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Path: utzoo!linus!husc6!rutgers!cbmvax!grr
From: grr@cbmvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: space news from Aug 10 AW&ST
Message-ID: <2395@cbmvax.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 27-Sep-87 15:11:29 EDT
Article-I.D.: cbmvax.2395
Posted: Sun Sep 27 15:11:29 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 27-Sep-87 22:30:10 EDT
References: <8644@utzoo.UUCP> <182@geovision.UUCP>
Reply-To: grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins)
Organization: Commodore Technology, West Chester, PA
Lines: 29
Xref: linus sci.space:3047 sci.space.shuttle:356

In article <182@geovision.UUCP> alastair@geovision.UUCP (Alastair Mayer) writes:
> In article <8644@utzoo.UUCP> henry@utzoo.UUCP (Henry Spencer) writes:
>  > [...]  I also applaud the idea that 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.] 
> 
>     Yeah!  If the Smithsonian really wants them for museum pieces,
> let them finance an expedition to go out and retrieve them *after*
> the vehicles have flown their intended (or backup) missions.
>     Heh heh.   

Come on - the Smithsonian takes what they are given - they don't exactly
wander around NASA looking mission capable hardware to carry off.  Now
if NASA was to go off and to recover some nice historic space or even
lunar debris, I'm sure the Smithsonian would love to put it on display.
Unfortunatly, I suspect all the well known "historic" satellites have
long since reentered.  Anyone want to start a pool on the first manned
mission to geo-synchronous orbit?

BTW, has anyone ever seen a fairly complete list of the disposition of
the Mercury/Gemini/Apollo capsules, leaving what constitutes a "real"
capsule and open issue?

-- 
George Robbins - now working for,	uucp: {ihnp4|rutgers|allegra}!cbmvax!grr
but no way officially representing	arpa: out to lunch...
Commodore, Engineering Department	fone: 215-431-9255 (only by moonlite)