Framing Shuttle Debris

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Marc Lizer

Marc Lizer

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Jun 28, 1999
Posts
1,545
Loc
North Hollywood, CA
Now I know that it is unlikely a person will come in with debris to frame, and if they did, I am guessing the framer may decline. (feel free to have a digressive debate on that).

But I had something come in that was just amazing, spooky and creepy all at the same time.

The customer came in with a 16 x 20 shot of Ilan Ramon looking out the window of the Shuttle, the Earth in below, and the Sun just rising on the horizon (there is a Space term for that moment, but I don't know it).

I did a double take.


Huh?


As it turns out they are/were very good friends with one of the Crew Members (David Brown).

And, as it turns out Brown was an avid photographer. He is always shooting pictures whenever he had time.

On the Shuttle he would e-mail pictures (really large, hi-res) he was taking to his friends.

They also brought in another photo of his. A spectacular pic, but way too hard to describe.

Gave me the chills. And that's not easy.

They will be displaying them at a public event, but they are not for sale, nor will they be. So not to worry about profiteering.

But just an amazing set of items to frame.

Now feel free to debate debris framing.
 
I think NASA has made it pretty plain that they would be really upset if the debris wasn't returned to them... I would inform the customer of this, should s/he be so ignorant as to not to know. And would framing it make us an accessory? [must watch more 'Law & Order' to complete my law degree... it was a requirement for my KMart Bluelight Law School diploma]
 
Hey, Ellen, maybe we went to school together. I got my space science education from watching lots of sci-fi.

What I learned was "Don't mess with stuff that comes from space - even if it started out here, went away and then came back." Awful things happen to people that ignore this warning.

I won't be more specific before breakfast.
 
Marc,

I don't anyone would be stupid enough to bring a piece of Shuttle Debris in to be custom framed! Wait a minute, they were stupid enough to keep it, maybe they would :rolleyes: !

I would accept the order, take down all the details, then upon their departure, phone NASA. This is like picking up evidence at a crime scene! But then your story is a "what if" story anyway.......?

John
 
Last I heard and read, keeping pieces of the debris is a federal offense. Every single piece is needed for the reconstruct. Plus, some of it may be highly radioactive.
 
If you even know of anyone who is keeping shuttle debris you will be an accessory to the crime. That's been made perfectly clear here in Texas and still there are bozo's who ignore them and end up in jail. Just touching a piece of debris, even if your intent is to turn it in will get you a trip to jail.

Picture framer's beware, it's a federal offense.
 
Last I heard and read, keeping pieces of the debris is a federal offense. Every single piece is needed for the reconstruct. Plus, some of it may be highly radioactive.
Click to expand...
What the heck, I'm feeling argumentative. Are you sure about that, Mike? I know there's a very real threat of contamination from hydrazine fuel and the nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer (or is hydrazine the oxidizer and the nitrogen tetroxide the fuel?) both of which are really bad news. But in all my years of being a geek I don't recall having ever heard of anything radioactive being used aboard the shuttles.

But I'm with everybody else. Get the name and address, call NASA and let them nail the weasel.
 
"Hey, put that down! You have no IDEA where that's been!"

Law or no law, that's enough for me. What's the matter with you people? Didn't you ever watch Outer Limits?
 
Hi Marc! Those photos sound amazing.

There are some tiles from a shuttle framed (and pretty poorly, I must say - not even a brass plate to identify the shuttle) at our local airport. One of the astronauts on a previous flight was from around here. We had to return a rental car and I took my daughter and her friend along to see them.

The tiles look like styrofoam. They are not much to inspire confidence. I heard that much depended on the glue that held these tiles in place. It would take one person a whole day to glue one tile in place. Urban legend or truth?
 
Jana,

You're right, those tiles are quite delicate. They're about the consistency of styrofoam, which is also what the insulation on the external tank is. That makes me wonder how much damage a chunk of falling insulation could really do.

Every one of the 28,000 or so tiles is unique, and has to be fit and attached by hand. So yeah, it does take close to a day to install each tile. That's why a lot of the tiles on the upper surface of the shuttles were replaced with layers of insulating blamkets.
 
It's a crime to retain any debris......SO, unless you are into criminal activiy.....

Don't we have enough concerns without taking on hypotheticals too?????? Good grief! :eek:
 
Originally posted by Sherry Lee:
It's a crime to retain any debris......
Click to expand...
If you were to retain some in a frame, would it be best to use a Monofiliment or Mylar strap?
 
Hey Lance E!!! You are a funny guy! I just got a lovely advertisment via real mail - New Zealand travel!! Oh, does that look inviting.......SOME day I must get over there!! If we come by to see your studio, do you think I could write it off my taxes???
 
Yeah Dave, you're correct. I don't know where I got the radioactive idea. Anyway, it is still a federal offense to keep this stuff.


 
Customer brought this in to get done.

He was at the original rollout of the Columbia the 80's (center pic).

He was at the launch (left pix), as he has been at every shuttle launch taking pix.

He even took these re-entry pix over California (on the right).

He is a dedicated Shuttle enthusiast.

I though you guys would like to see his work/pix.

odd%2010.JPG
 
It would be difficult to turn down a job of framing anything to do with the shuttle but ask yourself the question, "would you frame Sadaam's map to weapons of mass destruction" if somone were to bring it to you or would you call thae FBI. Take your chances but I am on record of asking someone in authority before proceeding.

Jack Cee
 
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