Hmmmm, first thought was "can't be" as orbiter parts are US government property, assuming this part is actually in your possession?
Quote from: Chris Bergin on 02/05/2009 10:20 amHmmmm, first thought was "can't be" as orbiter parts are US government property, assuming this part is actually in your possession?Spent shuttle parts are scrapped and sold off through surplus sales: http://surplus.ksc.nasa.gov/It used to be more common that the parts were scrapped with their tags intact, allowing knowledgeable scrap metal dealers and collectors to at least learn when the part was removed and from what orbiter, allowing a "last flight" status as described in the Google result above. So as long as a part was obtained legally, is documented as scrapped and you have the deaccession paperwork, it is legal to own. (There may be further limitations preventing export of the part outside of the U.S., but that's a separate issue.)
If I understand it correctly that part belongs to vent door no. 9.Maybe some of the guys who know more than "The Shuttle is a spaceship" can put the link below into something understandable for earthbound people.http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/technology/sts-newsref/stsref-toc.html#sts_purge
Say an exhibit with a NASA educator included a shuttle tile that was flaking off material, would it be illegal to collect that material instead of letting it go into the trash?
Google says:High Temperature Insulator flown on Orbiter Columbia (OV-102)This Inboard Forward High Temperature Insulator was flown on STS - 94 (Columbia - OV102) from 7/1 - 7/17/1997. It may well have flown on prior flights as the NASA documentation indicates it was removed from the orbiter one month following STS - 94 and prior to the flight of STS-87 in November of that year. This substantial piece of flown material measures 6.75" long x 2" high x .75" thick. It is accompanied by a NASA Unserviceable Tag along with matching serial nos.
Quote from: Ronsmytheiii on 02/05/2009 06:08 pmSay an exhibit with a NASA educator included a shuttle tile that was flaking off material, would it be illegal to collect that material instead of letting it go into the trash?Technically, all government property remains government property until the government declares it is not government property. So, in theory, the government could come looking for those scraps and demand their return. ...
Thanks to the guys for all the technical info. As I said I was just wondering where it lived and what it's purpose might have been. Are there any drawings/diagrams around that show the exact position? Best wishes,Bill