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Author
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Topic: Liberty Bell 7-flown unencapsulated artifact(s)
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SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-24-2011 12:32 AM
   
Recent collection acquisition, electronics removed from Gus Grissom's Mercury spacecraft which to my untrained eye looks like an amplifier package for the capsules communications system. Alluded to in the last paragraph of the accompanying Cosmosphere flight Certification Certificate there is the possibility of other components removed and in circulation - anyone else run into similar unencapsulated LB7 artifacts released from the capsule's restoration?  
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Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 06-24-2011 02:54 PM
I can confirm other sizeable artifacts from Liberty Bell have NOT been encapsualted and are in the hands of private collectors. I am not one of them but it is only reasonable that they make themselves and their artifacts known should they feel it appropriate to do so. I have to confess, it does cause me some concern to see such sizable items in private ownership when in my opinion they should still be in the spacecraft. I can understand why a "glooped-up" sludge on none descript nuts, blots or perished film were mounted in lucite displays to help fund the restoration. Restoration of such items would have been impractical on so many counts. But the intention surely was never to return the vehicle to a state of flight readiness; I am quite sure the items illustrated above, and other such pieces could have been returned to their rightful original place in what is after all a static none functioning display. The photographs above would suggest this item was perfectly adequate for such a role. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-24-2011 03:13 PM
Not just an issue of aesthetics; it's not good conservatory practice to leave intact corroded items, particularly corroded electronics as they continue to outgas and can cause additional deterioration to the surrounding environment. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-24-2011 03:22 PM
Not to mention it assumes that the components that surrounded the now non-encapsulated artifacts, which held the surviving pieces in place, if not actually defined the place where they were installed, also survived. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 06-24-2011 04:44 PM
quote:
Originally posted by SpaceAholic:
Not just an issue of aesthetics; it's not good conservatory practice...
That is a point I had not considered and must defer to your expertise in that area. |
MrSpace86
Member Posts: 1618
From: Gardner, KS, USA
Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 06-24-2011 06:09 PM
Curt Newport has given away items in the past such as film fragments and others that have not been encapsulated. I personally like the items being encapsulated but have been looking for a "Curt Newport LB7 item" for quite some time now. |
Spacepsycho
Member Posts: 818
From: Huntington Beach, Calif.
Registered: Aug 2004
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posted 06-25-2011 10:51 AM
quote:
Originally posted by SpaceAholic:
Not just an issue of aesthetics; it's not good conservatory practice to leave intact corroded items, particularly corroded electronics as they continue to outgas and can cause additional deterioration to the surrounding environment.
Scott, if electronic parts continue to outgas and corrode for many years, is there a manner that the parts can be treated as whole, in order to neutralize and stop further deterioration? By the way, nice find and you're one of a handful of collectors who would keep this piece intact. Unfortunately most dealers and more than a few collectors would have already cut this LB7 piece into it's components for embedding in a lucite display. While I have left all of the pieces I've collected intact, I have broken up a few vintage resins that contained multiple flown items and plan to display them separately. I just couldn't bring myself to breakup a beautiful piece like this but it is tempting. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-25-2011 11:13 AM
Some items naturally outgas... that's not what is at issue here.Primary concern is the corrosive effects of seawater on the materials used to encase the discreet electronic components which can (actually have) resulted in loss of integrity to the cases and expose the internal contents (resulting in the possibility of additional outgassing or even in some instances explosive rupture). Don't know of anyway to safely neutralize the effects of corrosion (without further adverse consequences to the artifact itself) - having a custom enclosure fabricated to protect and isolate from the rest of the collection. |
Spacepsycho
Member Posts: 818
From: Huntington Beach, Calif.
Registered: Aug 2004
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posted 06-25-2011 02:05 PM
Ok, I see what you're talking about. I know there have been issues with encapsulating artifacts that continued to outgas, ruining the lucite/resin. One thing that I've done with some unique items is to immerse them in a hermetically sealed case, then fill it with medical nitrogen or argon. While I don't get to see the item, at least I know it's protected from further degradation. |
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