For 44 years, a NASA Apollo-era Saturn IB rocket has stood at the Ardmore rest area alongside I-65, welcoming visitors to the state of Alabama. Now, the space agency has decided that the degraded display is no longer safe to keep standing and should be replaced.
Officials at the agency's Marshall Space Flight Center and the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville have decided that theat the Ardmore Welcome Center in Elkmont needs to be replaced. More than just a matter of moving it elsewhere, the-era artifact may be destroyed due to its failing condition after nearly four-and-a-half decades on outdoor, vertical display.
of the rocket in the world — exceed $7 million, with no assurance that the booster would survive the process. Even if it could be safely lowered, moving the rocket to restore it elsewhere is not an option given size constraints for the overpass bridges on I-65 and restrictions on other routes.
DallasMars To be fair, those things were never meant to just be standing upright like that for decades.
Noooooo
:( seeing rockets standing is something we need more of not less of!
Last offer: 150$ including free shipping to Germany
Look I have 50 dollars, take it or leave it.
Well then launch it and get it out of there.
Why didn't they just lay it on its side on some concrete pillars with half circle cut outs to accommodate its shape?
elonmusk JeffBezos you guys need to save this thing, please