North American Rockwell Mars Excursion Module (MEM) model

[Triton]

North American Rockwell Mars Excursion Module (MEM) model found on eBay.

URL: http://cgi.ebay.com/1967-ROCKWELL-NASA-MARS-PROTOTYPE-MODEL-SPACESHIP-RARE-/350404751800?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5195c031b8

Seller's description:

This is an original concept display piece from North American Rockwell Corporation. It is the 'Mars Excursion Module (MEM)', and was a project developed in 1967 for a manned landing on Mars. The project spaceship was to be tested and qualified between the years of 1971-1978, and a landing on Mars was scheduled for 1982. There are documents on the internet that describe the entire project, and give the history of the program. The case still has the Rockwell label on it that is dated 10/67. The spaceship is mounted behind a heavy duty type plexiglass type display, and has the conceptual type drawings on it of the occupants and how they would travel. The piece is in great condition, with no type of damage to it, and the blue metal display cover is in great condition as well, with only a few small marks on it. I have taken a number of photos. It is a good size piece, and the case stands 17" high, and is 14" in diameter, and it weighs in at 29pds.

 

[Triton]

North American Rockwell Mars Excursion Module (MEM) model found on eBay.

 

[Triton]

North American Rockwell Mars Excursion Module (MEM) model found on eBay.

 

[Orionblamblam]

North American Rockwell Mars Excursion Module (MEM) model found on eBay.

WANT.

Current bid: US $1,000.00

:'( CAN'T HAVE

 

[Grey Havoc]

That belongs in a Museum!



Seriously though, I hope it did end up in a good home.

 

[FighterJock]

Surprised that the Smithsonian never bought it from whoever was selling it in eBay.

 

[blackstar]

Surprised that the Smithsonian never bought it from whoever was selling it in eBay.

Every museum has an acquisition strategy, meaning an overall policy on what they want to own and display in their museum. The Smithsonian focuses primarily on famous flown artifacts. So models and drawings are much lower on their list. Also, they have a lot less money to purchase things than you would think. Private museums tend to have endowments and donations that they use to acquire things. The Smithsonian does not really have that. Instead, they have other things, like federal policies that give them first dibs on acquiring NASA objects.