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Author
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Topic: STS-71 bag used to stow scale models
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Hoonin
Member Posts: 12
From: Wyandotte, Michigan, U.S.
Registered: Mar 2019
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posted 07-09-2019 08:00 AM
   
I want to share my favorite and one of the more unusual items from my collection. The only clue I had from NASA about this item was "White Canvas Bag made for flight that once contained 1 1200th Scale MIR Models bag only." After researching the bag, I have came to the conclusion that it was flown on STS-71 and carried two scale models of the Mir Space Station as well as three scale models of Space Shuttle Atlantis. The models were joined together as part of the ceremony held for the first time that a Shuttle docked to the Mir. I have zoomed in on video footage of the event and believe that the bag can be seen during the ceremony. I have inspected every square inch of the bag and cannot find any part numbers or serial numbers other than the serial number ranges for the scale models. Video of ceremony, I believe the bag can be seen in the top left corner at 16:00.  
I may be mistaken when it comes to the history of this bag, feel free to correct me. |
CJ
Member Posts: 38
From: Cherry Hill, NJ
Registered: Nov 2003
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posted 07-10-2019 09:57 PM
It's possible that the bag shown in the video is yours, although the side straps are not visible. I own a similar bag (without the side straps) labeled 1 EA MM-200 S/N 1001 1/2EA PM-200 S/N 1001. The only other difference is that on my bag the info is stenciled directly onto the bag. This is unlike yours which was stenciled to a label that was then stitched to the bag. I can confirm mine was flown. My bag was given to the MIR crew by the STS-71 crew as a gift. It made its way back to the US again as a gift from one of the MIR crew, along with a Letter of Authenticity, and I subsequently purchased it. How did you determine yours was flown? (Which I'm sure it was.) The bag is made of Nomex. These bags were probably custom made for this flight. There is no NASA part s/n on mine as well. A nice flown piece of hardware to own from an historic USA/Russian mission. |
Hoonin
Member Posts: 12
From: Wyandotte, Michigan, U.S.
Registered: Mar 2019
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posted 07-11-2019 05:26 AM
incredible! Please post pictures of your bag so I can compare.So a couple things to address here. I'm not 100% sure the bag was flown and I am still waiting to see if an FOIA request returns any info. The fact that your bag doesn't have a p/n or s/n makes me a little more optimistic that mine was flown on this mission (I may never know). Also, the straps are held down by velcro, which could explain why they aren't visible. You may already know this, however I am confident that your bag carried a 1/200 scale model of the MIR as well as the shuttle portion of the medallion that was joined together during the ceremony that was held onboard the MIR. Link to the STS-71 official flight kit. Side note: I've also contacted Westex, who I believe manufactured the bag or had some part in the manufacturing process, I am still waiting to hear back from them, although I don't believe I will. |
Hoonin
Member Posts: 12
From: Wyandotte, Michigan, U.S.
Registered: Mar 2019
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posted 07-19-2019 04:32 PM
Yesterday I discovered that President Bill Clinton was gifted a MIR/Shuttle model on August 1st, 1995. I contacted the Clinton presidential library and they confirmed that the models are located in their storage. They also notified me that a serial number of “1004” can be found on the MIR. “S-200” and a partial number of “100?” can be found on the Shuttle. I am now extremely confident that the bag carried the model that was gifted to President Clinton. Is there any reason to believe that they would have made multiples of this bag? |
CJ
Member Posts: 38
From: Cherry Hill, NJ
Registered: Nov 2003
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posted 07-19-2019 11:00 PM
There is always the possibility that the bag's design was previously used for other purposes, and repurposed, to save the added cost of design, in addition to fabrication. NASA maintains mechanical drawings of flight hardware. I doubt the actual flown bags would have duplicates. There is no need for "training" bags which would normally be the case for flight hardware. | |
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