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The Real Apollo LEM That I'm Forbidden To Show You!
🕑 Added 2019-07-13 14:41:13 +0000 UTCBen Franklin would do it, so here I go - showing you this mock-up LEM that Grumman made for ground training the Apollo Astronauts - even though I have been told by the Smithsonian that I'm not allowed to. But it's out in the open, so I guess if they really wanted to keep it out of public view it wouldn't be outside in a park behind the Franklin Institute here in Philadelphia! I might be in trouble, but you go ahead an enjoy this anyway!
Even though the Smithsonian receives a majority of it's publicly disclosed financing from Congress it made this Viacom deal in private without seeking Congressional approval and without any Congressional oversight. The terms of the deal still remain private, and it is not known to anyone outside of the Smithsonian just how much money has been exchanged in this deal, or how much directors at the Smithsonian may have benefited personally from it.
In 2014 when I visited the Garber facility to examine genuine Apollo DSKY's first hand there was a lot of drama. A memo was sent to NASM managers on the morning of my arrival there from one director who disparaged me harshly, stating that I did not meet the moral standards required to represent the collection and sending observers to Garber to spy on me. People at the facility showed me the memo and it really rattled me. It is true too that they also told me that there was a threat of my being arrested if the observers witnessed me violating the Viacom contract. This was also the reason I waited over 6 months to publish my work at Garber, waiting for all that drama to die down. All of that because I'm Fran, and I do this stuff.
https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/31/washington/smithsonianshowtime-tv-deal-raises-concerns.html
Comments
wow!
veritanuda
Welcome to Corporate America. Selling your culture a subscription at a time.
So many double standards and corrupt dealings. Good on ya Fran, fight the power.
Harry Lakhaney
Just doesn’t make sense does it Fran? Your tax dollars pay for Apollo.... then 50 years later you have to get a private company to give permission to look inside. Surely it’s just a mock-up so no secrets to hide? Guess you’ll have to bribe one of those kids to spill the beans on what’s inside.
Rocco Rizzo
It is part of the capitalism model. Everything is for sale for a profit. The Smithsonian has become one of those privatized things that are killing us all, in one way or another. When the air is too polluted to breathe, the water too polluted to drink, and the food is too poisoned by "anti-pest" genetic engineering, will the capitalists be able to eat their money?
Jessica McIntosh
Is that even legal? That's absolutely insane. ☹️
BobC
So, does this suicidal video venture make you a LEM-ing? (LM-ing doesn't scan...) Edit: I normally seek to minimize the appearance of my name online (handles are OK), but I've never been more proud than to see my name at the end of this video.
I love this new FranLAB rebel alliance
Agreed!
A rebel! So proud and honored to be a supporter!!!
Fred Patton
Shocking that the Smithsonian, effectively a public institution, would sign any sort of exclusive footage rights. They hold that collection as a public trust! Shameful. Great video!
