I have been working on this project for well over a year. It is, by no means, totally completed, and there are a few items that are undecided, but I have had emails, phone calls and the like wanting to know about the project...so here goes...
This will not be, "word-for-word", my "exact" presentation, but almost...and certainly close enough to give you RKS members an overview of the topic:

January 28, 1986 at 11:39 AM (EST) NASA Mission "STS-51-L", Space Shuttle "Challenger", just 73 seconds into it's flight was lost...
Dick Scobee                                                                                        

Michael J. Smith                    
Ronald Mcnair

Allison Onizuka
Christa MaAuliffe
Gregory Jarus
Judith Resnik

All 7 were lost. It was the darkest day in NASA and indeed space flight's history! The first photo shows The "Challenger" as it's first ignition and thunderous surge began to send it on it's mission. I have subsequent photos that, upon very close examination, show the small plume of smoke seeping out from an already faulty "O" ring. The brave seven were already gone...and did not even know it!
If you will take a look at this photo (and there will be no "gloom and doom" photos in this presentation) you will see the enormous concrete bunker under the brilliant orange exhuast flames of "STS-51-L". That concrete "pad" is launch pad #39-B.

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Although "Mission #STS-51-L" was a tragedy, a great deal of good came from it. NASA implemented totally new electrical and electronic sensors and sensing equipment in launch pad #39-A and others. Many civil engineers, contractors and others were given the task of demoltion and rebuilding of #39-A.
Most of the demolitioned materials were destroyed or taken to landfills. A few items, very few, were rescued. Which brings us to our Randall knife project. No longer referred to as a "mystery" knife, the working name for the project is the "Mission Memorial" Randall knife.
The next photo in this series corresponds to the presentation at the "RKS" meeting. This was the first announcement of any kind with regard to this "Mission Memorial" knife. I have been working on it for over a year, even before the "Blade" show last year. Shown here, in the back of my FJ "Cruiser" are some rescued pieces of the original G-3 insulators, installed originally in the early to mid 60's.

 When originally installed the G-3 insulators were as tall as 12 feet. The longest piece I was able to obtain was less than 50 inches. Some of the material was drilled to facilitate full-length continous threaded pipe. This pipe is used to attach various circuits.

 

This "G-3" material is quite heavy compared to paper, linen or canvas micarta. The texture feels like canvas G-10. Here's your's truly holding a couple of pieces.
Best, Capt. Chris
 

 was able obtain 3 colors of this material. (which surprised me as I only knew of "2"!)
Green Jade
Brown Linen
Ivory (off-white)

Best, Capt. Chris
 

Prepping, i.e. "cutting" this stuff requires the use of a respirator! This is the only "inside" photo of my attempt to do this "inside"! (Actually my carpenter cut it...not me) I did cut 3 pieces of the stuff, just to say I did it! (But: I did it outside)!
Best, Capt. Chris
 

Finishing up the brown first, the material was cut into 5 inch lengths. The daimeter is 1 1/2" (+) making it perfect for a "large" knife!
Best, Capt. Chris
 

Moving on to the Jade Green proved a bit more difficult. A carbide saw blade was an absolute must.
Best, Capt. Chris
 

This is the last stick of Jade Green "G-3". Carefully measured and cut very C-L-O-S-E-, I had very little waste.
Best, Capt. Chris
 

The ivory was the final material to be cut (and the least amount) and prepped for delivery to the Randall shop for approval. All pieces were approved. No rejects!
Best, Capt. Chris