005).]
star61 Member Posts: 294 From: Bristol UK Registered: Jan 2005	posted 01-24-2005 01:53 PM capejeffs Lucky man living where you do... Just a quick question. Is that "Space junkyard" the same one that had a SRB test article outside back in 1988? A couple of friends and me were driving by when we saw it. We stopped, but could`nt get in. Looking through the fence we could see a lot of old rocket motors and what looked like the frame of a mockup LM. I have some photos i could scan to you if it would help. Thanks Phil Galbraith
capejeffs New Member Posts: From: Registered:	posted 01-24-2005 02:48 PM Oh wow, I can't imagine him having an SRB! Indredible. And LM frame?! Heh, you had to stop & look in the fence, so did I. This "space junkyard" was across from what is now, in the 90's, a business called Spaceshirts. Philip, why not put the pics right on here for others, too. I do recall posts long ago about ol' Charlie Bell! (Robert might possibly be able to help post them, if he's not extra busy). If not, definitely send em to my email! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pleiades cometstreams ."..consider the heavens..". Click page's beautiful image to enlarge: http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/ataglance/article_110_1.asp --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ben Member Posts: 1896 From: Cape Canaveral, FL Registered: May 2000	posted 01-24-2005 03:41 PM I'm a little confused by your posting. The observatory you refer to is the Cocoa Beach DOAMS tracker. And it is still in use rightup through Deep Impact on every launch. In fact I believe the scope was recently upgraded.
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 01-24-2005 04:02 PM I was contacted by a member of Bell's family late last year. Per my understanding, most of the remaining items are large (think Atlas Booster-large). I will post more information when available/appropriate.
capejeffs New Member Posts: From: Registered:	posted 01-24-2005 05:00 PM Hey, hello there Ben. Alright, I don't have all my tracking spots straight! Yes, there are active ones. And similar to what you mention about the Cocoa Beach one, Ben (well, maybe you've seen this too), they've just been revamping & expanding one on the beach by Patrick Air Force Base. But its kind of funny seeing the derelict ones falling into disrepair here & there. What does DOAMS stand for? Ben, have you been in one, and what sort of equipment is in them? I wonder how many tracking observatories there were in their heyday.
star61 Member Posts: 294 From: Bristol UK Registered: Jan 2005	posted 01-24-2005 07:36 PM These photos are of a junkyard by a tracking station that we came across in 1988 during the week of STS-26. The big rocket is definately some kind of SRB article but obviously not a flight version. The polygonal frame work had the appearance of a very basic LM, again maybe a test article of some kind. The yard had many rocket motors and i believe a Atlas or Titan shell. Phil Galbraith [This message has been edited by collectSPACE Admin (edited January 24, 2005).]
Ben Member Posts: 1896 From: Cape Canaveral, FL Registered: May 2000	posted 01-24-2005 08:01 PM Distant Object Attitude Measurement System. There must simply be more than one dome in this spot, old and new. The PAFB DOAMS is used too, but the Cocoa Beach tracker is still in use and still located near Ron Jons by the beach.
capejeffs New Member Posts: From: Registered:	posted 01-24-2005 08:54 PM Thanks, Ben. But oh my goodness, Phil, they're great photos! To clarify though, Charlie Bell's main "junkyard" was on Merritt Island a ways down from the KSC south gate. That property I don't believe has any tracking observatory. Phil, I have a vague recollection of seeing this place you have the great photos of. But I'm afraid WE'LL NEED SOME OTHER COLLECTSPACE FOLKS TO IDENTIFY just where your photos were taken! I believe, though, that your photos' "junkyard," like Bell's, no longer exists. Also wanted to say that, yes, it is quite a privilige to live in this area, gazing up at the night sky & thinking that most of the great great exploration & knowledge of "the heavens" came from launches a ways up the shore I live on! Of course your UK, though, produced vital space pioneers (and my favorite astronaut, M. Foale). Now some would choose America's other crucial space city, Houston, to live in. Like our own space hero behind the scenes at collectSPACE (thanks Robert, for the info & help). Just had an interesting thought--we could visit SpaceUK's fascinating post from earlier this month, "KSC Images," here on the CS 'Free Space' msg. board, and use his links in his message to bring up AN AERIAL PHOTO OF BELL'S SPACE JUNKYARD, ROCKET & ALL!!!! But imagine that, Phil, an LM descent stage just sitting there (or perhaps some other storage contraption?), looks like wrapped with a protector? - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pleiades cometstreams ."..consider the heavens..". Click page's beautiful image to enlarge: http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/ataglance/article_110_1.asp -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [This message has been edited by capejeffs (edited January 24, 2005).]
capejeffs New Member Posts: From: Registered:	posted 01-26-2005 10:18 AM By the way Phil, welcome to collectSPACE. I'm kind of new at these forums too, but have browsed a long time. And hope one of us can I.D. your above mystery photos!! But once again, the property for sale through TROPICAL REALTY & Investments of Brevard is at quite a different location, on the mainland, on US 1 by the Indian River. And Ben thanks for correcting about DOAMS, saw your site more, you are a very promising young man, hoping the best for your space career (or careers ), though hard to top Dec. pics : ) . We'll look for your pics on CollectSpace of NEXT WEEK'S LAUNCH! Charlie Bell's "Space Junkyard" was on Merritt Island. Tropical Realty is also handling that property in the Bell estate (which is now for lease), down from KSC's south gate. An aerial photo of Bell's large Meritt Isl. property is linked below. Can't make out the PLANET OF THE APES style rocket he had, but you can make out all these things from an incredibly high altitude (4 or 5 zooms out)! Now, its ok to be a bit of a character. The 20+ trailers are o.k. too. But hope we C.S. collectors somehow manage to stay organized! :-) .And hope Charlie is smiling down on this A FRAME OF CHARLIE'S GOOD OL' "SPACE JUNKYARD" FROM HIGH ABOVE...... http://tinyurl.com/52rob - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pleiades cometstreams ."..consider the heavens..". Beautiful, from mag's weekly 'observe' sec. & S.Seip. http://SKYandTELESCOPE.com/mm_images/7756.jpg -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [This message has been edited by capejeffs (edited January 26, 2005).]

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