NASA@50: Fifty years of space collectibles

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Author	Topic: NASA@50: Fifty years of space collectibles
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 10-02-2008 01:11 AM collectSPACE NASA@50: Fifty years of space collectibles The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA as it is more commonly referred to today, began operations 50 years ago on Oct. 1, 1958. Charged with leading the nation's civilian research into air travel and space exploration, it was the latter that caught the public's imagination, which in turn led to a wide desire for commemorative and actual pieces of NASA's exploits in outer space. In honor of NASA's anniversary, collectSPACE offers the following colorful tour through the agency's first 50 years as guided by the space collectibles it inspired. Each item pictured is contemporary to the milestone it was selected to portray.
Jake Member Posts: 464 From: Issaquah, WA U.S.A. Registered: Jun 2002	posted 10-02-2008 02:37 PM I wonder which items in MY collection would best represent certain years. So, just for fun... Note: I only collect the "first 20 years of manned US spaceflight" - April 12, 1961 to April 12, 1981 so it is a shorter list... 1961: Vintage Topping Mercury capsule model 1962: 1/35 scale ESTES Mercury Redstone model built by Dave Ginsberg & signed by Scott C & Gordo C 1963: Boeing Model Shop Dyna-Soar model - cast from an original model 1964: Vintage Boeing Model Shop Manned Orbiting Lab (MOL) model 1965: Vintage Lockheed Model Shop Gemini/Agena model 1966: Dick Gordon's Post-flight Gemini II jumpsuit 1967: Vintage North American Rockwell Command/Service Module model 1968: Signed "Earthrise" 1969: Vintage Grumman Lunar Module model 1970: Vintage Topping Sikorsky Sea King recovery helicopter model 1971: Vintage North American "Medium Performance Re-entry Vehicle" patent model 1972: 1/200 scale Saturn V model signed by Gene C 1973: 1/100 scale Nick Proach Skylab model 1974: Vintage TANG ad for Skylab 1975: NASA's chief ASTP translator's commemorative drink glass 1976: Vintage Rockwell(?) Space Shuttle prototype model 1977: Vintage 1/100 scale Boeing Model Shop Boeing 747 with Shuttle 1978: Boeing's patent submittal for the "shuttle with 747" concept (photocopy) 1979: Original NASA Press release with status of shuttle program(?) 1980: Vintage Rockwell 1/144 scale Space Shuttle Columbia model 1981: Vintage Rockwell 1/200 scale Rockwell Space Shuttle stack model ------------------ Jake Schultz - curator, Newport Way Air Museum (OK, it's just my home)
RMH Member Posts: 577 From: Ohio Registered: Mar 2001	posted 10-02-2008 03:45 PM Nicely put together Robert. Shows the array of collectibles that is offered for us enthusiasts along with a nice look back in NASA history.
Hawkman Member Posts: 400 From: Union, New Jersey Registered: Jan 2001	posted 10-03-2008 11:55 AM VERY nicely done, Robert! I enjoyed the article and the photos.
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 10-03-2008 01:08 PM Thanks guys! It was a fun (if not also very time-consuming) article to assemble. There may be a spin-off in the works, too... Jake, I really enjoyed reading your personal timeline. My selections were made to try to represent as many different types of collectibles as possible. If others would like to share their lists, either based on their own collections or their ideal choices, it would be great to see here...
Jake Member Posts: 464 From: Issaquah, WA U.S.A. Registered: Jun 2002	posted 10-03-2008 04:30 PM Thanks Robert, I had no idea it took you that long to develop your list. That's almost an hour of your effort per NASA year...(!) Way to go...
SpaceAholic Member Posts: 4437 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999	posted 10-03-2008 05:26 PM quote: Originally posted by Robert Pearlman: There may be a spin-off in the works, too... I am slightly biased of course but hope it will include more hardware!]
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 10-03-2008 05:31 PM quote: Originally posted by SpaceAholic: I am slightly biased of course but hope it will include more hardware! I considered this (as a hardware fan myself) but I really wanted to showcase items that many people could own rather than one-of-a-kind items. Skylab parts and shuttle tiles seemed like good examples of hardware that were/are available in mass quantity. I had considered including Apollo kapton too, but the timeline was to be composed of "collectibles" rather than artifacts. The spin-off is a 'go' for Monday morning. It is not so much a different list than a different venue for its presentation...
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 10-06-2008 08:46 AM quote: Originally posted by Robert Pearlman: a different venue for its presentation... And that 'venue' would be NASA's own website: Collecting 50 Years of NASA Space History ...where an abbreviated version of the article and a photo gallery are now online.
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 10-14-2008 11:55 AM Another adaptation of the original, this one a slideshow assembled by The New York Times: Space Souvenirs
E2M Lem Man Member Posts: 846 From: Los Angeles CA. USA Registered: Jan 2005	posted 10-14-2008 03:30 PM Jake and Robert, gee, I almost have most of what you guys mentioned. I would have put down for 1975 an ASTP stand model from Rockwell though. I can't wait to get the new museum opened here in Downey!

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