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Lockheed's Agena: it' ugly, but it gets you there (1)
The Agena was nothing like the lost space shuttle. It was unmanned, it was ugly, it was unglamorous, it was not even reusable nor it could return to Earth. Yet it was unavoidable comparisons were drawn between the two, if only because the Agena assumed space station assembly and logistics, once the role planned for the shuttle.
Lockheed officials were soon angried with the comparison, and they tried to defuse it. To achieve that, and with Volkswagen consent, they subverted the famous Beetle advert involving the Lunar Module.
Lockheed spoof advert featured a photo of the Agena as seen from a Gemini capsule in 1965, together with the iconic catchphrase - "It's ugly, but it gets you there". Volkswagen logo was obviously gone, replaced by Lockheed's.
Lockheed officials were soon angried with the comparison, and they tried to defuse it. To achieve that, and with Volkswagen consent, they subverted the famous Beetle advert involving the Lunar Module.
Lockheed spoof advert featured a photo of the Agena as seen from a Gemini capsule in 1965, together with the iconic catchphrase - "It's ugly, but it gets you there". Volkswagen logo was obviously gone, replaced by Lockheed's.
- Archibald
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