PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- After more than a year of refurbishment at Excell Coatings Inc. at Port Canaveral, the 9,000-pound Apollo "Boilerplate, Command Module, Apollo, #1206 command module" as it is referred to in the Smithsonian's web database, returned to its home at the 920th Rescue Wing here.
The Apollo Capsule refurbishment process began at Excell Coatings July 1, 2008 and was completed on August 25, 2009. It was a lengthy process, said Darrell Hankins, resource manager for the 920th Rescue Wing.
"The vendor was responsible for meeting the Smithsonian's high standards while working to retain the artifact's historical significance," said Mr. Hankins.
The critical repairs, which took more than 500 manhours and 20 thousand dollars, were conducted on both the interior and exterior of the capsule. Repairs included the hatch door, boilerplate baffles, I-beams, sandblasting the original welds and canister plate and a crisp, white, fresh coating of paint. Items such as seals and close-out panels were fabricated by design since they are not commercially available.
The space capsule was originally used by the 67th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery (67 ARSS) squadron located at Royal Air Force Woodbridge in the United Kingdom where it played an important role planning for possible emergency recovery operations for the Apollo/Skylab missions in the early 1970s.
In 1976 ownership of the boilerplate was transferred to the Smithsonian by NASA and the loan agreement was established between the 67th ARRS and the Smithsonian.
In the 1980s there was a great deal of change in redeployment of Air Force personnel in England and the National Air and Space Museum temporarily lost track of who was caring for the boilerplate.
In June 1991 RAF Woodbridge was scheduled for closure and arrangements were made within the Air Force to transfer the boilerplate to the 71 ARS. In 1996 and in consultation with Officials of the USAF Space Museum at Cape Canaveral Air Station, the issue was finally resolved that the boilerplate was in the possession of the 920th RQW formally the 301st Rescue Squadron when the formal loan agreement was executed.
"When looking for a suitable home for the capsule the criteria the Smithsonian used was the ability to maintain and protect the object and access to an appreciative audience," said Allan Needell, Curator for the Space History Division at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.
"Loaned objects are reviewed for renewal every two years, said Needell. "Given the extraordinary care and expense of restoring the object the 920th RQW can expect to maintain the object for many years to come."
Considering the Rescue Wing's vital role in space support, now and throughout its history, it makes a fitting first-impression at the entrance to the pararescue squadron here.