Author Topic: Lost rocket relics (Read 13468 times)

Blackstar · « **on:** 10/13/2023 08:08 pm »

They tore down the Saturn IB that was at the rest stop in Alabama a week ago. It's now scrap.

There was an Atlas ICBM on display in Toronto that was also scrapped a few years ago.

And there was also a Saturn I test article first stage in Huntsville that was being offered to museums, but I presume is now scrapped.

Can anybody think of other rockets/stages that were on display in the US or Canada that were eventually destroyed? I'm thinking of doing an article about that subject.

Thorny · « **Reply #1 on:** 10/13/2023 08:13 pm »

Quote from: Blackstar on 10/13/2023 08:08 pm

They tore down the Saturn IB that was at the rest stop in Alabama a week ago. It's now scrap.

There was an Atlas ICBM on display in Toronto that was also scrapped a few years ago.

And there was also a Saturn I test article first stage in Huntsville that was being offered to museums, but I presume is now scrapped.

Can anybody think of other rockets/stages that were on display in the US or Canada that were eventually destroyed? I'm thinking of doing an article about that subject.

There was a Titan I in Titusville, Florida across the river from KSC. It was damaged when a car crashed into it in 2005. There was some attempt to repair/refurbish it, but I don't recall reading any more about it.

Jim · « **Reply #2 on:** 10/13/2023 08:15 pm »

Quote from: Blackstar on 10/13/2023 08:08 pm

They tore down the Saturn IB that was at the rest stop in Alabama a week ago. It's now scrap.

There was an Atlas ICBM on display in Toronto that was also scrapped a few years ago.

And there was also a Saturn I test article first stage in Huntsville that was being offered to museums, but I presume is now scrapped.

Can anybody think of other rockets/stages that were on display in the US or Canada that were eventually destroyed? I'm thinking of doing an article about that subject.

All the rockets in front of the Patrick AFB Tech Lab

Jim · « **Reply #3 on:** 10/13/2023 08:20 pm »

Titusville High School Titan I

edkyle99 · « **Reply #4 on:** 10/13/2023 09:22 pm »

Quote from: Jim on 10/13/2023 08:15 pm

All the rockets in front of the Patrick AFB Tech Lab

Some of those, I think, may have ended up at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Museum, at least for awhile.

The Navaho at Cape Canaveral that was rolled up by a hurricane comes to mind, but I think a restoration effort is underway or planned. The US Air Force Museum lost an Atlas that depressurized years back. Many others I'm sure.

- Ed Kyle

david1971 · « **Reply #5 on:** 10/13/2023 09:40 pm »

There used to be a Titan 1 at NASA Ames, but I don't know its current status: http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum41/HTML/000321.html

Blackstar · « **Reply #6 on:** 10/13/2023 10:28 pm »

Quote from: edkyle99 on 10/13/2023 09:22 pm

The Navaho at Cape Canaveral that was rolled up by a hurricane comes to mind, but I think a restoration effort is underway or planned.

That was done. The rocket has been back on display for awhile now.

Metalskin · « **Reply #7 on:** 10/13/2023 10:45 pm »

This is the most depressing thread that I've read on this site :-(

catdlr · « **Reply #8 on:** 10/13/2023 11:00 pm »

This was posted today from the CCAF Museum:

Blackstar · « **Reply #9 on:** 10/13/2023 11:24 pm »

Quote from: Metalskin on 10/13/2023 10:45 pm

This is the most depressing thread that I've read on this site :-(

It's not all that bad. The United States has saved a lot of space and missile hardware. There are three Saturn V rockets on display, as well as a Saturn IC first stage. Lots of other stuff. It's just not possible to save everything. I wish some more had been done to save the Saturn IB and Saturn I hardware in Alabama, but that did not happen.

You want to get depressed, look into how other countries have failed to preserve their space artifacts.

Rocket Rancher · « **Reply #10 on:** 10/13/2023 11:52 pm »

If you get the chance to come out onto CCSFS, Hanger C specifically, many of the rockets from around the area that have be saved and placed in the hanger are there for viewing. The public can get access through an eco tour of the lighthouse and through some of the public events the private lighthouse foundation events during the year. I have details if I am allow to post them or just send message.

And what happened to the old Atlas on a transport trailer that sat on SR 3 across from the old Shuttles bar. It was part of a private collection along with what I thought was the original wooded Boeing SST mock-up. It all disappeared when the family auctioned off the contents and sold the property. Anyone know where it went?

Blackstar · « **Reply #11 on:** 10/14/2023 12:34 am »

Quote from: Rocket Rancher on 10/13/2023 11:52 pm

If you get the chance to come out onto CCSFS, Hanger C specifically, many of the rockets from around the area that have be saved and placed in the hanger are there for viewing.

I got out there in April. It did not occur to me to ask if I could get up higher for a better photo, so all my photos are at ground level.

LittleBird · « **Reply #12 on:** 10/14/2023 11:54 am »

Quote from: Blackstar on 10/13/2023 11:24 pm

Quote from: Metalskin on 10/13/2023 10:45 pm
This is the most depressing thread that I've read on this site :-(

It's not all that bad. The United States has saved a lot of space and missile hardware. There are three Saturn V rockets on display, as well as a Saturn IC first stage. Lots of other stuff. It's just not possible to save everything. I wish some more had been done to save the Saturn IB and Saturn I hardware in Alabama, but that did not happen.

You want to get depressed, look into how other countries have failed to preserve their space artifacts.

It's amazing what you do sometimes encounter though, e.g. this Europa booster outside Munich https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsches_Museum_Flugwerft_Schleissheim

Emmettvonbrown · « **Reply #13 on:** 10/14/2023 05:08 pm »

European countries are doing the bare minimum, but the essential is preserved. One Black Arrow at London science museum; one Diamant at Le Bourget aerospace museum. A surprising number of Europas, the (miserable failed) Ariane forerunner, are preserved: this for a simple reason.
When Europa F11 failed in Kourou, November 5, 1971; its siblings had been ordered up to booster 18. While F12 ended dismantled in French Guyana (a chicken coop - sic transit gloria mundi) a few Europas between F13 and F16 were far enough, Blue Streak included, they ended in Museums.
Somewhat ironically, I can't remember many Ariane 1 - 4 / 5 exposed. Except perhaps the fake ones at Toulouse Citée de l'Espace.

Michel Van · « **Reply #14 on:** 10/14/2023 06:14 pm »

Another Europa II rocket is display in Belgium, at Euro Space Center.

sadly the Rocket is store outside and expose to element and vandalism
it seem they restored rocket, but i have no information on what and how.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euro_Space_Center

the Private Technik Museum Speyer has allot Space flight article.
piece of Europa Rocket like third stage
but biggest piece in there collection is BURAN analog test article
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technik_Museum_Speyer

Next to that i recommend is:
Deutsche Museum von Meisterwerken der Naturwissenschaft und Technik in Munich, Bonn, Schleissheim
All three places has vast collection of Aerospace Hardware material
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsches_Museum

Historisch-Technische Museum Peenemünde allot Space Flight and V2 program
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_Technical_Museum,_Peenem%C3%BCnde

Deutsche Technikmuseum in Berlin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Museum_of_Technology

LittleBird · « **Reply #15 on:** 10/15/2023 05:06 am »

Quote from: Emmettvonbrown on 10/14/2023 05:08 pm

Somewhat ironically, I can't remember many Ariane 1 - 4 / 5 exposed. Except perhaps the fake ones at Toulouse Citée de l'Espace.

There is also a full size model Ariane 4, that I was totally unprepared for when I visited, in Seville. It's part of the Expo 92 site-was glad I had my phone with me (pics below~~-they are all right way up when I click them, not sure why site has rotated some in preview~~ I've removed those that didn't preview right way up).

Makes for some very Ballardian vistas indeed: https://explanders.com/europe-arctic-circle/spain/seville/cohete-ariane-4/

Blackstar · « **Reply #16 on:** 10/15/2023 06:31 pm »

Quote from: LittleBird on 10/15/2023 05:06 am

Quote from: Emmettvonbrown on 10/14/2023 05:08 pm
Somewhat ironically, I can't remember many Ariane 1 - 4 / 5 exposed. Except perhaps the fake ones at Toulouse Citée de l'Espace.

There is also a full size model Ariane 4, that I was totally unprepared for when I visited, in Seville. It's part of the Expo 92 site-was glad I had my phone with me (pics below-they are all right way up when I click them, not sure why site has rotated some in preview).

I know how enjoyable it is to pull threads off-track, but maybe you could try to resist?

LittleBird · « **Reply #17 on:** 10/17/2023 05:00 am »

Quote from: Blackstar on 10/15/2023 06:31 pm

Quote from: LittleBird on 10/15/2023 05:06 am
Quote from: Emmettvonbrown on 10/14/2023 05:08 pm
Somewhat ironically, I can't remember many Ariane 1 - 4 / 5 exposed. Except perhaps the fake ones at Toulouse Citée de l'Espace.

There is also a full size model Ariane 4, that I was totally unprepared for when I visited, in Seville. It's part of the Expo 92 site-was glad I had my phone with me (pics below-they are all right way up when I click them, not sure why site has rotated some in preview).

I know how enjoyable it is to pull threads off-track, but maybe you could try to resist?

OK, well in a similar vein, but closer to the centre of gravity of your thread, there was the Redstone that I came across in 2003 in the outskirts of Albuquerque when, post 9-11, the Nuclear Museum had moved off base for a while. Photographed here in 2005: https://www.arthurtaussig.com/external-photographs/the-museum-project/national-atomic-museum-albuquerque-nm/, second pic in the sequence.

But I'm guessing all the museum's stock has found its way back onto the newest site by now ?

DaveJ576 · « **Reply #18 on:** 10/17/2023 01:36 pm »

Quote from: catdlr on 10/13/2023 11:00 pm

This was posted today from the CCAF Museum:

Nice video. Thank you for posting it. One question… the black horizontal stripes on the warhead section of the Titan I, were they common? I don’t recall seeing them in any of Ed Kyle’s Titan photos.

mistergoblin · « **Reply #19 on:** 10/17/2023 01:52 pm »

As a kid I was taken to the Michigan Space Center in Jackson, MI. They had a Mercury Redstone outside, along with an F-1 engine, and others (I think RL-10, J-2, among others), and an Apollo capsule and mockup LRV inside. I recall getting 'astronaut' food and eating the freeze dried ice cream outside afterward.

It says the collection was moved to Kalamazoo, but this place was special as a space-only museum:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/michigan-space-and-science-center