July 19, 2009: Trailer trashed

xoxoxoBruce • Jul 19, 2009 12:19 am

The modified Airsteam trailer used to quarantine the Apollo 12 crew, aboard the U.S.S. Hornet, when they returned from the Moon, was thought to have been destroyed in a forest fire after being given to the Georgia Department of Forestry for use as a portable command center for the wildland firefighters.

Well it twern't. :headshake

Dr. Paul Johnson, the newly appointed supervisor for the Aquatic Biodiversity Center at the Alabama Department of Conservation, was assessing the West Alabama fish hatchery, when he saw what appeared to be an Airstream travel trailer without wheels.

A space enthusiast, Johnson had visited the U.S. Space & Rocket Center when the Apollo 11 MQF was on loan to the Huntsville facility before the Smithsonian moved it to the Udvar-Hazy Center. On closer examination, Johnson was stunned to find what he believed to be an authentic space artifact.

They're planning on spending 100 grand to restore it for display.

"What kind of find is it? It's like finding a Rembrandt in a yard sale. There aren't going to be any more of these," said Al Whitaker, Space Center spokesman.

link

better link but PDF

Warren Peas • Jul 19, 2009 12:27 am

c'mon folks we all know the lunar landing was at best advanced photo shopping, like how far are we going to carry this farce.

diminished • Jul 19, 2009 1:46 am

100k to restore it?

I'll stick some wheels back on there for 50k...and then enjoy the 49.9k profit I made on the deal.

xoxoxoBruce • Jul 19, 2009 1:52 am

No wheels, it's never had them. :headshake

ZenGum • Jul 19, 2009 3:49 am

Yeah, [snort] they don't have roads in space. silly. :p

capnhowdy • Jul 19, 2009 9:37 am

...or Airstreams either.

ZenGum • Jul 19, 2009 10:46 am

Imagine towing that thing behind Apollo 11. How did they manage?

dar512 • Jul 19, 2009 1:31 pm

ZenGum;582452 wrote:
Imagine towing that thing behind Apollo 11. How did they manage?

A specially made hitch. More info on wiki.

Medic63 • Jul 19, 2009 2:36 pm

Ha ha :greenface

spudcon • Jul 19, 2009 3:56 pm

Wow Dar, that's an amazing trailer hitch. Thanks for the info.:D

Shawnee123 • Jul 19, 2009 8:24 pm

I've never seen anything quite like it.

ZenGum • Jul 19, 2009 10:00 pm

I'm at work, there's no way I am clicking on that from here. Now I just have to go mad wondering until I get home.

xoxoxoBruce • Jul 19, 2009 10:02 pm

It's a shame you have to wait, you really deserve to see it.

lumberjim • Jul 19, 2009 10:12 pm

I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling. That is one link I'm glad i clicked.

JuancoRocks • Jul 20, 2009 1:48 am

.......Ouch! That cuts deep.......

capnhowdy • Jul 20, 2009 7:54 am

Yep. Just when you think you've seen it all.

Kolohe • Jul 20, 2009 8:09 am

According to some, the whole Lunar landing thing was full of hitches.

ZenGum • Jul 20, 2009 8:56 am

OMG how is that even anatomically possible?

Wow.

Howdy Kolohe :welcome:

Gravdigr • Jul 20, 2009 5:09 pm

dar512;582474 wrote:
A specially made hitch. More info on wiki.

Oh, I just hate those damn hitches!!:mad2: