Impressive sheet of flown Inconel forward insulator from the Wing Thermal Protection System of the Space Shuttle Columbia, 16″ x 23.75″ x 1″, signed and flight-certified in black felt tip by veteran NASA astronaut Don Thomas, who flew on the Columbia on three of his four shuttle missions. Thomas adds above: “An important part of a great spaceship that made by journeys as a Space Shuttle Columbia astronaut possible in 1994 & 1997. Flown Hi-Temp insulator from STS-65, 83, & 94. Over 13.8 million miles in space after 550 Earth orbits in 34+ days!” The lower portion bears two NASA “Critical Space Item” labels and an affixed DD Form marked as follows: “Part No. and Item Description: V070-197111-006, Insulator,” “Serial No. 001,” and “Removed from OV 102.” Includes a signed letter of authenticity from aerospace memorabilia specialist Ken Havekotte, which states: “This particular insulator was a part of the eleven flipper doors of the forward edge of the wing spar. It had been installed on the left wing side of OV-102 behind the…(RCC) attachment hardware. After Columbia’s landing of STS-94 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on July 17, 1997, all of the Columbia insulator door panels along with their associated assemblies were removed and replaced in time for the 24th flight of Columbia (STS-87)…It’s believed that the flown insulator panel in reference to had been a part of the shuttle Columbia program since STS-1 until last being flown on STS-94. The silver-colored insulator more likely flew on the first 23 Columbia flights from 1981 to 1997 having spent 236 days in space, with 3800 orbits around the Earth, and logging nearly 100 million statute miles in space.” In fine condition. Accompanied by an official NASA photo of Thomas, who has signed in black felt tip, and a small insulator bracket, 1″ x .75″ x .75″, attested to being flown on the Space Shuttle Columbia as part of the STS-94 mission, which is joined by a signed certificate of authenticity from Havekotte.
