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Author
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Topic: Do we need space monuments?
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Chris Dubbs
Member Posts: 145
From: Edinboro, PA USA
Registered: Nov 2004
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posted 04-26-2011 06:19 PM
   
Charles Bolden gave the welcoming remarks at the NASA History Office conference I am attending in DC. He mentioned that he was in Russia to celebrate the 50th anniversary of manned space flight and took note of the space monuments around the city. He suggested that the U.S. doesn’t celebrate its space accomplishments. He pointed out that "we have a lot of monuments of guys on horses." Aside from the monuments at various NASA facilities, what other space monuments does the U.S. have? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 04-26-2011 06:43 PM
Interesting topic... quote:
Originally posted by Chris Dubbs:
Aside from the monuments at various NASA facilities, what other space monuments does the U.S. have?
There are a handful of statues to astronauts; see the earlier discussion under the Space Places forum for some of them. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 04-26-2011 07:31 PM
Don't see monuments as particularly relevant when institutions like the National Air and Space Museum and U.S. Space & Rocket Center Davidson Center exist... they are in effect monuments to the program and do a much better job of commemorating achievement. |
Fra Mauro
Member Posts: 1586
From: Bethpage, N.Y.
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 04-27-2011 07:37 PM
Wow... I finally agree with something Mr. Bolden said. A very true statement -- it's up to the museums to get the ball rolling. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3118
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 04-28-2011 04:22 PM
Statues and monuments are usually erected in memory of dead heroes. I prefer my heroes to be alive, so the fewer the statues the better, for as long as possible. |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 04-28-2011 04:33 PM
There are many museums out there that display space hardware (capsules, space suits, rockets, etc.). To me, that material is much more fascinating (and inspirational) than looking at a bronze statue.Sadly, it looks like Pads 39A and 39B at KSC are going to little more than monuments for the forseeable future, once STS-135 is launched. |
RMH
Member Posts: 577
From: Ohio
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 04-28-2011 07:00 PM
In Ohio, the interchange of I-70 and I-75 features impressions of the Wright Brothers’ first flight, military fighter jets flying in formation, and images of Apollo 9, the Lunar Module, the earth and moon and the American flag in retaining walls adjacent to the interstate routes.This is really neat. The Apollo/space scenes are a bit hard to see as it is all white with the images contoured on the wall passing by at 65 mph.
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Fra Mauro
Member Posts: 1586
From: Bethpage, N.Y.
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 04-29-2011 10:51 AM
I know there is a statue of Jack Swigert in the House of Reps. I guess the VAB and the launch Control Center will also be monuments -- that is, if they aren't demolished. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 04-29-2011 10:59 AM
Last time I traveled through Denver Airport the Jack Swigert statue had bee relocated from its prominent location in one of the terminals center concourse to a spot downstairs near the shuttle... |
Cliff Lentz
Member Posts: 655
From: Philadelphia, PA USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 05-01-2011 12:46 PM
Why not? Why shouldn't we celebrate NASA every way we can?You count my Star Voyager statue in Phoenixville, PA as part of the Phanatic Around Town Public Arts program sponsored by the Philadelphia Phillies as a tribute to those people and flights in a way that everyone might understand. |
mikepf
Member Posts: 441
From: San Jose, California, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 05-01-2011 01:39 PM
I think more public space monuments or statues in high-traffic, high visibility areas would be a great idea. The astronauts and other space workers are at least as much heroes to look up to as anyone else so honored. If such tributes are confined to museums, only the dedicated space buffs or casual tourists will likely see them. The more exposure the better. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 05-01-2011 02:15 PM
There is this impressive shuttle monument on one of the two streets named after Ellison Onizuka in Los Angeles. Very central location - that is Los Angeles City Hall on the next block. More photos on this page. |
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