Guest: Roland Miller: Topics: America's abandoned space infrastructure sites documented in Mr. Miller's book "Abandoned in Place." Please direct all comments and questions regarding specific Space Show programs & guest(s) to the Space Show blog which is part of archived program on our website, www.thespaceshow.com. Comments and questions should be relevant to the specific Space Show program. Written Transcripts of Space Show programs are a violation of our copyright and are not permitted without prior written consent, even if for your own use. We do not permit the commercial use of Space Show programs or any part thereof, nor do we permit editing, YouTube clips, or clips placed on other private channels & websites. Space Show programs can be quoted, but the quote must be cited or referenced using the proper citation format. Contact The Space Show for further information. In addition, please remember that your Amazon purchases can help support The Space Show/OGLF. See www.onegiantleapfoundation.org/amazon.htm.
We welcomed Roland Miller to the program to discuss his work photo-documenting our historical space infrastructure. You can and I believe should obtain his book which is sure to be a superb historical document, especially as many of the old sites are either repurposed or destroyed due to ongoing decay. "Abandoned in Place: Preserving America's Space History" documents this historical yet abandoned and in some instances, already lost, historical space infrastructure. Remember, if you buy the book on Amazon, please do so through the OGLF portal per the Amazon links on our home page as Amazon will contribute part of your purchase price to The Space Show. Visit Roland's website for more information, www.abandonedinplace.com.
During the first segment of our 1 hour 34 minute discussion, our guest provided us with the background to his project which as you will hear spanned several decades going back to the early 1990s. Roland referenced many of the historical sites including Launch Complex 19 which was the Gemini Complex, various test stands, block houses, and related infrastructures. Some of his favorites included the SpaceX Complex 40, Pad 39A, and Launch Complex 34. Our guest received lots of email questions about historical site preservation and Jack asked if he thought it appropriate to compare some of the abandoned sites to a ghost town. Roland also mentioned the Complex 14 which was the Mercury Atlas pad that launched John Glenn.
Roland was asked if his guides or escorts actually knew the history, were part of the history, or just doing a job and not that familiar with our space history. Don't miss what he said in response to this question as his reply might surprise you. Roland also spoke to how to photograph many of the sites. One thing he liked was very early morning with sunup over the Atlantic Ocean. Don't miss this photographic description.
Roland mentioned speaking engagements about his work and book. Listeners wanted to know if there was an age difference in his audience as well as an interest level difference. For example, since boomers lived through the space program, were they more informed and interested than younger people, especially those born after the Apollo program ended. Again, don't miss what he had to say in response to these questions. Before the segment ended, a listener asked if he was familiar with the condition of the Soviet-Russian historical space sites.
In the second segment, Roland was asked if he could discern any difference in status and upkeep given some sites were Army, Air Force, Navy, and Nasa. Then he was asked if his work included the emerging commercial spaceports and flight centers. Yet another listener wanted to know if he had documented sites at Vandenberg and in Alaska. Regarding Vandenberg, Roland talked about Slick Six, the shuttle pad and the Titan 2 missile silo.
Many listeners wanted to know why more effort was not put into saving and maintaining these historical space sites. Roland explained many times during the show that most of the sites were on active NASA and Air Force bases, some were being repurposed for today's space infrastructure needs, plus historical preservation money was not abundant given the needs of the ongoing space program.
June from New York asked if the existence of this historical infrastructure could be used to prove we went to the Moon to silence those advocating a moon hoax. Roland actually addressed this in his book saying that if all this infrastructure was part of a ruse and a hoax, it would have been a very costly & complicated way to fake going to the moon. Another listener inquired about using the historical infrastructure to help drive inspiration and participation in the space program. Dana in Orlando inquired about Patrick AFB and our early space history, along with Banana River. Before the show ended, Ben wanted to know if lessons were being learned from not only Roland's work but from having neglected lots of this early historical infrastructure. Don't miss what Roland said in response to this question.
Please post your comments/questions in the comments section for his archived program on The Space Show website. You can reach Roland Miller though his website or me.
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