[FPSPACE] US Space Debris goes on display

[Keith Gottschalk]

     Africa's largest shopper-tainment complex, called Century City - Canal Walk, has just opened in Cape Town, South Africa. It ranges from a  16 ha. restored wetland which is now a bird sanctuary, through to vast shopping malls. In one of these is the MTN (a mobile phone company)  "Sciencentre".   This is  generically similar to the Benjamin Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, focused on exciting primary school age children.

      Proudly on display in the "Sciencentre" is the rocket nozzle, one pressurization sphere, and propellant tank from the Delta II upper stage that survived re-entry, to crash onto vineyards and vegetable farms outside Cape Town earlier this year. The rocket nozzle & pressurization sphere look in remarkably good condition to be re-furbished, but the propellant tank will require some serious panel-beating.  A large magnifying glass  is chained to the exhibit, so you can examine the tiny pits left by 3 years worth of micrometeorites (& Al particles?) pinging onto their surfaces.  The French Embassy has also sponsored a wall of SPOT colour images.

       Fortunately for LockMart, their Upper Stage crashed onto South Africa. If it had hit China, the corporation would now be up on another rap for "illegal transfer of technology"  :)   :)    :)

Keith Gottschalk