Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!ut-sally!ghostwheel!milano!wex
From: wex@milano.UUCP
Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: space news from Aug 10 AW&ST
Message-ID: <5260@milano.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 23-Sep-87 14:14:19 EDT
Article-I.D.: milano.5260
Posted: Wed Sep 23 14:14:19 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 26-Sep-87 04:47:47 EDT
References: <8644@utzoo.UUCP>
Sender: wex@milano.UUCP
Organization: MCC, Austin, TX
Lines: 32
Xref: mnetor sci.space:3088 sci.space.shuttle:359

In article <8644@utzoo.UUCP>, henry@utzoo.UUCP (Henry Spencer) writes:
> ... backups which aren't needed as backups should be *flown*,
> perhaps on a different mission, rather than being donated to the
> Smithsonian.  If you think the Viking and the Voyager in the
> Smithsonian look realistic, it's because they *are* real.

I don't disagree with Henry, just thought some readers might not know
these facts (courtesy of NPR's All Things Considered):

    Smithsonian Air & Space museum is the most popular museum in the
    world, based on visitors/year count;

    All exhibits in the A&S museum are in *working order*.  It's one
    of their conditions for accepting an exhibit.  This means that
    everything, from the Spirit of St. Louis to the X-15, is flyable
    today.

    The next big item to be added to the museum's inventory will be
    the Enola Gay (the B29 that dropped "the bomb").  It is currently
    being reconditioned to get it back into working order.  Expected
    rollout is December of this year (in time for the Christmas/New
    Year's rush).

I plan on being there around New Year's to see that baby for myself.

-- 
Alan Wexelblat
ARPA: WEX@MCC.COM
UUCP: {harvard, gatech, pyramid, &c.}!sally!im4u!milano!wex

Real computer scientists don't program in assembler.  They don't write
in anything less portable than a number two pencil.