The St. Louis Science Center is now host to Destination Moon: The Apollo 11 Mission, which opened at the institution recently.
Although the first moon landing was nearly 50 years ago, there are still artifacts remaining from that mission, and St. Louis residents can see them without having to visit the NASA facilities in Houston.
The items in the new exhibit are on loan from Washington, D.C.'s National Air and Space Museum, which is part of the Smithsonian. Among the artifacts on display are the gloves donned by astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the Apollo command module, and a “survival rucksack” with the tools and equipment used by the astronauts.
There is a strong connection between St. Louis and the “Space Race,” since McDonnell-Douglas was instrumental in developing the technology used in the Mercury and Apollo missions, and had its offices at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.
President and CEO of the science center, Bert Vescolani, said the institution was honored to host the exhibit, which offers people a look at an iconic time in the nation's history.
The Apollo module has not been loaned out by the Smithsonian in 46 years, so St. Louis residents who are interested in the history of space flight, and the moon landings, should make plans to see the exhibit, which is open through September 3.
Exhibits like this present interesting information, so organizers might work with a flyer printing on a handout for visitors to explain the items.
