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  FS: STS-1 autographs and Columbia artifact

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Author Topic:   FS: STS-1 autographs and Columbia artifact
birds-or-shells
Member

Posts: 71
From: Marlton, NJ
Registered: Feb 2008

posted 09-14-2019 03:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for birds-or-shells   Click Here to Email birds-or-shells     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Offered for sale are autographs of John Young and Bob Crippen that are framed with a launch photograph of Space Shuttle Columbia for STS-1 mission and a piece of the Columbia itself.

The photograph with signatures was purchased in April 2009 from Gerry Montague (Glenside, PA) who I believe is a member of the collectSPACE community. He sold it through Astro Auction, which was an online auction service, and was described as follows:

Here is a stunning STS-1 launch glossy (11x14) on mat. It is very nicely signed by Young and Crippen (both in the same pen) on the mat. A superb piece of this historic first launch of the Shuttle!
The photograph measures 11 by 14 inches and the inscription with signatures is on a white matt board measuring about 10 by 3 inches. There is some yellowing of the matt board displayed in the window as compared to that behind the matt. The inscription and autographs are clear and dark.

The Columbia artifact is a 0.5" x 0.5" x 0.04" section of Inconel (nickel/chrome superalloy) Closeout Ring which was part of Columbia during missions STS-1 through 5. This item was purchased in in April 2009 from Lance Lobo (Bangor, ME) who cut from the complete ring and sold sections on eBay. Shown here are photos of where this ring was located on the Columbia and provenance for the ring and cut section.

The framed display measures 17 by 27 inches and is comprised of a black metal frame and black matt with white core. The photograph and signatures are positioned with mounting strips and the artifact is recessed in the foam core backing.

My asking price is $999 including shipping within the USA (outside countries to pay shipping cost). Please e-mail me at xenophora@verizon.net if you are interested in purchasing this item.

Below is the eBay auction description for the Columbia artifact which provides a detailed provenance:

Space Shuttle OV-102 (Columbia) Flown Artifact - First Flight STS-1 thru STS-5 (1981-82)

Includes Five Pages of NASA Documents Supporting History plus Photos.

(These documents required a year of research to locate).

Other shuttle items you see on eBay may only have a single tag and no documents.

There will only ever be about one hundred of these fragments available from this part. So it is very limited. NASA employees do not even have one of these, unless they got it from me.

It took a year to track down all the documents on the original Heat Shield Closeout Ring that these fragments were taken from. Document copies will be included with each fragment. Supersize the photos below to see the documents.

The original large shuttle Closeout Ring section, that this fragment was taken from, is available for inspection. Contact me if you would like an appointment.

I originally believed the parts were shuttle engine parts but Marshall Space Flight Center first identified them as orbiter parts: "The Shuttle Projects office performed a thorough search for documents relating to these parts. They identified the parts as Orbiter parts..." -- NASA, Marshal Space Flight Center, FOIA Office (08 July 03, see letter photo below) (copy included with fragment).

(January 2004) After studying 26 year old microfilm, Kennedy Space Center has provided documentary proof (an OV-102 "As Built" form) that shows the original part was installed on Columbia in May 1978 before its first flight in 1981. (see two sided form below) (copy included with fragment) By contrast, the Enterprise shuttle glider had already been completed in 1975 then rolled out in 1976, and Challenger would only begin construction as an orbiter in 1979 then be rolled out in 1982. (nasa.gov)

Based on documents from Johnson Space Center, the absolute limit of use of the original part was 07 Feb 1994 when new parts were authorized to replace them in OV-102 on an attrition basis. (see form below) (copy included with fragment) Columbia was also the first shuttle to undergo a scheduled retrofit in August 1991. That limits the service life of the part to 11 flights up to STS-40.

Apparently the original part flew on at least the first five flights of the OV-102 (Columbia) orbiter. It was attached to the orbiters aft bulkhead in conjunction with the engine heat shield of SSME (Space Shuttle Main Engine) Number 2, Serial Number 2006, which was removed after STS-5. The part was therefore exposed to space for 398 Earth orbits and 588 hours total time. (nasa.gov)

The original ring segments also show repair work, with reuse and flight wear afterwards. Therefore the part itself is additional documentation. (see photo below) (copy of photo included with fragment)

Flight Data
STS-1 (April 1981) - Young, Crippen
STS-2 (November 1981) - Engle, Truly
STS-3 (March 1982) - Lousma, Fullerton
STS-4 (June 82) - Mattingly, Hartsfield
STS-5 (November 82) - Brand, Overmyer, Allen, Lenoir

Fragment size is approximately .5 x .5 x .04 inches (1.27cm x 1.27cm x 1mm). It is displayed in a 2.1 x 2.9 inch clear plastic slab, and is easily accessible if desired.

"Eng # 2 R/H Top" was handwritten on the part when it was removed from the orbiter (see photo below), apparently to aid in reinstallation. The fragment is composed of Inconel, a nickel/chrome superalloy. It is very hard and retains 95% ambient temperature yield strength at 1800 degrees. Producing these fragments required special cutting technology.

Part No: V070-351928-003; Serial No: 2676159; Manufacture Date: 27 April 1978. Installed on Columbia OV-102: 09 May 1978. "V070" indicates a part that was mounted on the orbiter itself. The original full ring is in four segments and has a diameter of about 90 inches. It sealed and protected the seam between an engine mount and the engine heat shield dome on the orbiter aft bulkhead.

This fragment contains thousands of times more metal than the microscopic amount melted into a coin or medallion. You can actually see and touch the surface that was exposed to space and launch exhaust!

You will see other space shuttle flown items, but external flown metal is very rare. The original part is of a finite size so there are a limited supply of these fragments. I own the rings from engine one and two of Columbia's first five flights, so it is unlikely that there will be any other fragments like these available, except those I produced. Even NASA employees do not have this particular metal unless they bought it from me.

This is a fragment of a legally acquired NASA discarded artifact from the early space shuttle program. It is not crash debris.

birds-or-shells
Member

Posts: 71
From: Marlton, NJ
Registered: Feb 2008

posted 10-11-2019 05:34 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for birds-or-shells   Click Here to Email birds-or-shells     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Price reduced to $799 or best offer.

This would be a great price for just a John Young autograph by itself yet you are also getting Bob Crippen — the entire crew of the first shuttle — and an artifact from the shuttle itself, and it is already professionally framed! — Michael Gage

birds-or-shells
Member

Posts: 71
From: Marlton, NJ
Registered: Feb 2008

posted 10-19-2019 07:55 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for birds-or-shells   Click Here to Email birds-or-shells     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Is there no interest in this item or am I just asking too much? Feedback is very much welcome.

birds-or-shells
Member

Posts: 71
From: Marlton, NJ
Registered: Feb 2008

posted 10-20-2019 05:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for birds-or-shells   Click Here to Email birds-or-shells     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I received feedback my asking price was too high. My asking price is now $599 including shipping within the USA (outside countries to pay shipping cost). Please e-mail me at xenophora@verizon.net if you are interested in purchasing this item.

birds-or-shells
Member

Posts: 71
From: Marlton, NJ
Registered: Feb 2008

posted 11-06-2019 05:52 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for birds-or-shells   Click Here to Email birds-or-shells     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This item is now listed on eBay.

The auction starts at $19.10 and has a Buy it Now of $599.

I would rather sell it to a member of our community and would let it go for $549 including shipping within the USA (outside countries to pay shipping cost). Please e-mail me at xenophora@verizon.net if you are interested in purchasing this item. — Mike

birds-or-shells
Member

Posts: 71
From: Marlton, NJ
Registered: Feb 2008

posted 04-21-2023 07:36 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for birds-or-shells   Click Here to Email birds-or-shells     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Still available.

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