Since 1931, Airstream has been enabling adventures across the country and around the world. From family trips to the National Parks to globetrotting Caravans to Europe, Africa, and Around the World, Airstream has been a part of earthbound exploration for generations. So, when humans began exploring beyond the confines of our planet it only made sense that Airstream was part of the journey.
Apollo Era: Mobile Quarantine Facilities for Lunar Explorers
As NASA was preparing to send astronauts to the moon in the 1960s, concerns arose in the scientific community about the threat of unknown lunar pathogens. Fears spread that astronauts could come into contact with bacteria on the surface of the moon and expose others upon their return, leading to an outbreak of disease.
While this threat was considered minimal, the need for precaution led to the creation of the Interagency Committee on Back Contamination (ICBC) who searched for ways to safely deal with the threat of lunar micro-organisms. The ICBC and NASA agreed that the astronauts and the samples they collected should be transferred from splash down to the Lunar Receiving Laboratory in a Mobile Quarantine Facility (or MQF).
NASA contracted with a company known as Melpar, Inc. who then subcontracted with Airstream to build the MQF. In total, Airstream built four MQFs which were essentially modified travel trailers. An Airstream travel trailer seemed like the natural choice due to its “aircraft-like” construction, self-containment features, and high-quality living quarters that could withstand the rigors of transportation.
The MQF was 35’ long and adapted for transport by ship and cargo plane. The sealed aluminum trailer utilized exhaust fans and filters to create an internal negative pressure for biological isolation. A decontamination transfer lock feature was added to allow for the transfer of samples and film that the astronauts had collected. Inside, the MQF provided comfortable living areas much like a standard Airstream trailer including bunk beds, a kitchen, and a bathroom. There were also several unique interior features including a medical examination table in place of the typical credenza table. In addition, each person had a mounted seat with a seat belt and straps on their bunk bed to be used during flight or while moving from one carrier to another.
The first MQF was used for Apollo 11 astronauts Commander Neil Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins, and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin. Armstrong and Aldrin became the first people to land on the moon on July 20, 1969. A few days later, on July 24, 1969, the crew returned to Earth and splashed down into the Pacific Ocean. They were given hazmat suits and transferred to the USS Hornet where they entered the MQF along with Recovery Engineer John Hirasaki and Flight Surgeon Dr. William Carpentier.
Employees here at Airstream beamed with pride at their televisions as they watched the astronauts speak with President Nixon while peering through the rear window of the MQF. While in the MQF, the astronauts went through medical exams and filled out reports. They also ate, relaxed, and shared stories of their adventures with Hirasaki and Carpentier.
MQFs were used for Apollo missions 11, 12, and 14 before it was determined that lunar pathogens were not a threat and their use was discontinued. An MQF was intended for Apollo 13 but was not used as the mission was aborted due to an onboard explosion. Currently, three of the MQFs produced are on display in various locations. The MQF used during the Apollo 11 mission is on display at the Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia. The MQF used during Apollo 12 is on display at the U.S. Space and Rocket Park in Huntsville, Alabama. The MQF used during Apollo 14 is on display at the USS Hornet Sea Air and Space Museum in California. The MQF that was intended to be used during Apollo 13 was transferred to the USDA and its location is currently unknown.
Space Shuttle: A New Journey into Space
Airstream’s relationship with NASA did not end once the MQFs were no longer in use. In 1983, NASA began using a modified Airstream Excella Motorhome, known as the Astrovan, to transport astronauts from the Operations and Checkout Building at the Florida Kennedy Space Center to the launch pad. From the ninth Shuttle mission (STS-9) in November, 1983 until the final Space Shuttle mission (STS-135) in July, 2011, every Space Shuttle crew rode in the Astrovan to the launchpad.
Over nearly three decades of operation, the Astrovan accumulated only about 26,500 miles. Its limited mileage reflected its highly specific role: it was used exclusively for launch rehearsals and on launch day to carry astronauts the roughly nine-mile route between the suit-up facility and the launch pad, then back again. On launch mornings, the crew posed in front of the Astrovan, smiling for photographs and waving to spectators before climbing aboard. Escorted by security, they traveled to the pad, sometimes glimpsing a Florida alligator along the roadside.
Instead of conventional living and dining spaces, the Astrovan’s interior was configured with bench seating on both sides to accommodate up to eight shuttle crew members. Sections of the benches could be lifted out to make room for ventilator systems that delivered cool air to the astronauts’ bulky orange launch and entry suits. A rear hatch with built-in steps enabled cargo loading. The vehicle also included period-standard amenities such as a restroom and a refrigerator. The original interior décor was preserved, complete with dark wood paneling and gold curtains.
"I always associate this vehicle with flying," said astronaut Chris Ferguson, who participated in three shuttle launches, including commanding the final Space Shuttle launch in 2011, "because you get in here for TCDT, which, of course, is the launch rehearsal, and then launch day." The Astrovan was used from 1983 until the program was discontinued in 2011. Today, the original Astrovan is on display near the Space Shuttle Atlantis in the Kennedy Space Center museum in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Continuing the Mission: Astrovan II
After the decommissioning of the Space Shuttle, America's space program turned to private companies like Boeing, Space X, and Blue Origin to transport astronauts into space. With Airstream's long history in space exploration, Boeing turned to Airstream to build a crew transport vehicle for their Starliner crews. Built in partnership with the Boeing Company, the ASTROVAN II is a modified Airstream Atlas Touring Coach originally built for Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner crew as part of Boeing’s Commercial Crew program.
On April 1, 2026, NASA launched the Artemis II mission with a crew of four on a 10-day journey around the moon and back. The mission is part of NASA's return to the moon, which will include the Artemis IV mission (currently scheduled for 2028) that will land humans on the moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972. The Artemis II crew rode in the Astrovan II – leased from Boeing and clad in a new Artemis livery – on the journey out to Launch Pad 39B, one of the two pads used for Shuttle launches.
A Key Part of the Greatest Adventure of All
From housing the first people who walked on the moon to acting as the last leg of a journey to the stars, Airstream has played a key role in America's space adventures. These historically important units are now on display in some of the most esteemed museums in the world, reminding us every day of human ingenuity, bravery, and the magic of exploring what's beyond the horizon.
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