Joining the Space Age
In the 1960s Astronauts were flying around the Earth and to the Moon. Back on Earth to feel most grounded NASA and the Astronauts used 4 35-foot Airstream trailers for MQF, Mobile Quarantine Facility, and 1983 Airstream Excella motorhome, Astrovan, from Nov 1983 through July 2011 for transportation to the shuttle at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Crew Transportation for the Space Shuttle Crew upgrades to an Airstream Motorhome. Visit the Astrovan at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.On March 6, 1968, the first Mobile Quarantine Facility designated MQF-001 arrived at the Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC) in Houston for testing and evaluation.
In June 1967, NASA awarded a contract to Melpar, Inc., of Falls Church, VA, to build four MQFs and supporting hardware, such as a collapsible tunnel that could connect the MQF to an Apollo Command Module. Melpar in turn let a subcontract to the Airstream Company of Jackson Center, OH.
The sealed aluminum body shell made it airtight and the ventilation system provided negative pressure for biological isolation. A decontamination airlock allowed for the transfer of samples and film to the outside for rapid return to Houston ahead of the MQF and crew. Containing a lounge, galley, sleeping quarters and bathroom, the facility was powered internally by a diesel generator and batteries and could interface with ship and aircraft power systems.
In the 1970’s NASA transferred MQF-001 to the US Department of Agriculture for Weed Research Lab in Stoneville, Washington County, Mississippi, but its current whereabouts are unknown (may be destroyed in a forest fire). The other MQF’s are: MQF-002 (used by the Apollo 12 crew) is at the US Space and Rocket Park outside Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL, MQF-003 (Apollo 11) can be viewed at the Smithsonian Institute National Air and Space Museum Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA, Hornet+3, and MQF-004 (Apollo 14) resides on board the USS Hornet Sea, Air and Space Museum in Alameda, CA (USS Hornet Museum).
Historical significance of the MQF-100, the mother of the MQFs is after the delivery of MQF-001, MSC, misson control center, engineers conducted several weeks of testing and evaluation resulting in several needed modifications, including added fire protection. The contractor redelivered the retrofitted unit for further testing including fit checks in a C-141 transport aircraft, sea trials aboard two US Navy vessels, a vacuum chamber run, and finally a dry run during the Apollo 9 mission aboard the USS Guadalcanal, the prime recovery ship for that flight. MQF-001 successfully passed all those tests.
It was last seen rotting in a field of weeds near Stoneville, MS. Biological Control of Pest Research Unit, USDA-ARS in Stoneville, MS, 10 miles north of Leland, MS. Says a representative from USS Hornet Museum on Tripadvisor.com. Read more about the Stoneville Research Quarantine Facility
SRQF is now operated by a permanent full-time USDA ARS Quarantine Officer who is under supervision of a Research Entomologist in the Biological Control of Pests Research Unit.
1973 at the USDA Jamie Whitten Delta States Research Center in Stoneville, Mississippi, under a special research project to study the feasibility of manipulating weed-feeding insects for biological control. In 1976, SRQF was officially approved by APHIS, PPQ to receive exotic parasitoids, pathogens, predators and weed biocontrol agents.
For the state roughly 1,200 acres of farm land are contained within the 4,650 acres of total property that also contains a 3,000 acre research forest.
It was last seen rotting in a field of weeds near Stoneville, MS. Biological Control of Pest Research Unit, USDA-ARS in Stoneville, MS, 10 miles north of Leland, MS. Says a representative from USS Hornet Museum on Tripadvisor.com. Read more about the Stoneville Research Quarantine Facility
SRQF is now operated by a permanent full-time USDA ARS Quarantine Officer who is under supervision of a Research Entomologist in the Biological Control of Pests Research Unit.
1973 at the USDA Jamie Whitten Delta States Research Center in Stoneville, Mississippi, under a special research project to study the feasibility of manipulating weed-feeding insects for biological control. In 1976, SRQF was officially approved by APHIS, PPQ to receive exotic parasitoids, pathogens, predators and weed biocontrol agents.
For the state roughly 1,200 acres of farm land are contained within the 4,650 acres of total property that also contains a 3,000 acre research forest.
New Airstream Astrovan for the newest Astronauts