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Author
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Topic: 250810857448: NASA shipping container
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David Carey
Member Posts: 782
From:
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 05-02-2011 07:13 AM
   
OK, I couldn't resist: NASA "Spacecrafts Parts Tag" Shipping ContainerI have two theories but curious to see what others might guess as to use? Thanks for any/all expertise and SWAGs... |
David Carey
Member Posts: 782
From:
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 05-10-2011 01:21 PM
Well, item was received with a surprising conclusion. More than a container-only as listed on the eBay auction, the purge-vessel contained a fascinating piece of opto-electronics inside, carefully shock mounted, and clearly a retroreflector. With Scott "SpaceAholic" Schneeweis expertise brought into the mix (thanks Scott!), the instrument in question was identified as pertaining to the MA-059 Ultraviolet Absorption experiment from ASTP. Obviously a flight spare (the three retroreflectors used in MA-059 stayed in space), it nonetheless was seemingly poised for action with a Class I designation on the still-intact tags. The purge-vessel was used for controlled shipment to the Soviets for installation on Soyuz. As can be seen in the images, the optical array was covered by an electronically-activated lid to be left closed right up until the experiment to safeguard the fragile mirrors/coatings. No clue as to whether it was sent and returned or simply remained stateside, but an intact piece of ASTP experimental gear and eBay good fortune. Not exactly a "Rembrandt in the Attic" but perhaps as close as I'll get.  
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stsmithva
Member Posts: 1933
From: Fairfax, VA, USA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 05-10-2011 02:16 PM
That is cool! Do you think it was listed only as a container because the seller couldn't open it? From the pictures, it looked incredibly solid. Great $99 find! |
space1
Member Posts: 853
From: Danville, Ohio
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 05-10-2011 02:50 PM
Congratulations on a very nice find! And a tip of the hat to Scott for the identification. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-10-2011 03:19 PM
A happy ending for an artifact that might have otherwise been trash-bound; congrats on a very nice addition to your collection David. |
David Carey
Member Posts: 782
From:
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 05-11-2011 08:05 AM
quote:
Originally posted by stsmithva:
That is cool! Do you think it was listed only as a container because the seller couldn't open it? From the pictures, it looked incredibly solid. Great $99 find!
Solid, yes, but I didn't find it too difficult to remove the remaining two bolts of the top cover (8 bolts were originally present). Perhaps the seller didn't find obvious by weight/feel that it housed anything, so little effort was expended. As for me, I'll tend to open up pretty much anything out of curiosity and 'just to be sure'!
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craigerocksngemz
Member Posts: 48
From: Pa
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 08-14-2011 11:46 AM
Just wondering the value of something like this. You said you got it for $100. Very cool stuff! To think that was supposed to be opened by an astronaut... and you got to open it. VERRRRY COOOOOOOL!!!! |
David Carey
Member Posts: 782
From:
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 08-17-2011 07:09 PM
Swear I'll never post on this item again but ran across a good-enough ASTP/Soyuz photo today to finally locate one of the three retro-reflectors. Again my find wasn't one of the three flown/used and sacrificed to re-entry of course, but at least I found an image showing the exact same instrument in place. Fun. It's still a little fuzzy in my enhancement (click on the photo below to enlarge) but this is the item for sure when you compare the details.  |
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