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Author
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Topic: Driving to the moon (vehicles with lunar mileage)
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mensax
Member Posts: 861
From: Virginia
Registered: Apr 2002
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posted 08-08-2003 09:59 AM
   
Does anybody else have a moon truck? or a moon car?I've been driving the same pickup for 15 years now. (This hobby takes all my money so I can't get a new one.) I've now got 305,000 miles on it. Whenever anyone asks the mileage I always point out that I could have driven to the Moon and orbited it a few times by now. (It always gets a raised eyebrow.) Only twelve more years and I'll have gone to the Moon and back! I've got one of those HBO "From the Earth to the Moon" stress balls on my dash to keep me inspired... |
Jake
Member Posts: 464
From: Issaquah, WA U.S.A.
Registered: Jun 2002
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posted 08-08-2003 11:04 AM
329,000 miles on my Ford Ranger... not quite enough to go to the moon AND back... I have a "micro machines" Saturn V toy rocket on the radio antenna... Perhaps best of all, my Ranger has been driven by one of the Apollo astronauts who is a good friend of mine and has actually been there! (That was a really good day!) |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 08-08-2003 01:40 PM
I have a friend who has a Honda that is on its way back from the moon now. It has about 260,000 miles on it now.My Ford Ranger is approaching 200,000 and still going strong. I think I can thank the Mazda engine it has in it. |
mensax
Member Posts: 861
From: Virginia
Registered: Apr 2002
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posted 08-08-2003 02:38 PM
Wow, that's great Jake that you've had an Apollo astronaut drive your truck! Now I know what I'm going to ask the astronauts at the next signing.... "Would you mind driving my truck around the block?"Tom it sounds like your Ranger is approaching that point that Apollo 13 had some troubles... better be careful! |
Jake
Member Posts: 464
From: Issaquah, WA U.S.A.
Registered: Jun 2002
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posted 08-08-2003 02:56 PM
An "orbit" around the block...! |
music_space
Member Posts: 1179
From: Canada
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 08-08-2003 04:44 PM
My Mitsubishi Expo was close to equigravity when it got totalled a few months back. Brings back some memories, right?Like Apollo, it's a good vehicle, though... I went right ahead with the rest of the program... I acquired the same model. |
John K. Rochester
Member Posts: 1292
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 08-09-2003 10:32 AM
Jake, are you planning to take the drivers seat of your truck, cut it up into little squares and market it as actually come in contact with the butt of an astronaut who has been to the moon? Think of the possibilities on eBay! |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 08-10-2003 05:09 AM
quote:
Originally posted by mensax:
Tom it sounds like your Ranger is approaching that point that Apollo 13 had some troubles... better be careful!
Oh! You are right. I better watch out. Apollo 13 did make it back home so at least when my truck blows up, I can hopefully coast it back to my driveway! Ha! |
Jake
Member Posts: 464
From: Issaquah, WA U.S.A.
Registered: Jun 2002
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posted 08-11-2003 01:02 PM
I don't plan to cut up the seat of my "moon truck" - but having such a long history of experiences with my truck makes it more and more difficult to cast it aside an buy a new one! |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 08-11-2003 01:23 PM
You'll just have to expand your home museum to your garage when you retire the truck!I'm not sure if it's true or not, but here is an old rotten looking bench down at Evergreen Airport in Vancouver Washington that Charles Lindbergh was reported to have sat one once. Several years ago I was down there and sat on the same bench. I'm not sure if it enhanced my flying skills, but at least I can say my rear end has brushed up against history! |
Gordon Reade
Member Posts: 334
From: USA
Registered: Nov 2002
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posted 08-13-2003 01:05 PM
This gives me a really great idea. I've been looking to buy a minivan (Ford Windstar or Dodge Caravan) to carry my telescopes around in.What I should to is buy one with high mileage, they are a lot cheeper than the new ones. Than when I drive it to school star parties I can tell the students, This van could have made it to the moon if only it had been driven in one direction. That way the students will stop and think, Gee if an old van could make it to the moon why not do it in something new and clean? |
Gilbert
Member Posts: 1328
From: Carrollton, GA USA
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 08-13-2003 03:56 PM
I have a friend with a late 80's Chevy Baretta that is in translunar space on the way home (around 310K and counting). It might take a mechanic with Gene Kranz's abilities to get it all the way back, however. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-14-2003 04:46 PM
Along the same lines of this thread is Freddie Hoffman, who will meet with astronaut Linda Godwin tomorrow while he is in Texas, reports Parade Magazine. Going for a ride, Freddie?" a neighbor calls. Freddie Hoffman waves as he glides by on his bike. He's wearing his "God Bless America" T-shirt and a pair of patched shorts. In a few, short minutes, a mile passes under his tires — and it's one more for "Million Mile Freddie." Actually, it's mile number 1,249,554. That's right, nearly 1.25 million. Hoffman, now 43, has been riding his bike about 83 miles a day, 365 days a year, for 38 years. That's 50 trips around the world. Or, as he puts it, he's on his third trip to the moon and back. ...then, on a July night in 1969, Hoffman watched in wonder as Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, and he knew where he was going: He'd be like the astronauts. He'd go to the moon and back — but on his bike. Sixteen years later, he completed his 500,000-mile "lunar trip." Hoffman has had his share of troubles and now raises money with his rides for Northern New Jersey Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2474
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 08-24-2008 08:18 PM
In a year that has brought me a number of major life changing events, one such event happened last Friday, Aug. 22 (2008). A precious family heirloom is no more. While turning into the cemetery to visit my late wife's grave, my faithful 1989 Chevy pickup truck was rear ended and crumpled beyond repair. I walked away achy, cut, but unharmed. Okay, so how does this fit this forum? I called this truck, and everyone knows this truck as my "Moon Truck". Why you ask? Because it had 260,000 miles on it which means that it had enough miles to make it to the moon and we were working on the return trip! Manufactured in October 1988 this also coincided with the rebirth of the Space Shuttle and the STS-26 return to service mission post-Challenger. Oh yes, and the final space related connection, Friday, August 22 was Skylab astronaut Gerald P. Carr's birthday, as well as mine.  |
randyc
Member Posts: 779
From: Chandler, AZ USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted 08-24-2008 09:19 PM
. |
ea757grrl
Member Posts: 729
From: South Carolina
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 08-24-2008 09:31 PM
. |
Aztecdoug
Member Posts: 1405
From: Huntington Beach
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 08-24-2008 10:43 PM
. |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 08-25-2008 03:23 AM
.I prefer a crewcab version  |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 08-25-2008 05:01 AM
"Houston... we've had a problem"... |
Lunar rock nut
Member Posts: 911
From: Oklahoma city, Oklahoma U.S.A.
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 08-25-2008 06:57 AM
To a classic Terran Transport Vehicle. It served you well. R.I.P. |
mensax
Member Posts: 861
From: Virginia
Registered: Apr 2002
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posted 08-25-2008 08:39 AM
I'm real sorry to hear of your loss. And, I'm glad that you weren't hurt too badly. Are you sure that she can't be repaired? |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3118
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 08-25-2008 11:51 AM
The British astronomer Sir Patrick Moore used to have a car which had clocked up enough miles to get to the Moon and back, and possibly the Moon again. Those attending Autographica 12 may wish to ask Sir Patrick about this... |
cddfspace
Member Posts: 609
From: Morris County, NJ, USA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 08-25-2008 12:25 PM
.She was a good ship...er, car. |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1306
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 08-25-2008 12:27 PM
It's always sad to see a command module drop into the ocean of memories. I'm glad the landing bag released cushioning the impact. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 08-25-2008 12:28 PM
Per Ardua, Ad Chevy Astro?
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tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 08-25-2008 01:23 PM
.I know the feeling. I had a truck that had 217,000. I made it to the point that Apollo 13 blew, but sadly the truck was lost in space.  |
Rob Joyner
Member Posts: 1308
From: GA, USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 08-25-2008 05:35 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Rick Mulheirn:
"Houston... we've had a problem"...
Hmmm. Maybe this is more appropriate: "Detroit... we've had a problem!"  |
Paul78zephyr
Member Posts: 675
From: Hudson, MA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 08-28-2008 08:04 PM
I had a 1993 'Moon Ford Escort' with 260,000 miles on it. Sold it in 2002 in great running condition to a young college student. It might still be out there on its 'return trip'. Does that count? |
jemmy
Member Posts: 176
From:
Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 02-18-2015 01:11 PM
Just a bit of fun but I finally made it to the moon in my car — well not really but in mileage I have. I remember thinking would I ever have my car long enough to clock up the same mileage as it would take to get to the moon and look, I finally have. My car is a 1999 Toyota corolla, now I hope it the car will hold up for the journey back. Before we all argue about the distance to the moon, I know it can be shorter or further depending on the timing and position of the moon to the earth but I think I'm in and about there. Didn't get a chance to get out and walk on the moon as I have to get back to Earth in time for the ASF, Spacefest, Pontefract and all the other events to do my signings.  |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1306
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 02-18-2015 01:36 PM
I'm glad to hear that the command module is holding up so well. The CM was about the same size as an SUV. About 240,000 miles is what I usually say. |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1512
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 02-18-2015 01:40 PM
I too have a 99 Corolla, but it's only gone about half the distance. I guess I'm on a lower energy trajectory... Good to know that it will eventually get there! |
jemmy
Member Posts: 176
From:
Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 02-18-2015 02:38 PM
quote:
Originally posted by micropooz:
I guess I'm on a lower energy trajectory...
I'll flash my lights at you when I pass you on the way back. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-18-2015 02:44 PM
Maybe you'll pass this runner who has logged over 250K miles. |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 02-18-2015 04:38 PM
Before retiring in 2002 I was a flight attendant with Qantas Airways for 30 years, and people would sometimes ask me how many miles or kilometres I had racked up in that time. I never kept a true record, but I used to say that averaging out my trips per year, I had been to the moon and back over 30 times. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3118
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-18-2015 05:11 PM
Colin, do you glow in the dark? |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 02-19-2015 05:30 AM
No, Mr. B. I just radiate charm all day. |
FlyBuzz11
Member Posts: 49
From: Fort Worth, Texas
Registered: Nov 2012
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posted 02-19-2015 07:52 AM
Houston, there is a Santa Claus (Apollo 8). Houston, America has found some fair winds and following seas and we're headed home (Apollo 17) 2000 Nissan pickup 400,220 miles. |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 02-19-2015 08:37 AM
Can I claim that my Toyota Auris is as fast as the X-15? This is a photo of my satnav and we all know that they are more accurate than the car's instrumentation. |
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