People 'selling' shuttle debris

News.com.au ^ | 2/2/03 | Staff

[nunya bidness]

TEXAS authorities are investigating reports that people are trying to sell debris from the Space Shuttle Columbia, which disintegrated over eastern Texas earlier today.

"We have a zero tolerance policy for this sort of thing," said Mike Shelby, the US Attorney for the southern district of Texas, after hearing a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) report that attempts had been made to sell debris on ebay, an internet auction website.

Shelby said that he and his colleague Matt Arwig, the US attorney for the eastern district of Texas, would cooperate with authorities in an investigation.

Those attempting to sell Columbia wreckage could face charges of theft of government property and interference in a federal investigation, he added.

Of the more than 600 pieces of Columbia memorabilia listed on ebay since the disaster, none advertised wreckage of the shuttle itself.

This report appears on news.com.au.

[dixiechick2000]

Yep, that one was placed for auction after the tragedy.

Have you checked the bid history lately? $10,099.00!

[Slyfox]

Hmmm..well usually when they have 2 days left on their auction that means they have been up more than one day.

[CyberAnt]

On FOX earlier today, they said that if you "steal" pieces of the Shuttle and sell it, you will face a $250,000 fine and 10 years in jail.

[Campion]

If that guy lives in Germany, how did he happen to find a piece of the Columbia shuttle in his backyard?

He didn't say it was a piece of the shuttle. He said he found it in his backyard an hour after the shuttle went down, and it looked like a piece of rocket hardware. You assumed he was trying to claim it was a piece of the shuttle, but he never said that.

[Hildy]

I see nothing wrong with this kind of auction. It's not a morbid things, it's a commemorative thing and will be very valuable one day.

[Slyfox]

No need to jump down my throat. I made observations that any schmuck looking at ebay would make.

[CharacterCounts]

A Columbia coin sold earlier today on Ebay for more than $13,000. It started at $9.95 and went for 6 days without one bid.

[alaskanfan]

Soon to be people going to jail.

[Mudbug]

One of the e-bay things you posted said the seller was in CA and the other said Germany, and neither seemed to be wreckage debris. I don't deal with e-bay, but it seems to me that these were just some sleazeballs trying to make a profit sans merchandise (and I really wonder about any takers).

I don't want to seem like Pollyanna, but has anyone actually seen someone trying to sell real parts/pieces and why is this being described on TV as if there is a stampede of trophy-hunters? From what I've seen the people in TX have been respectful of these sites.

[Paleo Conservative]

One of the e-bay things you posted said the seller was in CA and the other said Germany,

You must be confusing me with another Freeper. I only posted the auction for the misson patch with the highest current bid.

[Redcloak]

As I recall, it's a felony to in any way tamper with aircraft wreckage. Those offering "wreckage" on eBay are going to be in a world of hurt for one of two reasons. If the wreckage is genuine, then they'll be popped for tampering with the wreckage. If it's not genuine, then they'll be visiting the Graybar Hotel for wirefraud. Either way, a 300lb. guy named Tiny will be calling them "dear" in the not too distant future.

[Mudbug]

You have my apologies. I was trying to respond to posts by
nunya bidness. Darn,I guess it's time to go back to the mud and lurk for a while.

Oysters R in Season.

[Stultis]

I agree, but to play devil's advocate, if a tiny nut or bolt landed on your doorstep would you be tempted to keep it? Be honest!

NO. Not for an instant.

My Dad saved a big piece of ash that settled on his window sill from the WTC. He lives 6 miles away in Brooklyn. I know that the dust was not neccessary for an investigation.

Obviously, and therefore an irrelevant analogy.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

It's a quick disconnect for a garden hose.

[RedWhiteBlue]

Bingo

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

It looked familiar then I saw this on Fark.com,

[George W. Bush]

If it's not genuine, then they'll be visiting the Graybar Hotel for wirefraud.

Obviously, you're not familiar with Fleabay.

If they're just scamming, very little will happen to them if they're careful about how they accept payment and represent their goods.

[Xenalyte]

On a slightly related note, I hope that the government will compensate people whose homes are damaged by debris.

Like that poor dentist who had a piece of debris crash through his office? Bet HIS appointments for Monday are scuttled.

[Xenalyte]

Wrong! The patch went on auction on Feb 1, at 9:42 AM, PST, about three hours after the incident.

9:42 Pacific (California) time is 11:42 Central (Houston) time. Almost four hours after the accident.

[Brimack34]

And just think Terry McCallaugh would call this good old fashion Capitalisam!!! I can see the Klintoons using this too raise money also.