posted 01-23-2015 12:12 AM               

Planetarium's Apollo 13 astronaut exhibit getting crowdfunded redesign

America's first planetarium wants to better share the story of the United States' first steps into space and the career of one of the country's most famous astronauts — and needs your help to do it.

The Adler Planetarium in Chicago, established in 1930, is redesigning its almost decade-old exhibition "Shoot for the Moon" and re-launching it as "Mission Moon" to immerse visitors in the life of astronaut James Lovell. The debut of the re-imagined exhibit is timed to coincide with the 45th anniversary of Lovell's best-known mission, Apollo 13.

"Since 2006, we've been telling the story of Captain James Lovell, an astronaut who flew on Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8 and Apollo 13, but we want to tell that story a little better," Michelle Nichols, a master educator in the Adler's astronomy department, said in a video statement.

To achieve that, the Adler on Monday (Jan. 19) launched its first crowdfunding campaign, aiming to raise $95,000 to support the opening of the "Mission Moon" exhibit on April 11, 45 years to the day after the launch of Apollo 13.

posted 04-10-2015 07:20 AM               

Apollo 13 astronaut exhibit re-launches at Chicago planetarium

Forty five years ago, Apollo 13 astronaut Jim Lovell "lost the moon" after an explosion crippled his spacecraft, making his lunar landing mission a struggle for survival.

Now, on what is the anniversary of his most famous liftoff, Chicago's Adler Planetarium is launching its own "Mission Moon," a new exhibit based on Lovell's space adventures.

"The leadership, teamwork and the initiative of the Mission Control team turned an almost certain catastrophe into a successful recovery," Lovell said, describing his Apollo 13 flight in an interview with collectSPACE.

Opening on Saturday (April 11), 45 years after Lovell and his Apollo 13 crewmates Fred Haise and Jack Swigert left Earth for the moon, "Mission Moon" is a re-imagination of the Adler's nearly decade-old "Shoot for the Moon" exhibit. Hands-on activities, interactive displays and artifacts now immerse visitors in the timeline of Lovell's life, beginning with his dreams of building rockets as a 12-year-old boy to his triumphant splashdown in 1970 and beyond.

posted 02-16-2019 11:00 AM               

Omega 105.003 "pre-Professional" Speedmaster flown on Gemini 12.

Gemini 12 capsule.

Collection of flown Fliteline medals from the Gemini program.

Lovell's inflight coveralls worn on Apollo 8.

posted 02-16-2019 11:00 AM               

An extra page inserted into an Apollo 13 checklist.

Optical sight from Aquarius, hand controller from Odyssey, and the plaque intended to be left on the moon by Apollo 13.

Lunar EVA gloves and LEVA intended to be used by Lovell on Apollo 13.

posted 02-16-2019 11:01 AM               

ACR penlight used on Apollo 11 on loan from the Smithsonian.

Collection of flown Robbins medals from the Apollo program.