posted 02-04-2014 03:52 PM               

It's still in its original sealed plastic bag with a label that says "sample" written on it. Its hard to see it through the plastic bag because the charred dust has adhered to the inside of the bag.

It was a gift to my dad from McDonnell Douglas in the 60s. There's no provenance except for my dad and a poster they also gave him. (Not signed.)

posted 02-04-2014 07:37 PM               

Speaking with a few gentleman who worked on the Gemini program, they told me stories of a large pile of GT-8 heatshield material piled up in the corner of a room after it was removed from the spacecraft.

These guys told me that they encouraged visitors to take a piece of heatshield rather than throw it in the garbage. Because of the RCS short circuit, the entire heatshield was removed. As a result there is more GT-8 heatshield material on the market than any other mission. GT-8 was the only spacecraft where the entire heatshield was removed.

I have seen about a dozen sections of GT-8 heatshield material sealed in heavy semi-opaque plastic bags. Some have had notes inside the bag, some came with notes attached outside.