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Author
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Topic: Photo of the week 256 (September 26, 2009)
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heng44
Member Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 09-26-2009 09:37 AM
   
 Forty years ago, these three Corvettes were a familiar sight around the Cape as the crew of Apollo 12 was in the final weeks of their training. Posing with their cars they even made this parody of their official crew portrait — left to right are Conrad, Gordon and Bean. |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1512
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 09-26-2009 10:15 AM
Oh man, I remember lusting after those Corvettes when I saw a similar pic of the crew back in 1969. I wonder if they are still around, and if the current owners appreciate their history... |
bobzz
Member Posts: 100
From: Batavia, Illinois
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 09-26-2009 12:03 PM
Great pic! Where can we download a hi res copy? Is there a NASA pic number? |
astroborg
Member Posts: 200
From: Woodbridge, VA, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 09-26-2009 04:18 PM
More info here - check out The AstroVette. |
Apollo Redux
Member Posts: 346
From: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Registered: Sep 2006
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posted 09-26-2009 04:36 PM
Very cool picture.  |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1512
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 09-26-2009 05:22 PM
Thanks Astroborg!!! A great article, and a relief that at least one of those 'Vettes is still around and appreciated! |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 09-26-2009 07:21 PM
quote:
Originally posted by micropooz:
I wonder if they are still around, and if the current owners appreciate their history...
Bean's vette is the only of the three that have been preserved; the other two's whereabouts are unknown. Fortunately for me I had the pleasure to sit in Alan's vette at JSC open house 4-5 years ago. The owner saw me salivating and asked if I'd like to sit in it. Took about a nanosecond to reply. I didn't see any others get this unique opportunity. I told Alan several years later that I had sat inside his vette for about 5 minutes, and he replied that he had also recently spent a few minutes in it. What stuck out in his mind was how much safer cars are built nowadays! |
webhamster
Member Posts: 106
From: Ottawa, Canada
Registered: Jul 2008
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posted 09-26-2009 08:06 PM
quote:
Originally posted by MCroft04:
I told Alan several years later that I had sat inside his vette for about 5 minutes, and he replied that he had also recently spent a few minutes in it.
Top Gear's James May reunited Alan Bean with his Corvette and had Bean drive him around the block in it back in February when he was in Houston filming stuff for his "James May On The Moon" BBC special about his U2 flight. Highly recommended viewing. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-26-2009 08:46 PM
I don't collect model cars (unless model Lunar Roving Vehicles count) but I have always had my eye on Diecast Reproductions' 1:24 Franklin Mint 1969 Corvette, a scale miniature of the Apollo 12 crew's custom rides, limited to only 427 pieces. It was first offered in December 2006 and sold out quickly. |
mdmyer
Member Posts: 900
From: Humboldt KS USA
Registered: Dec 2003
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posted 09-27-2009 05:58 AM
Alan's corvette was on display at the Kansas Cosmosphere last year. |
sts205cdr
Member Posts: 649
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 09-27-2009 06:02 PM
Oh, man, does that picture say it all! Those were the days! |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 2915
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 09-27-2009 06:12 PM
Just came across a color 8x10 glossy of the exact same photo here, however, mine is signed by all the crew. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-27-2009 06:40 PM
Alan Bean gave a talk today at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston where five of his paintings are on display as part of a new exhibit (also opening today) called "The Moon: Houston, Tranquility Base Here. The Eagle Has Landed."During his talk, Bean shared the same photo and spoke about the crew's corvettes.  |
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