Need Info on a piece of the heat shield from Gemini VII

[Dan Lawyer]

My father has a Souvenir piece that is suspended in what I guess is Lucite,
with McDonnell stamped on the front, and a label on the back telling what it
is and a bit about the flight. He got it many years ago from my deceased
uncle who worked for McDonnells, so I know it's authentic. We were going
thru his things and he was wondering if he should have special insurance on
it, and how in the world to tell what it might be worth.

I've done some eBay and Google searching and haven't seen anything exactly
like it. Has anyone ever run across any of these or have any idea how to
find out?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Dan

[Rusty Barton]

On Sat, 26 Jul 2003 23:23:48 GMT, "Dan Lawyer" >
wrote:

>My father has a Souvenir piece that is suspended in what I guess is Lucite,
>with McDonnell stamped on the front, and a label on the back telling what it
>is and a bit about the flight. He got it many years ago from my deceased
>uncle who worked for McDonnells, so I know it's authentic. We were going
>thru his things and he was wondering if he should have special insurance on
>it, and how in the world to tell what it might be worth.
>
>I've done some eBay and Google searching and haven't seen anything exactly
>like it. Has anyone ever run across any of these or have any idea how to
>find out?
>
>Any advice would be appreciated.
>


This National Air and Space Museum webpage shows samples of the Gemini
heatshield before use and Gemini 7 heatshield sample after use:

http://www.nasm.si.edu/galleries/attm/nojs/rm.ey.g7.1.html

http://www.nasm.si.edu/galleries/attm/atmimages/g7_heatshield_before.f.jpg

http://www.nasm.si.edu/galleries/attm/atmimages/g7_heatshield_after.f.jpg



On collectSPACE website, this page, Item 59: "59 FLOWN Gemini VII Heat
Shield Segment. $750"

http://www.collectspace.com/webcasts/swann_spring2003.html



I can't find the picture, but I believe I have seen a photo on the
web, of the Gemini 7 re-entry vehicle heatshield with a large square
of material missing.





--
Rusty Barton - Antelope, California |"Every so often, I like to
Visit my Titan I ICBM website at: | stick my head out the window,
http://www.geocities.com/titan_1_missile | look up, and smile for the
| satellite picture."-Steven Wright

[Dan Lawyer]

Thanks a bunch for the links, that really helped. The after heat shield
picture looks just like it. The piece Dad has is about 3/4 inch square
which includes about 4 sections in the picture including the red separator
or whatever it is between the sections. The burnt end looks like black
hexagons, I guess because of the way they are off-set.

I was going thru the auctions at that site, but somehow missed that one. I
wonder why the Gemini VIII went for $1200? Guess more folks were interest
in it for some reason.

That's the problem with trying to figure out values now days, it's only
worth what someone will pay for it at the time it gets listed at an auction.

Anyway, thanks a bunch for the info!

Dan

"Rusty Barton" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 26 Jul 2003 23:23:48 GMT, "Dan Lawyer" >
> wrote:
>
> >My father has a Souvenir piece that is suspended in what I guess is
Lucite,
> >with McDonnell stamped on the front, and a label on the back telling what
it
> >is and a bit about the flight. He got it many years ago from my deceased
> >uncle who worked for McDonnells, so I know it's authentic. We were going
> >thru his things and he was wondering if he should have special insurance
on
> >it, and how in the world to tell what it might be worth.
> >
> >I've done some eBay and Google searching and haven't seen anything
exactly
> >like it. Has anyone ever run across any of these or have any idea how to
> >find out?
> >
> >Any advice would be appreciated.
> >
>
>
> This National Air and Space Museum webpage shows samples of the Gemini
> heatshield before use and Gemini 7 heatshield sample after use:
>
> http://www.nasm.si.edu/galleries/attm/nojs/rm.ey.g7.1.html
>
> http://www.nasm.si.edu/galleries/attm/atmimages/g7_heatshield_before.f.jpg
>
> http://www.nasm.si.edu/galleries/attm/atmimages/g7_heatshield_after.f.jpg
>
>
>
> On collectSPACE website, this page, Item 59: "59 FLOWN Gemini VII Heat
> Shield Segment. $750"
>
> http://www.collectspace.com/webcasts/swann_spring2003.html
>
>
>
> I can't find the picture, but I believe I have seen a photo on the
> web, of the Gemini 7 re-entry vehicle heatshield with a large square
> of material missing.
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Rusty Barton - Antelope, California |"Every so often, I like to
> Visit my Titan I ICBM website at: | stick my head out the window,
> http://www.geocities.com/titan_1_missile | look up, and smile for the
> | satellite picture."-Steven
Wright

[G.Beat]

"Dan Lawyer" > wrote in message
. ..
> Thanks a bunch for the links, that really helped. The after heat shield
> picture looks just like it. The piece Dad has is about 3/4 inch square
> which includes about 4 sections in the picture including the red separator
> or whatever it is between the sections. The burnt end looks like black
> hexagons, I guess because of the way they are off-set.
>
> I was going thru the auctions at that site, but somehow missed that one. I
> wonder why the Gemini VIII went for $1200? Guess more folks were interest
> in it for some reason.
>
> That's the problem with trying to figure out values now days, it's only
> worth what someone will pay for it at the time it gets listed at an
auction.
>
> Anyway, thanks a bunch for the info!
>
> Dan

Dan -

Gemini VIII was the first successful docking of a Gemini capsule with the
Agena target vehicle.
That Commander for that mission was Neil Armstrong, the Pilot was Dave
Scott.
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/history/gemini/gemini-viii/gemini-viii.html

The first Episode of the HBO mini-series "From the Earth to the Moon" shows
this specific Gemini mission
and the turn of events (stuck Gemini thruster) that almost led to a tragedy
in space.
http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/history/gemini/gemini.htm

Greg

[Dan Lawyer]

Thanks Greg, I'm finding out how little I remember about this. That
definitely makes sense now. Think I'll do a refresher tomorrow at the links
you all have provided.

"G.Beat" > wrote in message
. net...
> "Dan Lawyer" > wrote in message
> . ..
> > Thanks a bunch for the links, that really helped. The after heat shield
> > picture looks just like it. The piece Dad has is about 3/4 inch square
> > which includes about 4 sections in the picture including the red
separator
> > or whatever it is between the sections. The burnt end looks like black
> > hexagons, I guess because of the way they are off-set.
> >
> > I was going thru the auctions at that site, but somehow missed that one.
I
> > wonder why the Gemini VIII went for $1200? Guess more folks were
interest
> > in it for some reason.
> >
> > That's the problem with trying to figure out values now days, it's only
> > worth what someone will pay for it at the time it gets listed at an
> auction.
> >
> > Anyway, thanks a bunch for the info!
> >
> > Dan
>
> Dan -
>
> Gemini VIII was the first successful docking of a Gemini capsule with the
> Agena target vehicle.
> That Commander for that mission was Neil Armstrong, the Pilot was Dave
> Scott.
> http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/history/gemini/gemini-viii/gemini-viii.html
>
> The first Episode of the HBO mini-series "From the Earth to the Moon"
shows
> this specific Gemini mission
> and the turn of events (stuck Gemini thruster) that almost led to a
tragedy
> in space.
> http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/history/gemini/gemini.htm
>
> Greg
>
>