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Mobile Quarantine Facility

National Air and Space Museum

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Object Details

Manufacturer
Airstream, Inc.
Contractor
Melpar, Inc.
Summary
This Mobile Quarantine Facility (MQF) was one of four built by NASA for astronauts returning from the Moon. Its purpose was to prevent the unlikely spread of lunar contagions by isolating the astronauts from contact with other people. A converted Airstream trailer, the MQF contained living and sleeping quarters, a kitchen, and a bathroom. Quarantine was assured by keeping the air pressure inside lower than the pressure outside and by filtering the air vented from the facility.
This MQF was used by Apollo 11 astronauts Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins immediately after their return to Earth. They, together with a physician and a technician, remained in it for 88 hours while the MQF was transported on the aircraft carrier USS Hornet to the Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Hawaii and from there to nearby Hickam AFB. At Hickam, the MQF was loaded into the cargo hold of a C-141 aircraft and flown to Ellington AFB in Houston, Texas. The MQF, with the astronauts still on board, was then transported to the NASA Lunar Receiving Laboratory at Johnson Space Center where there were more spacious quarantine facilities. The astronauts were allowed to emerge from quarantine once scientists were sure they were not infected with "moon germs."
NASA transferred the MQF to the Smithsonian Institution in 1974.
Alternate Name
Mobile Quarantine Facility
Credit Line
Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Inventory Number
A19740677000
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
EQUIPMENT-Mission Support
Materials
Aluminum, Glass
Dimensions
Overall: 8 ft. 7 in. tall x 9 ft. wide x 35 ft. deep, 12499.9 lb. (261.62 x 274.32 x 1066.8cm, 5669.9kg)
Country of Origin
United States of America
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Location
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
Exhibit Station
Human Spaceflight
National Air and Space Museum
Record ID
nasm_A19740677000
Usage of Metadata (Object Detail Text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9e3a3c887-37fc-4383-b334-15e646e3ed5b

Related Content

  • Apollo 11

    Air and Space Museum
  • Human Spaceflight

    Air and Space Museum
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