Whatzit?

[MurphOnMillerAve]

The hand of a guitarist playing with Jimi Hendrix ?

Back off on the LSD for a while,

Good thought, and motivational too.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

It's good to know I wasn't far off.

[webenda]

LEM. Lunar Excursion Module. The close up is of the tracking light. It was supposed to help the command module pilot find the LEM for docking after the ascent from the surface (only the smaller ascent stage went back into lunar orbit).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB4TenTk-Bc

At around the 52 second mark you can start to see the LEM and note the light flashing periodically.

Chuck is correct. The image is from the Apollo 11 Moon landing.

Apollo 11 Buzz Aldrin descends to the moon.

[chuck]

That triangular window and the "brow" over it are a dead give away. Nothing else looks like that.

I think I've build something like 6-10 of these in various scale over the last 50 years including a scratch built one out of blue extruded styrofoam/3 ply plywood and foil for a center piece for some one's retirement party (I believe they started work at the university in 69). I've been practicing bending photo etched parts with a stainless steel model of the LEM. Better to practice on a $10 kit from Hobby Lobby than the $30+ model ship/space craft sets for super detailing 1/700 and 1/350 scale ships and various scale sci-fi models. Stuff is tricky.

[webenda]

The astronauts trashed the moon. The last image shows the Passive Seismic Experiment they left behind.
Just in case you want to build a display including the trash dump, here is a list of all the junk they left behind:
1. Apollo 11 Lunar Module Descent Stage (1)
2. U.S. 3' x 5' Flag (1)
3. Laser Ranging Retroreflector (LRRR) (1)
4. Passive Seismic Experiment (PSE) (1)
5. Neil Armstrong's Apollo Portable Life Support System (PLSS), Model A7L (1)
6. Neil Armstrong's Apollo Space Boots, Model A7L (2)
7. Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin Jr.'s Apollo Portable Life Support System (PLSS), Model A7L (1)
8. Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin Jr.'s Apollo Space Boots, Model A7L (2)
9. Empty Food Bags (2+)
10. A Silicon Disc Carrying Statements from Presidents Nixon, Johnson, Kennedy, Eisenhower, and from Leaders of 73 Other Nations. (1)
11. A Gold Replica of an Olive Branch, Traditional Symbol of Peace (1)
12. Mission Patch from Apollo I of Virgil I. Grissom, Edward H. White 11,
and Roger B. Chaffee. (1)
13. Commemorative Plaque attached to the Lunar Module Descent
Leg. "Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon. July
1969, A.D. We came in peace for all mankind." The plaque is signed by
the Apollo 11 crew and President Richard M. Nixon. (1)
14. TV Camera (1)
15. Spring Scales (2)
16. Tongs (1)
17. Small Scoop (1)
18. Scongs (1)
19. Bulk Sample Scoop (1)
20. Trenching Tool (1)
21. Camera (Hasselblad El Data) (1)
22. Armrests (4)
23. Mesa Bracket (1)
24. Solar Wind Composition Staff (1)
25. Handle of Contingency Lunar Sample Return Container (1)
26. Medals Commemorating Two Dead Cosmonauts (2)
27. Document Sample Box Seal (1)
28. Storage container (empty) (1)
29. Hasselblad pack (1)
30. Film Magazines (2+)
31. Filter, Polarizing (1 )
32. Remote Control Unit (PLSS) (2)
33. Defecation Collection Device (4)
34. Overshoes, Lunar (2)
35. Covers, Pga Gas Connector (2)
36. Kit, Electric waist, Tether (1)
37. Bag Assy, Lunar Equip.conveyor & waist tether (1)
38. Conveyor assy, Lunar Equipment (1)
39. Bag, Deployment, Life line (1)
40. Bag, Deployment, Lunar equipment conveyor (1)
41. Life line, Lt. wt. (1)
42. Tether, Waist, EVA (4)
43. Food Assembly, LM (4 man days) (1)
44. TV subsystem, Lunar (1)
45. Lens, TV wide angle (1)
46. Lens, TV lunar day (1)
47. Cable assembly, TV (100 ft.) (1)
48. Adapter, SRC/OPS (2)
49. Cannister, ECS LIOH (2)
50. Urine collection assembly, small (2)
51. Urine collection assembly, large (2)
52. Bag, Emesis (4)
53. Container assembly, Disposal (1)
54. Filter, oxygen bacterial (1)
55. Container, PLSS Condensate (1)
56. Antenna, S-Band (1)
57. Cable,S-Band antenna (1)
58. Bag, Lunar Equipment Transfer (1)
59. Pallet assembly #1 (1)
60. Central Station (1)
61. Pallet Assembly #2 (1)
62. Primary structure assembly (1)
63. Hammer (1)
64. Gnomon (Excludes mount) (1)
65. Tripod (1)
66. Handle/cable assembly (cord for tv camera) (1)
67. York mesh packing material (1)
68. SWC bag (extra) (1)
69. Core tube bits (2)
70.SRC seal protectors (2)
71. Environmental sample containers "O" rings (2+)
72. Apollo Lunar Surface Close-up Camera (1)
73. Lunar equipment conveyor (1)
74. ECS canister (1)
75. ESC bracket (1)
76. OPS brackets (2+)
77. Left hand side stowage compartment (1)
78. Footprint (How many, anyone count the steps?)
79. Extension Handle
80. Stainless steel cover (9 x 7 5/8 inches x 1/16 inch thick)
81. Plastic covering for Flag
82. 8 foot aluminum tube
83. 2 + retaining pins for flag and staff storage
84. Insulating blanket
85. Small aluminum capsule
That is 106+ items left on the lunar surface.

[Roy]

I've been practicing bending photo etched parts with a stainless steel model of the LEM. Better to practice on a $10 kit from Hobby Lobby...

I think I know that line of etched metal kits. IIRC, they have a San Francisco cable car, and a steam locomotive.

[rogruth]

If any of us left that much junk anywhere on Earth we would be fined and made to pick it all up.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

If any of us left that much junk anywhere on Earth we would be fined and made to pick it all up.

We left a car up there, too. It had the coolest "tires" designed specifically for a place with no atmosphere, which would have exploded regular air-filled tires.

[Roy]

We left a car up there, too. It had the coolest "tires" designed specifically for a place with no atmosphere, which would have exploded regular air-filled tires.

Actually, we left three lunar rovers up there. In addition, there are Soviet and Chinese unmanned rovers still there.

[webenda]

If any of us left that much junk anywhere on Earth we would be fined and made to pick it all up.

We left a car up there, too. It had the coolest "tires" designed specifically for a place with no atmosphere, which would have exploded regular air-filled tires.

That is not true about the tires. Tires filled to their recommended gauge pressure at any altitude, including outer space, have no more than their recommended pressure in them.

Suppose they were filled to 24 psig in Pasadena, California, prior to being sent to the moon. The pressure would only increase by 14.7 psi or to 38.7 psig. I have never seen a car tire that could not operate at 38.7 psig.

The metal mesh tire design was terrible for running around on the moon. The wire mesh sunk into the dust and dirt then threw the dust up, covering the crew, the console, and the communications equipment. Sinking into the dust and dirt caused high power consumption resulting in high battery temperatures.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

If any of us left that much junk anywhere on Earth we would be fined and made to pick it all up.

We left a car up there, too. It had the coolest "tires" designed specifically for a place with no atmosphere, which would have exploded regular air-filled tires.

That is not true about the tires. ...The tire design was terrible for running around on the moon. The wire mesh sunk into the dust and dirt then threw the dust up which then covered the crew, the console, and the communications equipment. Sinking into the dust and dirt caused high power consumption resulting in high battery temperatures.

That's enlightening about those tires. I remember seeing them, on TV, driving that car up there, and they seemed to be having a good time of it, yet I do recall seeing that dust a-flying. Thanks for the proper perspective on that.

[Roy]

Here's your lunar rover tire, Murph:



Larger image: https://airandspace.si.edu/sites/default/files/styles/slideshow_xlg/public/images/collection-objects/record-images/NASM-A19750830000_PS01.jpg?itok=g-WX02qu

National Air and Space Museum article: https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/wheel-lunar-rover

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Perfect. Thank you, Roy.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

OK, certainly not as sophisticated and hoiyalicious as the previous Whatzit? but here is another for your consideration, if you please, guyz, though it is not as obvious as it might seem.....

[HONDO74]

OK, certainly not as sophisticated and hoiyalicious as the previous Whatzit? but here is another for your consideration, if you please, guyz, though it is not as obvious as it might seem.....

Looks like a bag of some kind of fruit or veggie you get at the market.