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Author
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Topic: Do you own a piece of Explorer I's pad?
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 23493
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted December 29, 2007 08:15 PM
   
For many years (if not still), the Air Force Space Museum sold pieces of Cape Canaveral's Complex 26, Pad A, from where Explorer I was launched on January 31, 1958.A quick poll: do you own a piece? It doesn't matter what size, type or how it is presented (or even if it was obtained from the museum). If you have a fragment, please post a reply to this thread. (A follow-up query will be posted depending on the initial response.) |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3002
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted December 29, 2007 08:23 PM
I do, and as of the time of the Sims-Hankow show at the Cape this summer, they were still selling pieces (I believe the money goes to support the museum). |
MICHAEL CLEMENTE
unregistered
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posted December 29, 2007 08:24 PM
Hi Robert, I have a fragment presented on a card from the Air Force Space & Missile Museum that I received several years ago. AIM HIGH! Mike |
rjurek349
Member Posts: 728
From:
Registered: Jan 2002
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posted December 29, 2007 09:12 PM
I have one - which was, coincidentally, given to me by Francis on the bus at the KSC tour this past summer at the UACC show. Thanks, Francis! |
sschreib
Member Posts: 16
From: Jersey Shore,PA, USA
Registered: Dec 2003
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posted December 29, 2007 11:10 PM
Have had mine for a few years. Piece of floor grating. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 23493
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted December 29, 2007 11:19 PM
Thanks guys, this is great! Keep the reports coming and I'll chime in as to why soon... |
STEVE SMITH
Member Posts: 480
From: WICHITA, KANSAS, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted December 29, 2007 11:23 PM
Yes, I got mine at the Museum during a Then and Now Tour. This was at AHOF induction in 2003. |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 1417
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted December 29, 2007 11:57 PM
I have a piece (in a kind of X shape) on a souvenir card that was kindly send to me by my writing mate Francis French.Colin |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 1599
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted December 30, 2007 05:53 AM
Many pieces, fragments, and various sections of the launch gantry at Pad 26 are a part of my "pad" collections. Included is a core segment of concrete from the base of LC-26 along with a few other unusual artifacts. Plans are underway to incorporate many small gantry fragments into special commemorative postal covers that will be celebrating Explorer 1's golden anniversary on Jan. 31, 2008 in a special way. There will also be a pictorial postmark commemorating Explorer 1's entry into the Space Age--50 Years of Americans in Space--from the Cape Canaveral post office. |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 1011
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted December 30, 2007 06:28 AM
Yes, I have a number of pieces. I have picked up one of the cards mentioned each time i visit the museum. |
mensax
Member Posts: 861
From: Virginia
Registered: Apr 2002
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posted December 30, 2007 07:41 AM
Count me in too. Noah |
randy
Member Posts: 1087
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted December 30, 2007 08:16 AM
I have a piece too.Randy |
Apollo-Soyuz
Member Posts: 789
From: Shady Side, Md
Registered: Sep 2004
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posted December 30, 2007 08:20 AM
I picked one up when I went to the STS-67 launch in 1995.------------------
John Macco
Vice President
Space Unit
Shady Side, Md. |
contra
Member Posts: 287
From: Kiel, Germany
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted December 30, 2007 10:24 AM
me too |
apollo11lem5
Member Posts: 526
From: Seminole, Florida, United States
Registered: May 2000
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posted December 30, 2007 10:25 AM
Hello All... I have a piece as well. Best To All... Donald Brady |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 23493
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted December 30, 2007 10:58 AM
Perfect! Thanks everyone for your replies, now here is why I asked...I've been considering over the past couple of weeks what collectSPACE might do to mark the 50th anniversary of Explorer I's launch on January 31, 2008. I had placed my own segment of the launch gantry on my desk for inspiration, and it struck me a few days ago that the story of that fragment and those like it would make for a good article. One of the aspects about the story that I thought was particularly engaging was how far the gantry pieces have now spread across the country and the world. So, that's where you come in. First, I needed to confirm my own suspicion that many of you owned pieces, which this poll succeeded in doing. So thanks, and if you have a piece and haven't yet chimed in, please continue to do so (as well as participate in what I am about to propose). To illustrate the article and underscore how something as simple as a small piece of metal can have the far reaching affects of exposing many people to space history, I'd like to ask each of you if you would, over the next couple of weeks, photograph your fragment. Specifically, I'd like it if you would photograph it against a backdrop that would establish your (and your piece's) geographical location. For example, if you were in Paris, you might photograph the piece while standing in front of Eiffel Tower. If you don't have a local famous landmark, you could seek out "Welcome to [City]" signs, for example. Be creative, as the idea is to show a variety of locales rather than a collection of metal slabs sitting on shelves and desks. I ask that you submit two photos: one that shows you at the locale holding the piece (or whomever you choose to appear) and a second that focuses on the piece itself (for an example of the latter, see this photo of a patch at KSC's Pad 39A). All photos submitted will be used in the article and credit will be provided (please be sure to include how you wish to be identified and the location from where you took the photograph). It would be great if we could find and photograph a sample in as many of the 50 U.S. states as possible (seeing as though this is an American anniversary) but I'm also very interested in showing international examples, too! I plan to interview Air Force Museum personnel for the article, as well as at least one person who worked at Complex 26 in 1958. If you have questions or concerns, please let me know. You can submit photos to contact@collectspace.com. To be included, I would need all submissions by Thursday, January 24. Thanks everyone! I hope you find this idea as fun and exciting as I do... |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2229
From: Renton, WA USA
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted December 30, 2007 12:45 PM
Fun idea Robert!Add me to the list, I do have one of those also. I think I might even have 2 of them, I'll have to dig through my stuff. I'll have to find a Seattle landmark and try a photo to send over. Tom
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 23493
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted December 30, 2007 01:08 PM
Thanks, Tom! If each of the people who have responded thus far were to contribute photos, we would already have represented a quarter of the U.S. and two other countries. (BTW, don't worry if you're state/country is already represented. The more the merrier!) |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 864
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted December 30, 2007 03:24 PM
Robert-Add me to the list. A friend of mine gave me a piece of the wire mesh on a card back in the 1980's. I passed on to a model builder in Georgia because he was so into Explorer 1, if I only I knew. Your idea is great! It would be nice to see a piece of the pad on the Moon! -Lou |
Larry McGlynn
Member Posts: 732
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted December 30, 2007 03:33 PM
Ken Havekotte gave me my piece back a few years ago. ------------------
Larry McGlynn
A Tribute to Apollo |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 1417
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted December 30, 2007 04:50 PM
I'll be taking my card with the pad piece to Sydney Harbour in the next few days and will supply photos.Colin |
lewarren
Member Posts: 267
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted December 30, 2007 06:46 PM
I have one |
Murph
Member Posts: 81
From: New York, NY USA
Registered: Jan 2005
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posted December 30, 2007 07:21 PM
Got mine last summer at KSC while attending the UACC show. The show, The Cape, the launch. A trip like no other!! |
MrSpace86
Member Posts: 1270
From: Gardner, KS, USA
Registered: Feb 2003
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posted December 30, 2007 11:31 PM
I have one as well. I will try to find a Kansan place to take a pic with it.
-Rodrigo |
poofacio
Member Posts: 265
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2006
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posted December 31, 2007 04:57 AM
I have two here in the UK. |
danpal
Member Posts: 45
From: Roma, Italy
Registered: Feb 2003
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posted December 31, 2007 05:50 AM
I have two pieces from two different tour at museum of CCAFS.Paolo |
nasamad
Member Posts: 1821
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted December 31, 2007 06:59 AM
Add me to the list as well. I have one card mounted piece here.Adam |
star61
Member Posts: 229
From: Bristol UK
Registered: Jan 2005
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posted December 31, 2007 07:23 AM
My piece was given to me by Col Ernest Malnassey who was in charge of the Kittyhawk museum in 1988. Like the idea and will participate. Phil |
Gilbert
Member Posts: 784
From: Carrollton, GA USA
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted December 31, 2007 07:59 AM
I have a piece. |
Tim Collins
Member Posts: 26
From: Harrisburg, PA
Registered: Mar 2007
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posted December 31, 2007 09:06 AM
Have two of the "x - shaped" gantry fragments on the "post card" |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1085
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted December 31, 2007 01:51 PM
I do not own a piece, but am interested in purchasing one. Can anyone tell me if pieces are still available for purchase? |
KenDavis
Member Posts: 168
From: W.Sussex United Kingdom
Registered: May 2003
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posted December 31, 2007 02:02 PM
I have one that I bought when I visited the States in 1995. The visit to the Air Force Museum was one of the highlights of the trip |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3002
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted December 31, 2007 02:06 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Mel: I do not own a piece, but am interested in purchasing one. Can anyone tell me if pieces are still available for purchase?
You could try E-mailing the Air Force Space & Missile Museum where they were on sale (you took one next to a a suggested donation box). While others here might be able to sell you one if this approach is not successful, I would try this first as I believe the money goes directly to the museum (which was why I bought extras and gave them to colleagues on my last visit). |
dtemple
Member Posts: 556
From: Longview, Texas, USA
Registered: Apr 2000
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posted December 31, 2007 02:35 PM
I have long wondered how any pieces of the pad 26 gantry remain available at the Air Force Space & Missle Museum. How long ago was it the gantry was demolished? A few decades ago wasn't it? With people going through the museum on a near daily basis year after year after year... I picked up a couple of "X" pieces mounted on the card when I toured it in 2000. Perhaps most people don't take any of them. I think I sold mine when I acquired the souvenir launch pad fragments created by Ken Havekotte and Rick Boos. |
4allmankind
Member Posts: 651
From: NJ
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted December 31, 2007 03:22 PM
I have two left in my collection from a trip in 2005. They were freshly made as I witnessed them cutting pieces of the gantry and gluing them onto their cards. Jay in NJ |
R.Glueck
Member Posts: 115
From: Winterport, Maine, USA
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted December 31, 2007 09:04 PM
I have one "X" of grating, painted a faded red and glued to a 3" x 5" card. It's probably in a file folder right now. I also have a flat spacer from Pad 34, where Gus, Ed, and Roger, died, and some chunks of urethane foam from the tank on STS-71, which I picked up in the flame trench while the rocket was inert.
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Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 1599
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted January 01, 2008 08:06 AM
For "dtemple"--Actually, the gantry tower at Pad 26 was never demolished. The original gantry at Complex 26, built in 1956-57, is the oldest and longest-standing launch pad service structure left in place at the Cape. |
nas9-1100
Member Posts: 14
From: Cincinnati, OH. USA
Registered: Nov 2004
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posted January 01, 2008 02:29 PM
Have the RED X postcard piece for some time now... One of the first purchased items in my collection of the now hundreds of "been there or done that" items. It still sits at my desk in an open frame... Of all things...nas9-1100
Cincinnati, Ohio |
mikepf
Member Posts: 293
From: San Jose, California, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted January 01, 2008 04:45 PM
Hello,
Great idea Robert! I have one of the red X shaped pieces glued to a card. I gave 2 to some friends a couple of years ago. So that would be 2 here in San Jose, Ca and one in Phoenix, Az. I'll see if they will take some pictures too. This should be fun.
Happy New Years!Mikie |
cfreeze79
Member Posts: 284
From: Martinez, CA, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted January 01, 2008 07:24 PM
I have one of the AFSM relic cards, and one of the Boos/Havekotte cards (from the set of several other pad cards). |
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