Cleared On Charges Of Possessing Stolen Apollo 'Chute, He Now
Wants To Clear His Name
Ever since 48-year old Chris Rogine spoke up at a meeting of the
Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome board of directors, his life has been hell
on wheels.
Rogine was arrested in January by New York State Police, accused
of trying to sell a stolen parachute from a 1973 Apollo-Skylab
mission. The parachute had been in his barn for 20 years, after it
was obtained by the Aerodrome from the National Air and Space
Museum. The question now is, who owns the 'chute?
But there are other pressing questions. Was Rogine's arrest
retaliation from the Aerodrome's board after he sent a critical
letter last year? Were his allegations founded in truth?
Rogine has been an Aerodrome volunteer for more than 18 years.
Even before he signed up, he says Aerodrome founder Cole Palen and
employee Rick Vogt -- both dead now -- gave him the canopy from
SkyLab 1. The parachute helped bring astronauts Charles Conrad,
Joseph Kerwin and Paul Weitz safely back to Earth. Sources close to
the Aerodrome say the NASM was about to shred two such parachutes
-- until Palen spoke up and was given one of them for his
then-private museum at Rhinebeck (NY). Palen, through Vogt, then
gave the parachute and the accompanying documentation to
Rogine.
More than two decades later, with Palen gone and his status at
the museum in question after he wrote that critical letter to the
board, Rogine decided to sell the parachute on eBay. He offered it
to the highest bidder, with a bottom line of $9,500. Rogine wanted
to use the proceeds to restore an old aircraft.
The 'chute went up for sale on eBay
last December, ten months after Rogine criticized the museum board
for dismissing one employee and refusing to hire a full-time grant
writer. By January, the state police were knocking on
Rogine's door.
The Aerodrome refused to back Rogine's claim of ownership. In
fact, when he offered the parachute for auction on eBay, local
reports indicate it was museum directors who alerted the
authorities. During the entire legal nightmare, Rogine says, museum
ownership remained curiously mum.
After six months of worrying about his legal status, paying
lawyer fees and concern that he looked like a thief of national
treasures, the case against Rogine summarily dismissed by a New
York judge. As for ownership of the Apollo 'chute, that's still in
question.
"You think they would have come to me and said, 'Chris, where
did you get this parachute from?'" Rogine said.
Was Rogine's arrest sparked by retribution on the part of the
Aerodrome's board? Rogine thinks so. His lawyer says the issue of
who owns the parachute will be decided in arbitration. But in the
meantime, Rogine is upset that his reputation has been sullied by
the organization to which he's dedicated almost half his life.
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