# Auuuuugh! There's A Shuttle Arm For Sale on eBay! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 6, 2005, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auuuuugh-theres-a-shuttle-arm-for-sale-on-ebay/293155 "2005-03-06T01:50:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auuuuugh-theres-a-shuttle-arm-for-sale-on-ebay/293155/1 "2005-03-06T01:50:20Z")
[At least that’s what the seller thinks it is.](http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=13904&item=3962445124&rd=1) > [@](#): > > I’ve had a local professional who is retired from a company which contracted to NASA for most of his career, to check out this Robotic Arm. He was directly involved with the NASA SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM. > > He is amazed at it and stated with his experiences in working with the SPACE SHUTTLE program, he had never seen anything exactly like this but he’s convinced that it cost well over ONE MILLION Dollars to build. It shares some similarities to the Robotic Arm inside the SPACE SHUTTLE but that is not what this was. Best guess of someone on [space.com](http://space.com) is that it’s used to test ORC-DIPS. (organic Rankine cycle-dynamic isotope power system) Whatever it is, I _want it and I don’t have the fucking money to buy it!!!_ [Charlie Brown] _Auuuuuuuuuggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhh!!!_ [/CB] ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auuuuugh-theres-a-shuttle-arm-for-sale-on-ebay/293155/2 "2005-03-06T02:06:45Z")
Not really. If you read the description he admits he really doesn’t know exactly what it is. Based on the way it looks I bet it cost a bundle to put together, and a _lot_ more than the BIN price $ 25,000. It 's probably (legitimately) some early prototype of a remote robotic arm. [The real 50 foot long shuttle arm is a lot larger](http://www.mdrobotics.ca/descrms.htm#image) > [@](#): > > I’m not sure what we have here but I’ll tell you everything I’ve been able to find out about it. If anyone of you know what it is, I’d appreciate your email and information or have any contact information that I could check with. > > It definitely appears to be a six degree of motion platform. > > It is definitely a specific item made for NASA or by NASA as you can see, it has NASA all over it and machined into many of the parts. I’ll call it a ROBOTIC ARM until proven otherwise ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auuuuugh-theres-a-shuttle-arm-for-sale-on-ebay/293155/3 "2005-03-06T02:14:38Z")
Well, yeah, I knew that, but putting > [@](#): > > Auuuuugh! There’s A Giant Robotic Arm With NASA Stickers All Over It For Sale on eBay! Just doesn’t have quite the same zing to it, ya know? And it may or may not have been used on a shuttle mission, or for something shuttle related (I’m not sure what the organic Rankine cycle-dynamic isotope power system is used for.), so I’m not _totally_ out of line in using that in the thread title. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auuuuugh-theres-a-shuttle-arm-for-sale-on-ebay/293155/4 "2005-03-06T02:18:55Z")
Why would you want that? It looks big and ungainly and would occupy a lot of space, and would surely very rapidly end up as a mysterious rusting hulk in somebody’s farming shed. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auuuuugh-theres-a-shuttle-arm-for-sale-on-ebay/293155/5 "2005-03-06T02:30:40Z")
I know masturbation can get a bit dull after a while, Tucker, but wouldn’t this be going a bit far? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auuuuugh-theres-a-shuttle-arm-for-sale-on-ebay/293155/6 "2005-03-06T02:33:22Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Why would you want that? It looks big and ungainly and would occupy a lot of space, and would surely very rapidly end up as a mysterious rusting hulk in somebody’s farming shed. Star Wars SDI! > [@](#): > > possibly used to aim a laser beam of some type ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auuuuugh-theres-a-shuttle-arm-for-sale-on-ebay/293155/7 "2005-03-06T02:37:27Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Why would you want that? It looks big and ungainly and would occupy a lot of space, and would surely very rapidly end up as a mysterious rusting hulk in somebody’s farming shed. Dude, _I’m a **space geek**!!!_ Asking me why I want it, is like asking Comic Book Guy why he has action figures when he’s in his thirties. Besides, I could use it as a bar monkey for the [living room I someday want to have.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=215300) ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auuuuugh-theres-a-shuttle-arm-for-sale-on-ebay/293155/8 "2005-03-06T02:38:58Z")
Aw, the pawn shops around here are full of those. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auuuuugh-theres-a-shuttle-arm-for-sale-on-ebay/293155/9 "2005-03-06T02:44:29Z")
[Organic Rankin cycles at Honeywell](http://www.honeywell.com/sites/sm/chemicals/refrigerants/eu/en/Organic_Rankine_Cycle_Systems.htm) [DIPS produces electric power by use of an organic Rankine cycle power conversion system and the proven plutonium oxide heat source.](http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?bibcode=1981isa..symp..411M&db_key=INST) There’s lots of nice bits of metal on that unit. If the hydraulics are fixable, you might be able to add a high torque motor and chuck, and convert the whole thing into a giant 6 axis milling machine! ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auuuuugh-theres-a-shuttle-arm-for-sale-on-ebay/293155/10 "2005-03-06T02:50:58Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > . . .convert the whole thing into a giant 6 axis milling machine! …which Pete Puma would immediately break. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auuuuugh-theres-a-shuttle-arm-for-sale-on-ebay/293155/11 "2005-03-06T02:57:47Z")
> [@Uvula Donor](#): > > …which Pete Puma would immediately break. 😃 Not if the first thing I milled was Pete! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auuuuugh-theres-a-shuttle-arm-for-sale-on-ebay/293155/12 "2005-03-06T05:31:16Z")
I must purchase this robotic device and merge it with my latest strain of petri dish rat brains. It is known that my brains are capable of piloting a fighter-jet. A robotic exoskeleton and assorted heavy weaponry will pose no challenge. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auuuuugh-theres-a-shuttle-arm-for-sale-on-ebay/293155/13 "2005-03-06T10:37:27Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > Dude, _I’m a **space geek**!!!_ Oh. I thought you were a classic car geek. I guess you’re both. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auuuuugh-theres-a-shuttle-arm-for-sale-on-ebay/293155/14 "2005-03-06T12:24:37Z")
Does it have a Claw? If it has a Claw, I’m buying it. I’m going to mount it on the roof and use it to take out the rubbish from the comfort and safety of my own sofa, pick up and throw the neighbours’ cats back from whence they came, fling empty beer cans at Jehovah’s Witnesses, and make rude gestures at passing aeroplanes. The Claw is our Master. ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auuuuugh-theres-a-shuttle-arm-for-sale-on-ebay/293155/15 "2005-03-06T13:28:00Z")
I live about a twenty minute drive from NASA… the toys out there are indeed neat, but I think they belong best in museums and other public centres rather than someone’s garage. I personally like running around the Saturn moon rockets. Have you ever seen a shuttle launch **Tucker**? I won an art contest back when I was about 15 and got to go see an Endeavour night launch. It’s pretty awesome. We saw it from the employee viewing centre, about 2 miles away (I think.) ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auuuuugh-theres-a-shuttle-arm-for-sale-on-ebay/293155/16 "2005-03-06T14:07:07Z")
> [@Case Sensitive](#): > > Does it have a Claw? If it has a Claw, I’m buying it. I’m going to mount it on the roof and use it to take out the rubbish from the comfort and safety of my own sofa, pick up and throw the neighbours’ cats back from whence they came, fling empty beer cans at Jehovah’s Witnesses, and make rude gestures at passing aeroplanes. The Claw is our Master. Even more, imagine the fun you´ll have if you install it on your car´s roof. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auuuuugh-theres-a-shuttle-arm-for-sale-on-ebay/293155/17 "2005-03-06T18:05:08Z")
> [@Ale](#): > > Even more, imagine the fun you´ll have if you install it on your car´s roof. 😃 I assumed he meant his car’s roof. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auuuuugh-theres-a-shuttle-arm-for-sale-on-ebay/293155/18 "2005-03-06T20:58:38Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > I assumed he meant his car’s roof. Sadly, my car lacks a sofa - although I must admit that the idea _is_ tempting: mind you, it’d probably have to be tricked out in chrome and fluorescent lights for a Pimp My Robot Arm effect. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auuuuugh-theres-a-shuttle-arm-for-sale-on-ebay/293155/19 "2005-03-06T22:31:34Z")
> [@Case Sensitive](#): > > it’d probably have to be tricked out in chrome and fluorescent lights for a Pimp My Robot Arm effect. The robotic arm or the sofa. If the former, I am amused by your notion that a vehicle-mounted robotic arm _needs_ to be tricked out. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auuuuugh-theres-a-shuttle-arm-for-sale-on-ebay/293155/20 "2005-03-07T00:26:20Z")
> [@jinwicked](#): > > Have you ever seen a shuttle launch **Tucker**? I won an art contest back when I was about 15 and got to go see an Endeavour night launch. It’s pretty awesome. We saw it from the employee viewing centre, about 2 miles away (I think.) Not yet, I vowed after the _Columbia_ disaster that I’d make it down there to watch one. Now, if they would just get off their asses and launch one. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auuuuugh-theres-a-shuttle-arm-for-sale-on-ebay/293155.md?page=2)