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Author
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Topic: 381880120657: STS-2 flown SRB decelerator
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GrokTheUniverse
Member Posts: 15
From: Virginia
Registered: Jun 2015
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posted 12-11-2016 09:18 PM
  
I was curious if anybody has any insight on this flown Columbia item from eBay. I contacted seller and he said he purchased it thru an estate auction. Thanks in advance for any insight! |
fredtrav
Member Posts: 1673
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 12-11-2016 10:09 PM
It is a parachute line cutter. And it is way overpriced. Probably flown but can not say. It has no paperwork, nor does it have the red scrap marking on it.
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-11-2016 11:07 PM
At least some of the SRB parachute line cutters that were flown on the early space shuttle missions were not marked as scrap. Instead, they were presented, as this eBay example illustrates, as a "Program Performance Award" (similar to how the frangible nut halves were later presented to astronaut crew members).The plaque in the eBay auction is consistent with several examples I have seen (including one in my own collection from STS-6). The damage to the plaque also seems consistent with the other examples. For whatever reason it was subject to being dinged and scratched. (Now that I think about it, maybe the plaques was added pre-flight?) |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2475
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 12-12-2016 04:52 AM
What is hard to see in the photos is any of the remaining cut material in the cutting (guillotine) end. If anyone considerers purchasing this, ask for picture that should show residual cloth type material in the cutter face. |
Greggy_D
Member Posts: 977
From: Michigan
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 12-12-2016 12:22 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
(Now that I think about it, maybe the plaques was added pre-flight?)
I doubt that given the launch dates were in flux. The plaque was most likely engraved and added after the flights. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-12-2016 12:46 PM
Good point about the dates. Almost every example of these I have seen have had their plaques in poor condition, so at the least, the brass they used was very susceptible to damage. |
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