Docent Says Artifact Was Stolen From Her Cart

A thermal tile went missing from the Kennedy Space Center Visitors complex in Florida on Sunday, and officials of the complex are hoping to have the artifact returned.

Television Station WKMG reports that the tile is not one that has ever flown in space. The 6-inch square tile encased in plexiglass was in the care of an education volunteer making a presentation at the center Sunday. It went missing from a cart of artifacts while the docent was talking to guests at the center.

Popular Science identifies the docent as Jean Wright, who posted on Facebook "I had a somewhat traumatizing experience at the Atlantis exhibit today! I wasn't even up there for 10 mins. when someone STOLE one of my shuttle tiles! I had it on our upper shelf behind the cart where it's a bit difficult to reach it. I was about 10ft. away and every now and then looking at it while I was talking to guests. I noticed a large crowd surrounding the cart, and scurried back. I 'footprint' everything I have there; and immediately noticed it was gone!"

Social media users have been spreading the word for people to look out for the tile on sites like Ebay. The tile's serial number begins with VT70-191.

Members of the Reddit community have also mobilized to help find the missing tile. Anyone reading this who sees the artifact online, or anywhere else for that matter, is asked to contact the Kennedy Space Center Vistors Complex.

FMI: www.kennedyspacecenter.com