In 2010, I bought a package of "Remove Before Flight" tags from eBay for just $5.50. These red tags were allegedly used as handouts or promotional materials for events related to space exploration. The seller mentioned that the tags had been intended for his boat, but not much else was said about their origins.
It wasn't until later, when I noticed ink stamps at the bottom of each tag, that I realized the true significance of these humble pieces of plastic. The stamps indicated a production code, with the first two letters being "ET," which stands for External Tank. This led me to uncover a fascinating history surrounding these tags and their connection to the ill-fated Space Shuttle Challenger.
The tags were used on one of the external tanks during the STS-51L mission, which ended in tragedy just 73 seconds into its flight. An investigation revealed that a compromised O-ring seal in one of the solid rocket boosters led to the catastrophic failure of the vehicle.
While it is still unclear when the tags and their associated equipment were removed from the space shuttle and before they arrived on my doorstep, I can confirm that it was not immediately after the launch. In fact, it's believed that the removal process occurred several days later, during a routine final walkdown by ground crews.
I reached out to Mike Cianilli, the former manager of NASA's Apollo, Challenger, Columbia Lessons Learned Program, who provided some insight into the tags' fate. According to him, approximately 20% of the damaged external tank was recovered from the ocean floor and is now stored in two retired missile silos at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
The original intent behind these "Remove Before Flight" tags has largely been lost to history, leaving a significant gap in our understanding of the space shuttle program. In fact, there are only a few items directly connected to Challenger's last flight that museums and other public centers can use to connect their visitors to what transpired 40 years ago.
A small patch from the Challenger had been presented to each of the 50 US states, the Smithsonian Institution, and even the President of the United States. These tags could serve as a poignant reminder of the lives lost during that fateful mission, but they remain largely unknown outside of NASA circles.
In recent attempts to recontact the eBay seller or individuals who might have knowledge about these tags, I have been met with silence. However, if you or someone you know worked on the external tank at the time of the STS-51L tragedy, or if you're familiar with NASA's practices regarding installing, retrieving, and archiving or disposing of these tags, please do come forward.
The story of these "Remove Before Flight" tags serves as a poignant reminder that even the smallest objects can hold significant historical value. By reconnecting us to our past, we can learn from it and honor those who paved the way for space exploration.
It wasn't until later, when I noticed ink stamps at the bottom of each tag, that I realized the true significance of these humble pieces of plastic. The stamps indicated a production code, with the first two letters being "ET," which stands for External Tank. This led me to uncover a fascinating history surrounding these tags and their connection to the ill-fated Space Shuttle Challenger.
The tags were used on one of the external tanks during the STS-51L mission, which ended in tragedy just 73 seconds into its flight. An investigation revealed that a compromised O-ring seal in one of the solid rocket boosters led to the catastrophic failure of the vehicle.
While it is still unclear when the tags and their associated equipment were removed from the space shuttle and before they arrived on my doorstep, I can confirm that it was not immediately after the launch. In fact, it's believed that the removal process occurred several days later, during a routine final walkdown by ground crews.
I reached out to Mike Cianilli, the former manager of NASA's Apollo, Challenger, Columbia Lessons Learned Program, who provided some insight into the tags' fate. According to him, approximately 20% of the damaged external tank was recovered from the ocean floor and is now stored in two retired missile silos at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
The original intent behind these "Remove Before Flight" tags has largely been lost to history, leaving a significant gap in our understanding of the space shuttle program. In fact, there are only a few items directly connected to Challenger's last flight that museums and other public centers can use to connect their visitors to what transpired 40 years ago.
A small patch from the Challenger had been presented to each of the 50 US states, the Smithsonian Institution, and even the President of the United States. These tags could serve as a poignant reminder of the lives lost during that fateful mission, but they remain largely unknown outside of NASA circles.
In recent attempts to recontact the eBay seller or individuals who might have knowledge about these tags, I have been met with silence. However, if you or someone you know worked on the external tank at the time of the STS-51L tragedy, or if you're familiar with NASA's practices regarding installing, retrieving, and archiving or disposing of these tags, please do come forward.
The story of these "Remove Before Flight" tags serves as a poignant reminder that even the smallest objects can hold significant historical value. By reconnecting us to our past, we can learn from it and honor those who paved the way for space exploration.
i mean like these tags were used on the external tank of the space shuttle challenger which is literally one of the most iconic and historic spacecraft in history! and now they're just kinda... floating around 
it's so cool that you got them for $5.50 from ebay lol what a find!!! and u know how some ppl r all about those nasa lessons learned programs 
i'm low-key hoping someone comes forward with more info about these tags 
. It's crazy how something as simple as a promotional item can hold so much significance. And it's sad that people are being so secretive about their knowledge of the tags. Can you imagine what other cool stories these little pieces of plastic could tell us if we just asked them enough questions 
?
. I wish the eBay seller would come forward with some info, though - it's like they're taking their secret to the grave 
. Still, it's a fascinating story and it's awesome that you were able to uncover it!
I just thought about this weird eBay find from 2010 and how it's actually connected to the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster 
.
. These tags might seem insignificant now, but they could hold the key to understanding this tragic event 
. They're like little time capsules just waiting for someone to come along and learn from them 
. So if anyone's got any info on what happened to those tags after the Challenger disaster, please chime in 
!
and nobody really knows what happened to them after they got removed from the Space Shuttle... it's crazy to think that they could be a way to connect people to that tragic event all those years ago 
. It's wild that they were used in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster and now we know what happened to them 
. Can you believe that only 20% of the damaged tank was recovered? That's like, so few pieces of a puzzle 
. I mean, they're not even in most museums or exhibits. It's like they were just thrown away and now we get to learn about them 
. If you're a space nerd like me, this is like, the ultimate cool discovery 
. And who knows, maybe someone out there has some info on what happened to these tags and can share it with us 
. I mean, they're not just random objects, they're connected to a tragedy that took so many lives 
. So, let's give it up for these humble little tags and the incredible history they hold 
.
. Maybe sharing this story can raise awareness and inspire new generations to learn from our past and keep pushing for space exploration 
and now their just collecting dust in some missile silo at cape canaveral
these "Remove Before Flight" tags are literally pieces of history and I think they're super underappreciated. It's wild that someone bought them on eBay for $5.50 and didn't even know what they were for until later! The fact that they might have been connected to the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster is just crazy 
.
The fact that they were used on one of the external tanks during the Challenger mission and then ended up being sold on eBay is just mind-blowing! 
It's crazy to think that these tags could serve as a poignant reminder of the lives lost during the Challenger mission, and that they're still largely unknown outside of NASA circles is just sad 
If anyone has info about the tags or worked on the external tank, they should totally come forward! 
But seriously, these tags hold so much significance and knowledge about the space shuttle program, it's a shame they're not being shared with the world more often 
Can we get some museum or exhibit dedicated to these little pieces of plastic? That would be amazing 
Those tags are like tiny time capsules waiting to be discovered. Can't believe they just ended up on eBay for a few bucks 
. The Smithsonian Institution has got some of 'em, and there's even a patch from the Challenger that was given to each state and major institutions... so it's not like this is some obscure find 
.
. If someone came forward with some info, wouldn't that be awesome? You know, connecting people to their space history stuff can be super cool