Mistakenly Sold NASA Command Trailer Goes On Sale (theregister.com)
- Reference: 0178609032
- News link: https://science.slashdot.org/story/25/08/08/0055250/mistakenly-sold-nasa-command-trailer-goes-on-sale
- Source link: https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/06/nasa_airstream_trailer/
> Space fans looking to camp out in style have a chance to pick up an Airstream trailer that once served as the Convoy Command Vehicle for NASA's Space Shuttle operations at Edwards Air Force Base -- [2]if they have a couple hundred thousand to spare, that is . "This is the NASA 025 Command Vehicle," current owner Jonathan Kitzen says of the once-silver, now paint-daubed and otherwise unassuming Airstream trailer. "NASA 025 was designed to land crewed missions at Edwards Air Force Base. [Airstream] informed me that this was, in their, words, 'the only NASA Airstream ever sold,' and the others [001-024] were all crushed or in museums. The sister crew vehicle (a 28-ft with one rear axle) is sitting at Kennedy museum [the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex]. All the rest are gone, except for this one."
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> Kitzen picked up the vehicle in 2022 up after spotting it on a government surplus auction site, where it had been listed with few details and at a very low starting price. As for how the rare vehicle ended up for sale in the first place, Kitzen says he was told it was a mistake. "Apparently there was some miscommunication when the vehicle was decommissioned," he claims in the sale listing. "It should have been offered to museums but the sales team did not know what it was. They were told it was just a 'NASA vehicle,' they did not know it had any special status or history. To the sellers they thought it was just a van that could have been for moving laundry around the base. It was an accidental (yet valid) sale.
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> "When I pulled up to Vandenberg Air Force Base after getting my NASA contractor badge I was greeted by the senior asset manager," Kitzen continues. "'We didn't know what we were selling!' were the first words out of her mouth. 'We didn't advertise it or offer it up to museums, the phone has exploded. Nobody told us what it was!'" [...] The [3]listing on vehicle sale site Hemmings.com has an asking price of $199,000, though with no offers yet submitted. A [4]listing on eBay with a $50,000 minimum bid and $290,000 buy-it-now price ended in May with no takers.
[1] https://slashdot.org/~alternative_right
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/06/nasa_airstream_trailer/
[3] https://www.hemmings.com/listing/1990-airstream-all-models-478166
[4] https://www.ebay.com/itm/286574626675
Burning Man (Score:2)
"Drive it to Burning Man, and be true space royalty". You mean like Katy Perry?
Collection (Score:4, Funny)
I'm talking up a collection from Slashdot readers to buy this trailer and turn it into a nerd hotel. The nightly fee will be free, but moderated by your karma to incur a small charge.
All stays will include free WiFi, access to Pornhub, access to a tub full of Technic Legos, and free Jolt cola!
Contact me immediately if you want to get in on this amazing deal!
Re: (Score:2)
Sure, we can supply that stuff.
I just had to end my post because I was in a waiting room and my name was called.
Not Much of a Camper or Museum Piece (Score:2)
Did anyone look at the pictures of the inside of this thing? All the equipment that would make this interesting has been stripped, but also, all of the beds and furniture that make it useful as a camper are gone. If someone buys it at this overinflated price they will have to make a decision whether they want to try to restore it, or remove the equipment cabinetry. You can't do both, they're mutually exclusive. Most of the museum value of this thing would be to park it outside and maintain the paint job, i
Re: (Score:2)
Yep I'm kind of glad it wouldn't have much value to a museum in its current state, or it would've been a shame to end up in private hands to be flipped into even more private hands for a quick buck like this.
Dupe (Score:3)
This was posted last week
Re: (Score:2)
Maybe something fresh like AI taking jobs away.
Re: (Score:2)
I wish AI would take away the jobs of Slashdot editors. AI would be less likely to post duplicate Slashvertisements.
Re: (Score:2)
Don't worry. The nice thing about getting older is that eventually senility sets in. Then slashdot dupes won't bother you anymore because everything will seem new and fresh every day.
Hopefully the editors do the right thing and pull this story down.
Re: (Score:2)
The staff here are aging. You know that joke -- "The one good thing about Alzheimer's is you're always meeting new people".
Re: (Score:2)
> This was posted last week
I was traveling last week and missed it, so this is cool.
I don't think it counts as a dupe unless the original is still on the first couple of pages.
Re: (Score:2)
Swilden opined:
> I don't think it counts as a dupe unless the original is still on the first couple of pages.
Seconded ...
... and I move the previous question.