Moon Rocket Scrubbed and Blown Dry

loid_void writes "Reutersis is reporting that a giant Apollo moon rocket that never got off the ground is about to get a face-lift after years of rusting away in the Texas heat and humidity at the Johnson Space Center. Workers will construct a shelter for the Saturn V rocket and give it the equivalent of a "blow dry" in the first steps to preserve the relic of NASA's golden age, said Allan Needell, Apollo program curator for the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum. The 363-foot-long behemoth has lain on its side in front of JSC since 1977, a favorite sight of tourists, but also a victim of the elements. Instead of launching astronauts to the moon as it was built to do, it has become a slowly fading hulk of peeling paint and corroded metal where birds live and plants sprout, Needell said on Wednesday during a visit to the rocket. "There's a lot of biology growing on there," he said, pointing out streaks of algae staining the rocket's white skin."

Jump back!

[TigerTale]

You mean we used to go to the Moon?

Re:hrm...

[Mz6]

Step 4: Get arrested, thrown in jail and sell your story to the press.

Re:NASA's golden age?

[cerebralsugar]

It's not too optimistic at all, it just won't be done by NASA. Everyone who has seen Star Trek knows we will have to have a 3rd world war first, and then a drunken scientist resembling James Cromwell will invent warp drive in an alcoholic haze. Then of course, Starfleet will be borne, and we will all want to shag either that vulcan girl and that hot african communications lady.

Let's make it into a diner!

[teamhasnoi]

And in honor of the Saturn V incredible amount of thrust, we'll only serve partially-cooked Mexican food, broccoli and Velamints!

Re:hrm...

[Kenshin]

Step 0: Buy a dictionary.

Re:hrm...

[BabyDave]

These days, it's more like

Step 4: Get taken to Guantanamo Bay
Step 5: ????
Step 6: ????
Step 7: ????
Step 8: ????
Step 9: ????
...

Re:Sink it as an artificial reef?

[LWATCDR]

About as cool as grinding up the Spinx for an artificial reef.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Novel use for old rocket

[OriginalArlen]

Surely it's obvious that, in the interests of science, this rocket should be renovated, refueled, and have a Chevy Impala tacked on the top, where it lies.

Re:Kansas Cosmosphere

[daeley]

When you tought of Kansas, you probably didn't think of space now did ya?

Having suffered through several cross-Kansas drives during Summer vacation trips as a kid, I can tell you there is just about nothing *but* space in Kansas. ;)

Plastic

[DaveKAO]

I thought Saturn's used plastic body panels and therefore couldn't rust? Oh wait... that's the car company.

Thank God?

[DaveKAO]

Don't you mean thank the American tax payer?

Re:Jump back!

[Dausha]

No, we didn't. Some people thought it would be a cool prank to spend billions of US dollars to set up a sound stage in Nevada and fake it. They hint at this during Diamonds Are Forever and other sources.

insert obligatory dagblamint gubmint statement

[gelfling]

Why are we spending precious money that could be better spent either giving it to corporations or proving that the moon landing was a fake

Re:Sink it as an artificial reef?

[Ianoo]

Now there's an idea to win the X-Prize!

Someone has to say it...

[slurpburp]

I am also in possesion of a rocket which has been neglected for far too long. Where do I sign up to have it 'scrubed and blown'?

Re:hrm...

[RyuuzakiTetsuya]

Or steel one.

Re:My goodness....

[trentblase]

Hey, I just developed that zero-friction oil you mentioned. It must be worth billions, but the government here in Nigeria won't let me release it to the outside world. Tell you what... just send me $10,000 to help smuggle me out and I'll split the proceeds of my invention with you 50/50.