Dear old Pappy's Birthday later this week.

He doesn't operate computers (he's still an old fashioned but GOOD type) so no chance of him reading or seeing these

But I thought you folks might as they are some GOOD 'Space' PRESENTS here i think that won't hurt the pocket.

Picked up this SUPER "Mars Curiosity Rover" Official NASA MEDALION...Both sides are GREAT but this one showing the actual rover in raised relief is WONDERFUL. Landing 5th August 2012 (although i don't think it was taken out on a test drive on Mars until a day later, the 6th?)

Looks to be made of BRASS with a Black Enamelled Outer Ring, is a nice large sized one complete with protective Case.

The REVERSE side is good too showing the NASA Logo (featuring the now often discussed WISHBONE motif ) along with a small MARS in relief along with the two tiny MOONS (PHOBOS...slowly descending towards the planet & DEIMOS)
With the words "MARS EXPLORATION, NASA OFFICIAL COMMEMORATIVE" within the inner ring & HERE is the REAL COOL THING "THIS MEDALLION WAS MINTED WITH TEST METAL USED DURING THE ENGINEERING OF CURIOSITY along with 4 STARS"

So as you can see some of the metal within this medallion was used in creating CURIOSITY (ok it didn't actually make it to MARS but it helped in the process) and my father at one time earlier in his life having been an ENGINEER i'm sure will LOVE this as will i'm sure some of you folks.

You will find them on E BAY right now in the UK at great prices (there will ONLY ever be so many of these you'd have thought? and SPACE stuff is sure to be collectible in the not so far off future!) so GET 'EM NOW...this one you see here cost me just over £6 including P&P so approx. $10 (in the USA i have seen them being offered for $20-30)
Not that price concerns me too much i just find it & things like this COOL!

I also got him a fun little WIND-UP mini ROBOT...LOOKS Metal don't it? but the price will tell you NOT...just £1 even comes with a RETRO LOOKING BOX with fun artwork!
So made of plastic & boxed, wind it up & it's little hands move up and down & it's head from side to side whilst shuffling across the table

Geeezzz i am such a BIG KID

If you want one get em whilst you can at the DISCOUNT STORE called "QUALITY SAVE" in the UK or get someone to get you one perhaps?
GREAT Christmas Stocking fillers.

Of course this isn't all he's getting from us...but i thought i would just share with you these 2 SUPER BUDGET items i bought that might interest & get other SPACE Fans smiling










Nice Huh?

The medallion will probably be put on DISPLAY along with a small 5x3" photo of this little thing



Ah the stories this could tell if it were able to do so (i say little but it's actually quiet a large thing we sent to MARS)

So if some form of settlement from ancient times be it us (we HUMANS) or alien was found to have been on MARS just what are the reasons why they would NOT disclose such a thing to the general public?
I suppose the obvious one is the WEALTH of KNOWLEDGE...and the things they might find here but again for the benefit of just a few SAD.

I bet you folks like me had forgotten it had only been up there 5 years this August?
It seems to have been up there for 10 or more but i'm probably confusing it with the others we have there.

COME BACK here in 50 years time.

By which time we will have surely been HERE, THERE & EVERYWHERE within our SOLAR SYSTEM?

And we will have DISCOVERED perhaps many of things i have talked about here? as well as others that for now remain hidden.

Oh and this MEDALLION you bought for your kid, father, mother, grandfather or grandmother back in 2017...well now here in 2067 it's NOW worth not £6 but add 2 noughts to it so maybe £600 ?

So keep 'em in GOOD order...especially if as i feel THINGS will finally have been let known about what it is they really did find on MARS by this ROVER?

Did I really say it looks to be made of BRASS
Damn I know I make these types of SILLY mistakes on a regular basis (I didn't used too, my head knows what I mean but sometimes it comes out wrong!!! even noticed i'll write left when I mean right & up when I mean down...DAMN IT!!!)
Mentioned it before but I had a problem about 5 or 6 years ago & my thought processes are NOT the same & it is annoying! but just bear with me, you'll work things out your SMART FOLKS!

Of course this MEDALLION (which I have learned was issued on the 1st ANNIVERSARY of 'CURIOSITY' landing on the RED PLANET (Mars to you & me ) they actually say the SKY is more BLUE coloured than RED but it's the DUSTY surface which gives it this shade from SPACE & ORBIT) well it is more COPPER coloured then BRASS (which is more shiny Yellowish in colour) although I do not know if this is the case.

Prefer COPPER to BRASS so just thought i'd clear that one up!

Hope some of you folks (that could afford it? I do wish it could have been cheaper so that a good many more of you could have gone for it but this clearly being a PREMIUM like PRODUCT, well sometimes if you LOVE such a thing you just have to push the boat out for) were able to get one of those PIONEER PLAQUES?

I'm hoping it will arrive well in time to get it properly FRAMED up so we can PRESENT to DEAR Old Pappy on Christmas Eve