A new team is taking to the fields of Major League Baseball parks this summer and they are out of this world.
The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum has partnered with Major League Baseball (MLB) to deploy 15 replica statues of Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong's iconic spacesuit to ballparks across the United States. "Apollo at the Park" will exhibit the interactive, full-sized statues as part of the museum's nationwide celebration of the 50th anniversary of Armstrong's mission, the first moon landing.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
Fans heading out to Nationals Park for a baseball game can now make a "short stop" to see a monument to Apollo 11 moon landing history.
The Washington Nationals on Tuesday (June 4) became the first of 15 Major League Baseball (MLB) clubs to display a Smithsonian-created, interactive statue of astronaut Neil Armstrong's Apollo 11 spacesuit. The "Apollo at the Park" program is part of the National Air and Space Museum's celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 1969 mission that made Armstrong the first man on the moon.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 06-05-2019 05:12 AM
Apart from the gold finish on the visor these figures look superb!
dsenechal Member
Posts: 539 From: Registered: Dec 2002
posted 06-05-2019 10:56 AM
Wonderful!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-05-2019 05:28 PM
Some behind-the-scenes photos from Tested's Adam Savage:
You may have seen some news about the Smithsonian's 3D-printed Neil Armstrong statues for their Apollo At The Park project (celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing). Well! GUESS WHERE I WAS YESTERDAY? Stay tuned for the video on Tested.com.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-09-2019 03:03 PM
From the National Air and Space Museum on Twitter:
The second Apollo at the Park statue has been installed at the San Fransisco Giants' Oracle Park on the main promenade!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-17-2019 03:53 PM
From the National Air and Space Museum on Twitter:
The third statue of Neil Armstrong's Apollo 11 spacesuit has been installed at the Mariners' T-Mobile Park!
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 06-17-2019 05:35 PM
To paraphrase the great British philosopher Andy Pitkin..... "I want one"!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-18-2019 01:26 PM
From the New York Yankees on Twitter:
"The Eagle has landed." A replica of Neil Armstrong's 1969 Apollo 11 space suit will be on display outside the Museum on the Main Level (200s) from now through the end of the season. We'll also be commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20th.
mf451 Member
Posts: 61 From: NY, NY Registered: Nov 2014
posted 06-20-2019 09:22 AM
Adam Savage took a look at how these were made. Pretty cool!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-26-2019 06:28 PM
From the Detroit Tigers on Twitter:
Twitter, this is AtTigers. Do you read? Over.
Copy that. Now through the end of the season, we're celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20 with this replica of Neil Armstrong's space suit at Comerica Park. OK, AtTigers out.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-26-2019 06:31 PM
From the National Air and Space Museum on Twitter:
July 20, 1969, the Red Sox were in the bottom of the 7th when it was announced: a man had walked on the Moon. The crowd of over 30,000 sang "God Bless America." See a statue of Armstrong's suit at Fenway Park near Gate A.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-26-2019 06:37 PM
From Mike Acosta, historian for the Houston Astros, on Twitter:
We have a new Astro in center field. The Apollo at the Park statue of Neil Armstrong has arrived at Minute Maid Park from the Smithsonian. The statue was produced from 3D scans of Armstrong's space suit and celebrates the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-03-2019 06:22 PM
From the Pittsburgh Pirates on Twitter:
This season the Pirates have partnered with the National Air and Space Museum to be one of 15 MLB teams to host the 2019 "Apollo at the Park" exhibit. You can visit the interactive replica of Neil Armstrong's Apollo 11 spacesuit now on the PNC Park Riverwalk.
Hart Sastrowardoyo Member
Posts: 3445 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
posted 07-09-2019 12:25 AM
I was at Yankees Stadium on June 23 and did not see the statue. There's only one way in and out of the Museum, too.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-09-2019 07:58 AM
I'm not sure why you didn't come across it, but there are a number of photos of and with the Yankee Stadium statue on social media, such as this one.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
Having spent the past baseball season rounding the plates, the Smithsonian is now sending its team of spacesuit statues home.
To new homes, that is.
"Since June, baseball fans in 15 cities have had the opportunity to take photos and interact with the statues. Now visitors to museums and history centers near those same cities will have a chance to experience the lifelike suits for years to come," the Smithsonian announced on Tuesday (Sept. 24).