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.

FMI: www.oldrhinebeck.org