PAKAL, THE MAYA ASTRONAUT:
A STUDY OF ANCIENT SPACE TRAVEL

by Charles William Johnson

PART: II

The Housing Unfolded

Let us consider next the vehicle's housing within which Pakal is seated. Other authors have identified this section as the spacecraft's command module, with Pakal sitting in front of the control panel, looking through the cockpit's window into deep space. If we accept the idea that the structure represented by this housing device might in fact be some kind of mechanically operated device, then we can equally accept the idea that it's elements might undergo movement; for example, that they can be rotated as we have suggested.

Therefore, let us now unfold the housing elements according to their suggested mechanical design. These side structures, arms or walls, may unfurl outwardly upon their pivotal axes and joints in the manner illustrated below.

As we may observe in the previous illustrations, there are various possibilities of movement suggested within the mechanical design of the side structures. The side walls or arms may be folded upward, or unfolded downward, like the petals of a flower. However, even more similarly does the apparent design reflect the movement of the landing craft used to explore the Moon. As the distinct elements are observed and manipulated, the various joints within the housing's structure tend to define themselves more readily. Observe the sectional logic of the side walls; the base structure at the center of the module; the two hinged arms or walls; and, the two locking supports attached to the base which stabilize the then fixed outstretched arms.

The housing structure appears to be fully-extended now, completely unfolded, whereby the arm braces are hinged down and into a locked position. The side walls/arms are completely extended outward and downward. The resemblance is striking to that of the kind of landing/launching module of NASA's lunar craft.

©1995-2009 Copyrighted by Charles William Johnson

Pakal: The Maya Astronaut

Introduction

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Part V

Part VI

Part VII

Part VIII

Pakal: A Comment

"Pakal, The Ancient Astronaut:
Paleoanimation of the Sculpture of the Maya at Palenque"