Government sues Apollo 14 astronaut over lunar camera (Edgar Mitchell)

Yahoo ^ | 6/30/11 | Terry Baynes - Reuters

[NormsRevenge]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. government has sued a former NASA astronaut to recover a camera used to explore the moon's surface during the 1971 Apollo 14 mission after seeing it slated for sale in a New York auction.

The lawsuit, filed in Miami federal court on Wednesday, accuses Edgar Mitchell of illegally possessing the camera and attempting to sell it for profit.

In March, NASA learned that the British auction house Bonhams was planning to sell the camera at an upcoming Space History Sale, according to the suit.

The item was labeled "Movie Camera from the Lunar Surface" and billed as one of two cameras from the Apollo 14's lunar module Antares. The lot description said the item came "directly from the collection" of pilot Edgar Mitchell and had a pre-sale estimate of $60,000 to $80,000, the suit said.

Mitchell was a lunar module pilot on Apollo 14, which launched its nine-day mission in 1971 under the command of Alan Shepard. The sixth person to walk on the moon, Mitchell is now retired and runs a website selling his autographed picture.

He has made headlines in the past for his stated belief in the existence of extraterrestrial life.

"All equipment and property used during NASA operations remains the property of NASA unless explicitly released or transferred to another party," the government suit said, adding NASA had no record of the camera being given to Mitchell.

The suit said the government had made repeated requests to Mitchell and his lawyer to return the camera but received no response.

[Young Werther]

I suppose the golf club used by Alan Shepard during the Apollo 14 missionalso belongs to NASA, (although it was last seen in Obummer’s flog bag!)

[blackdog]

"Mitchell should just claim to be in the country illegally"

I tried that once during a traffic stop. DO NOT EVER DO IT! My spanish was fine. He refused to even look at my driver's information. It turns out that cops peer review each others shift reports and tickets and such. The registration showed me as the owner and one of the other cops made the officer a laughing stock of the day. My daughter and I were both arrested at home and fined big-time for interfering with a public official in the course of their duties.

[Twinkie]

Well, I guess possession is nine points of the law. It seems odd that the current NASA would have so many eyes and ears in so many places to insure that no old astronaut retains possession of anything from their era. Perhaps somebody in NASA back then gave it to him as a legitimate show of respect. - I guess Michelle needs the money for pin money on her numerous vacations. $80,000 would buy a lot of french fries and fat bread. It would also go a long way in Muslim outreach that is now NASA’s stated reason for existing according to Obama.

[Yardstick]

Amazing. I’d like to know how many and what improvements were made to the spacesuits between the first and last missions.

[Chode]

and prolly built 20 miles from here in Horseheads...

[Doulos1]

ACORN Received $31 Million in Government Funding Since 1998

http://blog.heritage.org/2008/10/22/acorn-received-31-million-in-government-funding-since-1998/

The hatred that the Obama regime has for white America
is historic. The Winnie and Nelson are in awe of these two.

[Chode]

i take that back... they stopped making them at Apollo 12

[Anti-Bubba182]

NASA’s Hansen asked to account for outside activities

The above is the sort of activity they should be prosecuting, not a hero without paperwork on something he should have been given.

[Tanniker Smith]

The sixth person to walk on the moon, Mitchell is now retired and runs a website selling his autographed picture.

Dude walked on the freakin' Moon!
Not too many people can say that. (Well, not *honestly*.)

[Chode]

i take that back again... i was right the first time, Apollo 14 was their last flight then it went to RCA

[tanknetter]

“Mitchell’s lawyer, Donald Jacobson, said NASA management was aware of and approved Mitchell’s ownership of the camera 40 years ago. “Objects from the lunar trips to the moon were ultimately mounted and then presented to the astronauts as a gift after they had helped NASA on a mission,” Jacobson said.”

I've been involved in discussions of this sort of thing before (aerospace history is my major hobby). My recollection of the situation is that the Apollo astronauts were given items from their missions with the express stipulation that they could be kept, displayed, and passed on to spouses and descendants (possibly close relatives). But NOT sold. I think there were also similar limitations on the astronauts' personal kit - personal items that they were permitted to take up on flights.

[Cheetahcat]

Let him Keep the Camera, he earned it!

[GraceG]

Maybe NASA wants it so they can give to iman for their outreach program....

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Thanks for that info!

[org.whodat]

Does an aging astronaut really want to die having the American people think he five finger discounted tax payers property.

[theDentist]

Side note: I recall reading a couple years ago that the computer data tapes that NASA used for their moon launches were re-used for personnel records. This was discovered when NASA was investigating the potential return to the moon.

[2ndDivisionVet]

How many people, especially those alive at the time or knowledgeable about the lunar missions, would begrudge an elderly hero an obsolete piece of memorabilia that he risked his life for?

[Squantos]

Now that’s funny....not then I presume but ....now.

Lmao.... Thanks for sharing that story with us.

Stay Safe...

[Cyman]

“Objects from the lunar trips to the moon were ultimately mounted and then presented to the astronauts as a gift after they had helped NASA on a mission,” Jacobson said.”

That changes the story more than just slightly.

[Steve Van Doorn]

"I tried that once during a traffic stop. (stating you were illegal)"

you might have done a little more research before you did something like that.
1. an illegal can not get a drivers license
2. some states illegals can get registration. Tennessee can not.
3. The plate would match up to your name.