Posts: 1368
From: Chester, Cheshire, UK
Registered: May 2001

posted 02-11-2003 07:15 PM               

---

Just a quick heads up for UK space fans. I dropped into the Manchester Science Museum to check out their space exhibit at the weekend. It's a fairly small area, but you do get Tom Stafford's Gemini 9 flown suit along with a nice selection of Gemini emergency survival equipment to look at.

To my surprise there is also a complete full sized Gemini test capsule with landing wheels and an inflatable paraglider wing mounted above it. A photo at the exhibit shows a pilot gliding it into a runway. A quick bit of web research reveals that this is a Rogallo wing Gemini, an early idea for a land rather than sea-landing Gemini.

Go here for more info on the Rogallo wing or look at pages 197 &198 of 'Flight' by Chris Kraft.

Worth a visit if you're in the area - upstairs in hall 5.

Posts: 48
From: U.P. Michigan
Registered: Dec 2002

Posts: 649
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Jun 2001

Posts: 48
From: U.P. Michigan
Registered: Dec 2002

Posts: 649
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Jun 2001

posted 02-12-2003 12:53 AM               

---

I agree, and seeing the X-38, the prototype Crew Return Vehicle for the ISS, being built at JSC last March was not only fun, it seemed like a dream come true. I just wish it wasn't mothballed at this point, it was almost a finished test vehicle.

Matt: Many thanks for the info, I've been researching space museums for some time.

Posts: 3386
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001

Posts: 2113
From: Staffs, UK
Registered: Aug 2002

posted 02-12-2003 03:21 PM            

---

Yes, it's a good 'exhibit' for UK!

I helped Charles over at JSC on this a few years back with images for his research.

There is an X-wing book(let) on this as well - but can't locate at moment - so can't give you full title.

Also at Manchester is the original Daily Express Muirhead facsimile machine that wa used to print the first lunar surface photos from Luna-9 (before Russia published!) These were the images that Jodrell Bank (or University of Manchester Nuffield Radio Astronomy Laboratories) intercepted.

I remember that scoop - one the best of the last century. I've image/s if anyone in USA interested in seeing it.

Posts: 1368
From: Chester, Cheshire, UK
Registered: May 2001

posted 02-14-2003 05:57 AM               

---

Staying on the UK space museums front - what else is out there? It might be interesting if other UK space nuts could post the location of space-related museums/exhibitions they've visited in this country.

I'll take the easy one - London Science Museum. The Apollo 10 command module, a full size LM mockup, a Saturn V engine (if memory serves me right) and the UK's own launch vehicle (the name escapes me). Lots of other stuff but those were the highlights of my visit.

Apparently there's an Apollo boilerplate capsule on an airbase somewhere in the UK. Anybody?

Posts: 67
From: England
Registered: Mar 2001

Posts: 2113
From: Staffs, UK
Registered: Aug 2002

Posts: 2113
From: Staffs, UK
Registered: Aug 2002

posted 02-17-2003 02:03 PM            

---

Cosford Museum have a good display of items - mainly WWII German missiles but Polaris was there,a Thord Delta (upright) and an Atlas engine. Also, the Japanese rocket suicide plane (Cherry Blossom)

There is also Jodrell Bank - though it is more astronomy and has been dumbed down lately to cater for schools.

There the museum up between Edinbugh and Glasgow whose name eludes me - "East something". Long time since I went but they had a few items on display.

Not sure what Birmingham's new museum has - haven't been since the new site opened up. They now have an IMAX in Birmingham and were showing Space Station IMAX.

You've got the other odd sites like where Newton lived, Goodricke's house...

Posts: 2121
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Jul 2001

posted 02-17-2003 03:45 PM               

---

I think the one in Scotland is the the one out at East Fortune airfield in East Lothian Phill, and there is also the Royal Museum in Edinburgh which now houses a nice case of Space Artifacts, some of which were supplied by John Young when he opened the exhibit a couple of years ago.

The Science Museum also has Bill Anders Apollo 8 suit, but wasnt on display last time I was there (some moving of exhibits was happening), they had Charlie Brown in the transport section instead of the space gallery.

Plus the UK now has its own space centre in Leicester, which I believe the atrium was built to house two boosters (don't know which ones they are) and a display of artifacts.

Posts: 2121
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Jul 2001

posted 02-17-2003 03:59 PM               

---

Further to the Apollo Boilerplate in the UK, there is info on one here.

There was however another Apollo boilerplate over here, and was kept at RAF Mildenhall for a few years, then it was moved to RAF Molesworth, that's about as far as I managed to trace it Im afraid, Molesworth is now a highly restricted area. I did manage to get someone to look around inside for me but they couldn't find any trace of it! It's sad to say it's probably rusting in a hanger somewhere.

Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 02-17-2003 06:59 PM               

---

Some years ago, the museum at RAF Cosford boasted a high fidelity Lunar Rover prototype. Has anyone been to Cosford recently, and if so, any sign of the LRV?

Re Anders suit in Scotland; all the flown Apollo suits have been the subject of extensive preservation work at The Garber Facility in Washington. Along with Dick Gordon's suit from Jodrell Bank, I expect the Anders suit found its way there...