collectSPACE - the collection

Resources
selected space history documents

Hardware, whether flown in space or used during training, has the distinction of being part of history.

While the spacecraft and other major artifacts reside in museums, it is still possible for a collector to locate notable examples of space hardware.

Like the museums that protect and preserve artifacts for future generations, collectors share a similar responsibility. While we all collect for personal reasons, we are insuring that the smaller pieces and parts are not forgotten.

That is not to say that all hardware available to collectors is physically small. Complete artifacts or large segments are the focus of my collection.

Click images to enlarge as well as read about each artifact.

Apollo 11 Bread - Flown	Apollo 13 Meal - Flown
Apollo - LM Light Cover	USS Hornet Light Cover
SMEAT Trash Bag	Skylab 3 Crew Bag - Flown
Mission Control Console	STS-6 SRB Cutter - Flown
STS-6 Micro-beads - Flown	STS-51D Valsalva - Flown
STS-51F Coca-Cola Can	STS-44 Crew Shirt - Flown
STS-70 Tire Sample - Flown	STS-87 Heatshield - Flown
Halsell T-38 Flight Suit	Musgrave T-38 Flight Suit
Shuttle - Pre STS-44 Food	Shuttle - Post STS-44 Food
Shuttle - EMU Glove	Shuttle SSME Bolt - Flown
Shuttle Insulation - Flown	Shuttle SRB Bracket - Flown
Shuttle ET Cross Section	STS-31 Frangible Nut
Shuttle RCS Nozzle - Flown	TM-20 Sokol Glove - Flown
TM-24 Crew Sneakers - Flown	TM-32 Hand Control - Flown
Gidzenko ISS Flight Suit	Mir Orlan Glove

Though I favor intact artifacts, fragments are often easier to locate and less expensive to acquire. The challenge is how best to display assorted loose cords, swatches, and segments of material.

The solution was an album with custom designed pages mounted with flown fragments from each American and Russian crewed spaceflight.

Click images to enlarge as well as read about each album page.

MR-03	MR-04	VK-02
MA-09	GT-03	GT-04
VK-06	GT-05	GT-06
GT-07	GT-08	GT-09
GT-10	GT-11	AS-07
AS-08	AS-09	AS-10
AS-11 [D]	AS-11	AS-12
AS-13	AS-14	AS-15 [D]
AS-15	AS-16	AS-17
ASTP	SL-01	STS-41C
STS-61	STS-71	STS-70
STS-74	STS-82	STS-86
STS-91	STS-95	STS-96
STS-93	STS-101	STS-92
STS-108	STS-107	LC

Another means of displaying fragments is by encasing them in acrylic. Unfortunately, the process is expensive and is not foolproof; you risk damaging the very item you are trying to preserve and display. When it works though, the results are stunning.

Click images to enlarge as well as read about each acrylic display.

Discoverer 14 Parachute	Mercury 4 Valve
Mercury 4 Film	Gemini 5 Heatshield
Apollo 10 Heatshield	Apollo 7-17 Kapton
Apollo 13 Fabric	Apollo 17 Kapton
Skylab Fiberglass	Shuttle STS-1 Tile
Shuttle STS-1 Pod Skin	Shuttle STS 1-3 RCC
Shuttle SSME Blade	Hubble Solar Cell
Shuttle STS-101 Pin	Spacelab Sprout

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