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Author Topic:   US Space & Rocket Center: Skylab 1G Trainer
Robert Pearlman
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posted 07-24-2006 09:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
From US Space News, July 2006:
Skylab Restoration Project

In 1968 NASA ordered two identical flight qualified space stations (Skylab) built along with 3 full scale training mockups. One flight version, the 1st US Space Station was flown in 1973 and orbited the Earth until 1979; the second flight element is now on display at the National Air and Space Museum. One full scale mockup, used by astronauts and engineers at MSFC during the 3 crewed Skylab missions (73-74) was on display for many years at the US Space and Rocket Center (USRC) located in Huntsville Alabama. Several years ago the Skylab exhibit was moved outside. The original temporary weather coverings have failed and Skylab has suffered the effects of rain, sun, wind, plants, dust/dirt, mold, animals and vandals. Right now the Skylab artifact is nearing a point of no return.

To save Skylab the Alabama/Mississippi section of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) started the Skylab Restoration Project (SRP). AIAA is seeking volunteers to help save this unique part the US Space Program.

Our 1st effort will be to stabilize the situation and remove (save) as much historic material as possible. Each volunteer will be given a US Space and Rocket Center Volunteer badge (24/7 access). We hope to start work in the next 10 days.

rjurek349
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posted 07-25-2006 09:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for rjurek349   Click Here to Email rjurek349     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Wow, that is really sad to see... and at the same time, it tugs at the heart when your recall the pictures of the crew in pre-flight training. Thanks for posting, my check is going out with today's mail.

GACspaceguy
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posted 07-25-2006 10:17 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for GACspaceguy   Click Here to Email GACspaceguy     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I am so glad that there is some activity here. I had seen this deterioration when I was there three years ago and talked to one of those "in charge" people that day. They had assured me at that time that the parking lot was just a temporary location. The next time I was there (two years later) the pieces were wrapped in that type of plastic that your see boats covered in when being shipped overland (some form of protection at least) . When I passed through this May the plastic was torn and tattered from exposure and did not provide any protection. I hope they can get this piece of history in a shelter ASAP. I certainly will be contributing and wish I lived closer so that I could volunteer my time. Thanks for the notice Robert!

DavidH
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posted 07-25-2006 10:57 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for DavidH   Click Here to Email DavidH     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here are some recent pictures I took of the upper area and the exterior. (The exterior shots are before they started doing groundwork for the Saturn V center, not sure if the view has changed.)

I am so excited to hear that this is getting started. What a much-needed project!

SpaceDust
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posted 07-25-2006 06:01 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SpaceDust     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Okay, let me see if I have this right. They got a Saturn V and let it deteriorate. They got a Skylab mockup and they let it deteriorate. Maybe someone should ask should these people be getting these space artifacts to begin with. Maybe someone should check their accountability before they let something else fall apart. This is pretty sad. I thought when NASA gave things to museums there were strict rules to go by. Maybe I'm wrong.

DavidH
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posted 07-26-2006 09:15 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for DavidH   Click Here to Email DavidH     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
To be fair, the Saturn V at USSRC is hardly the only rocket on display outside in the world, and exposure to weather is going to, well, weather something.

At the recent Saturn/Apollo reunion, there was discussion of the fact that the Saturn V here was in better shape when the renovation began than the one at JSC had been, and it's been on display longer.

In addition, the Saturn V has been restored, and a multimillion-dollar project to better preserve it is well underway.

So I don't know that that's an entirely fair criticism.

Skylab rotting in the parking lot, though -- yeah, that's just pathetic.

But I have no reason to think it's representative of USSRC.

Orthon
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From: San Tan Valley, Arizona 85143
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posted 07-26-2006 02:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Orthon   Click Here to Email Orthon     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Maybe all this displayed hardware spread around should have been used for its intended purpose?

Choose2Go
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From: Merritt Island, FL, USA
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posted 07-27-2006 02:59 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Choose2Go     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
More images from the parking lot may be seen at the Field Guide.

The OP mentioned two flight and three trainer Skylabs. Another Skylab trainer is at Space Center Houston. Where is the third? Is it the mockup in the rocket park at Huntsville?

Robert Pearlman
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posted 08-06-2006 02:20 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The restoration effort now has its own website.

On the site they are posting updates to their work and photographs from the Skylab 1G Trainer (including archival images of its original appearance).

From their initial restoration plan:

Our 1st effort is to stop any further damage. To do this we are removing as much experiment hardware as we can. We are seeking a Tyvek cover (30 feet in diameter) to cover the top of the Primary deck and keep the rain out. We are also working to arrest the mold and rust. About 30% of the training mock-up is made of wood and most has suffered damage or been destroyed. We will remove, store and save all we can. We will remove all the Beta cloth from the 1st deck (hot air ducting, sleep quarters partitions).
Also noted:
Next June Skylab (it's elements) will be moved into the new Saturn V building.

DavidH
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posted 08-07-2006 10:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for DavidH   Click Here to Email DavidH     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I went to the kick-off meeting yesterday. It looks like this is going to be a challenge, with a few long tent-poles, but it also looks very do-able. I'm really looking forward to getting started.

DavidH
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posted 08-10-2006 09:20 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for DavidH   Click Here to Email DavidH     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The Orange County Register has a fresh story about the project.

(My favorite part of the new story: "The trainer is basically part a former Saturn rocket. It's shaped like a enormous beer can.")

Our first work session will be Saturday morning.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 10-13-2006 06:59 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
From: SaveSkylab.org
Donate $100 (tax deductible) to the Skylab Restoration Project and we will send you a flight qualified Solar Cell.

According to the site, the flight qualified Skylab solar cells were produced in Sept. 1970 and are being donated by the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.

FFrench
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posted 10-13-2006 07:29 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for FFrench     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
That's a cool offer, and what a great cause!!

I notice on the 'Save Skylab' link above that some large local aerospace companies have donated money, and others are considering it. I am wondering if cS readers can help at all, such as writing thank-you letters to the donating companies?

Robert Pearlman
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posted 11-20-2006 11:38 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
SaveSkylab.org status report
November 19, 2006

We received news Friday that Skylab will not go indoors for the next 2 years. This leaves use out in the cold (literally). We are still on schedule to be completed with our restoration efforts by June 2007. In work now are efforts to understand how we can preserve Skylab while in remains outside for the additional year, We need to develop methods to keep the humidity down, water out, mold under control and the animals away. We have also been asked by the Space and Rocket Center to raise $20,000 to buy them a building to hold Skylab. This is beyond our plan and well beyond what money we have raised to save the Skylab space station 1-G trainer. If you would like to donate $20,000 they will put your name, the name of your company, etc on the side of it forever. If you are interested please send me an email. On the restoration front we successful closed the MDA to Airlock pressure hatch (the seals and latches still worked!) We removed several lockers and storage boxes from the MDA and scraped away a considerable amount of lose and pealing paint away. We found about 6 inches of rain on the roof of the 1st deck that we removed (we had a few good storms this past week). If not for our efforts to restore and protect the 1st deck and install a covering on it that 6 inches of rain would be sitting in the bottom Skylab, in lockers, systems and on structures. Just as it did for over 7 years. Painting is behind schedule. We hope the painters will show up this week. This 1-g trainer is important, one of two left in the world. By June next year it will be the best.

In addition to offering solar cells in return for $100 donations as noted above, the restoration effort is now offering Skylab beta cloth and soap bars as well. For details, see SaveSkylab.org.

FFrench
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posted 11-22-2006 08:46 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for FFrench     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'd like to thank David Hitt for arranging a very illuminating tour of the parts of the trainer being restored. Here are some of the photos taken (as you can see, sometimes you find former astronaut trainers are complete with former astronauts!). This trainer has the potential of being the best Skylab display of them all, and is an incredible piece of historic hardware that should be the centerpiece of any Huntsville display - after all, this was the town that built the first multi-crewed Space Station!

$20,000 is a tiny amount for most large companies (many probably spend around that per year stocking kitchen and bathroom supplies) and I am having a hard time imagining that there isn't a company, Huntsville-based or not, aerospace-related or not, who would not jump on the chance of having their name on such a building (right next to a freeway) and being linked to such a prestigious object. They probably just don't know about the opportunity.

I know that many of us in the business world have contacts to development / fundraising people in industry. As a way we can truly make a difference with these "ultimate space collectibles," I encourage people to send this info. out to their contacts - I certainly am.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 12-02-2006 11:24 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
From Tom Hancock with SaveSkylab.org:
The US Space and Rocket Center (USSRC) made a surprise announcement today. As of December 1, 2006 they started a Skylab preservation effort of there own. Ours is concluded as of today. This announcement was the reason for the surprise request Thursday by the USSRC to bring back Skylab structures and systems volunteers have been refurbishing, cleaning and rebuilding. Once the USSRC formally establishes plans, process, procedures and methods we will be welcome to take part again (as members of the USSRC team). As of today no further work will take place on Skylab until the spring of 2007.

This will prevent completion of our planned restoration of Skylab by June of 2007. A new estimated date for completion of the restoration of Skylab by the USSRC is not yet determined.

This effort was a lot of fun. People learned how crewed spacecraft where built a generation ago, held history in there hands, made an impact and save US and Alabama space history for the future.

I know our efforts are appreciated. If not for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), United Space Alliance (USA), the people who have volunteered time every Saturday for the last 6 months and donated money/supplies the Skylab 1-g trainer would be a lost cause.

In the past 4 months we have:

  • Cleaned and restored 85% of the 1st deck, compartments and lockers
  • Cleaned, repaired and restored 80% of the structure and assemblies in the 1st deck
  • Replaced/repaired wooden structures for the 1st deck
  • Cleaned and repaired beta cloth
  • Cleaned the crew shower
  • Cleaned the lower-body negative pressure experiment
  • Cleaned crew intercoms
  • Found and installed a replacement crew freezer for the wardroom (the original was destroyed by water and weather)
  • Cleaned the crew sleep area equipment
  • Hand scrubbed the sub flooring thru the deck grating (this involved using a small brush, water, cleaner and a shop vacuum. Going from grid to grid it took over 2 hours to clean 3 sq. ft.), and
  • Restored many, many small systems and structures
We fixed the MDA airlock hatches, closed the airlock EVA hatch and started to clean and remove debris form the MDA structure.

We discovered unique historic items. As an example we found the 6-pack rate gyros a Skylab crew test fitted in the MDA prior to replacing them on orbit in Skylab.

Our volunteers consisted of college students, recent graduates, engineers, scientist, technicians, managers and trades people. In short, the good people of Alabama. I hope everyone will take part again next year when the USSRC is ready. REMEMBER, you made a difference, you saved history.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 06-27-2007 09:27 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
SaveSkylab.org status report
She's Just Rotting Away
June 27, 2007

The USSRC Skylab Restoration Effort is still on hold. Nothing has been done in 7 months to save her. This bit of US space history just keeps rotting away.

The USSRC wants $2,000,000 dollars for a new building before work to save Skylab can start again. In not much time little will be worth saving. They need to move Skylab (the space she sits now will be a parking lot for the new Saturn V Building). The location is TBD. They taped up the MDA today but the weather covering on the 1st deck has failed again exposing it to rain, dust, etc.

The USSRC is looking for $2,000,000 to erect a new Shuttle building (they have the USAF temp shelter to be used if an Orbiter ever had to land after an emergency in an area without facilities, like from a TAL) in hopes of getting an orbiter (they have talked about getting for the Enterprise from the National Air and Space Museum in Dulles VA). With 3 flight Orbiters available in 2.5 years, it's sure one will go to JSC, one will stay at KSC and one will go to the National Air and Space Museum Annex in Dulles VA.

Maybe the chance of an Orbiter is more important than Skylab, maybe not. We are going to ask the BOD of a major National Technical Society if they will fund the new building. But no promises.

rocketJoe
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posted 06-29-2007 05:20 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for rocketJoe   Click Here to Email rocketJoe     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
So let me get this straight:

Several years ago, the USSRC moved the one-of-a-kind Skylab mock-up from the museum interior into a parking lot.

Last summer, Tom Hancock organized a restoration effort which included the hard work of several volunteers (see above) as well as individual financial contributors.

Approximately six months ago, the USSRC stopped the volunteer effort because they had decided to take over the restoration effort.

Since then, the USSRC has done nothing but allow the Skylab mock-up to continue to deteriorate in the parking lot.

Pitiful.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 07-05-2007 10:41 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
From The Huntsville Times:

Skylab not forgotten, say center officials

Thongsay Vongpaseuth can remember the inspiration that put her on the path to being an aerospace engineer: It was in the mid-1980s as a Space Camp attendee and seeing the full mock-up of Dr. Wernher von Braun's last major project with NASA - Skylab - looming over the U.S. Space & Rocket Center display floor.

Now, the Skylab trainer is in pieces, exposed and adjacent to the main rocket park of the Space Center. The one-of-a-kind craft is being slowly worn away by weather damage and it has become a home for birds and rodents.

No space for space artifacts
Space is considered the final frontier by science fiction and NASA buffs, but for the U.S. Space & Rocket Center the expansion of museum space has to be met to bolster public interest, rocket center managers said Tuesday.

Thousands of space artifacts, unique blueprints and Apollo-era drawings along with personal memorabilia donated by retired aerospace workers wait in storage for the day when the space heritage can be displayed properly, said U.S. Space & Rocket Center CEO Larry Capps.

Harry Bennett
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posted 07-07-2007 08:43 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Harry Bennett   Click Here to Email Harry Bennett     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It's too bad they won't do anything with this...

I'd like to see it in a display. If they got serious about restoring it, I'd make a trip up there and donate my services as a professional automotive painter and restorer. Saving decades old 'things' is my hobby/business.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 02-17-2008 02:34 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
February 15, 2008 update from SaveSkylab.org:
Skylab Will Soon Be Lost
It's been a year since the temporary weather cover blew off about 1/3 of the 1st deck.

We have asked the USSRC pull it back in place (it will take one person with a ladder and about 10 min to accomplish). We had the 1st deck 80% restored. With significant construction next to this historic artifact and weather all our work to save Skylab is undone. We hope someday efforts are made to save Skylab while the shell still remains intact.

Matt T
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posted 02-18-2008 01:50 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Matt T   Click Here to Email Matt T     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This is a pretty disgraceful state of affairs.

If you want to encourage them to spend the ten minutes it would take to alleviate the worst of the weather exposure you can email the USSRC through the form here.

Obviousman
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posted 02-20-2008 04:53 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Obviousman   Click Here to Email Obviousman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Why are they not doing this? It doesn't make sense. I'm sure if it were that easy, they'd do it... so why aren't they? I would imagine they want to protect the exhibit as much as anyone.

Mr Meek
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posted 02-21-2008 11:13 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mr Meek     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Yeah, the USSRC seems to realize that it's caught with its proverbial pants down on this. I don't understand why they've not replaced the cover, but that's only part of the issue.

The Skylab mockup is sitting just off of the east parking lot, about 100 yards from the end of the new Davidson Center. They've got their largest triumph sitting right next to a rather large embarrassment.

I talked to a guard at the USSRC who had been working there for about 15 years. He remembered having to chase out visitors who would try to hide in Skylab when it was in the main museum. He wanted to see the mockup moved back inside, especially as items are moved from the main museum to the Davidson Center.

On the one hand, I want to give the USSRC the benefit of the doubt. Money doesn't just magically appear, and they need a considerable amount to mount a full restoration effort. And yet, they could save themselves money by sending an employee and a ladder out to the parking lot. It just doesn't make sense.

I still hold out hope that they'll do the right thing before it's too late, though.

Obviousman
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posted 02-22-2008 12:10 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Obviousman   Click Here to Email Obviousman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Exactly, Mr Meek, exactly.

Volunteers did a terrific job to start with, but perhaps now is the time for a professional crew to take on the more demanding aspects.

I can fully understand a restoration project on this scale takes a great deal of money.

Perhaps the Centre does not wish to detract from other fund-raising activities with a call to save Skylab; that is understandable.

But why let the work that has been done degrade, and drive the costs of professional restoration up by failing to offer the most basic of environmental protection?

This is what gets me - it simply is not making sense to a layman like myself. Perhaps if the USSRC would explain why this is happening, it might make sense... but they do not appear to have done so as yet.

capoetc
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posted 02-22-2008 10:21 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for capoetc   Click Here to Email capoetc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Maybe I'm missing something here, but will NASA officials not give permission to a volunteer who lives in the local area to go out and throw a tarp over the thing? Does it require some kind of huge, ridiculously-expensive tarp?

I would think there would be someone living close by who would be willing to take a couple hours to do the job. I must be missing something.

rocketJoe
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posted 02-22-2008 01:06 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for rocketJoe   Click Here to Email rocketJoe     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I think the leadership at the USSRC is missing something...

Robert Pearlman
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posted 03-07-2008 08:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
March 7, 2008 update from SaveSkylab.org:
Almost 8 years ago, the US Space and Rocket Center moved the original Skylab 1-g trainer (full of equipment) into a parking lot. It sat abandoned. For 6 months in 2006 volunteers worked to save Skylab. In December 2006 that worked was stopped by the USSRC and no additional efforts made to save Skylab.

In March of 2007 the temporary weather cover put in place by the volunteers was blown off one third of the low deck during a storm. Despite repeated requests to the curator and CEO of the US Space and Rocket Center, no effort has been made to pull the weather cover back in place. It's now been one year. This is blind neglect of a historic space artifact.

Help save Skylab by writing to the Governor of Alabama. Ask that he take efforts to save Skylab. One person with a ladder could put the weather cover on the lower deck in 10 min and help stop further damage until a full restoration can someday begin.

Governor Riley
State Capitol
600 Dexter Avenue
Montgomery, Alabama 36130

spacekid2
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posted 03-08-2008 01:18 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for spacekid2   Click Here to Email spacekid2     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I went to Governor Riley's web page and left an e-mail. One of the questions on the e-mail form was what the e-mail was about.

I chose Disaster Assistance

It seemed appropriate because it will be a disaster if the Skylab Trainer is left outside any longer.

I hope all of the cS community e-mails the governor as well. It is the least we can do.

AFGAS
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posted 03-10-2008 05:16 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for AFGAS   Click Here to Email AFGAS     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Maybe I'm missing something here, but will NASA officials not give permission to a volunteer who lives in the local area to go out and throw a tarp over the thing? Does it require some kind of huge, ridiculously-expensive tarp?

I should have responded to this a couple weeks ago, but want to remind cS readers that NASA has no control over artifacts not on its inventory. In most cases, anything historically significant is controlled by NASM. But there is also much in the private hands of museums. While NASM could dictate to the Space and Rocket Center what it could do with the Saturn V, it has no authority over Skylab.

ScottJ
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posted 03-18-2008 12:54 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for ScottJ   Click Here to Email ScottJ     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The tarp was replaced on 3/17/08:

Robert Pearlman
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posted 05-19-2008 05:32 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The U.S. Space and Rocket Center is now collecting donations to 'Save the Skylab' trainer both in the museum (see below) and online.

The text on the base of the display reads:

Skylab Training Module

The U.S. Space and Rocket Center is home to one of the three full-scale training modules built for Skylab, America's first space station. This module was used for training by astronauts and engineers at Marshall Space Flight Center during the Skylab missions. The Skylab training module is currently awaiting restoration.

Mr Meek
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posted 05-19-2008 06:14 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mr Meek     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Well. Something is, after all, better than nothing. I feel both frustrated and relieved.

I think it's important to put the USSRC in some sort of financial context. I remember a time in the mid-late 90's where there was talk of the Center closing due to financial strain. That they've been able to do this much is a testament to their management. And the Davidson Center and restored Saturn V should be a source of optimism for the Center's future.

In a perfect world, there'd be no shortage of funding to preserve these artifacts. Of course, in a perfect world, I'd be able to just write a check for the $5.5 million the USSRC foundation is attempting to raise.

FFrench
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posted 05-19-2008 07:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for FFrench     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Mr Meek:
In a perfect world, there'd be no shortage of funding to preserve these artifacts.
It is worth remembering that this artifact was well preserved on indoor display in the museum, and had been for decades... until it was decided to move it outside and replace it with, as I understand it, a newly-constructed mockup of a part of the Mir space station, a mockup which had no particular historical value or worth, nor connection to Huntsville's place in space history.

So this wasn't so much a funding choice as a (in my opinion) rather odd sense of priorities. And, by the (off-the-record) admission of many at the center, in hindsight it was a bad decision.

None of this, of course, takes away from the other excellent displays at the center and the amazing recent efforts to preserve the Saturn V there. Overall, the center is one of the best space display venues in the world.

Mr Meek
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posted 05-19-2008 11:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mr Meek     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by FFrench:
this artifact was well preserved on indoor display in the museum, and had been for decades... until it was decided to move it outside and replace it with, as I understand it, a newly-constructed mockup of a part of the Mir space station

If memory serves (and I was in junior high school at the time, so it may not), the Mir station was part of an overall Russian exhibit. I remember it being in there with the Skylab mockup, to the outside wall where the V2 and LM trainer are now. The addition of the Apollo displays, LM trainer, V2 rocket, and various engines crowded the main floor enough that something had to go.

I, too would've put the Mir mockup outside rather than Skylab.

AFGAS
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posted 05-22-2008 10:50 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for AFGAS   Click Here to Email AFGAS     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Mr Meek:
I, too would've put the Mir mockup outside rather than Skylab.
Of course, there already was and is an outside Skylab!

astropat
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posted 06-20-2008 03:56 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for astropat   Click Here to Email astropat     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I was wondering if there is any new news about the status of this piece of history. I hope it is at least sealed up or stored inside somewhere.

Mr Meek
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posted 07-14-2008 02:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mr Meek     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It's still outside, with the weather covers on. The donation boxes for both Skylab and the Mobile Quarantine Facility seem to have attracted some financial interest.

Also, it looks like the USSRC is shifting things in the main museum to re-accommodate Skylab. All of the rocket engines formerly in the main museum have been moved to their appropriate stages next to the Saturn V in the Davidson Center. I'm unsure what will happen to Casper (Apollo 16), the CM/LM trainers, and the V-2. However, that group of artifacts will have to move to the Davidson Center, or the Mir mockup will have to move in order to fit Skylab easily.

It's enough to make one wonder what the designers of the museum were thinking all those years ago. The main floor is just too small.

Mr Meek
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posted 11-25-2008 10:01 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mr Meek     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The SaveSkylab.org site is no longer accessible. As reported previously, volunteer efforts have been halted for quite some time as the USSRC raises funds.

SpaceAholic
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posted 11-25-2008 10:04 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for SpaceAholic   Click Here to Email SpaceAholic     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Mr Meek:
I'm unsure what will happen to Casper (Apollo 16),
Casper will be relocated to the Davidson Center as well.


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