Museum of Space Travel
The Guide to Great Space Exhibits and Museums
Apollo 11
Nov 14th
NASA met President Kennedy’s goal by landing on the moon in July 1969. The Apollo 11 command module (“Columbia”) got them there. The final leg down to the surface was taken by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin via the LM, “Eagle”. Meanwhile, Mike Collins orbited above alone.
Apollo 11 ("Columbia") at National Air & Space
| Spacecraft | Apollo 11 ("Columbia") |
|---|---|
| Location | National Air & Space Museum Washington, District of Columbia |
| Hours | 10:00 am - 5:30 pm some extended hours (call!) Open every day except December 25. |
| Contact | 202-633-1000 |
| Mission | First moonlanding. |
Apollo 13
Nov 14th
Apollo 13 at the Cosmosphere
| Spacecraft | Apollo 13 ("Odyssey") |
|---|---|
| Location | Cosmosphere Hutchinson, Kansas |
| Hours | Open daily except Christmas. Hours vary, so call ahead. |
| Contact | 800-397-0330 |
| Mission | Explosion cancelled planned moonlanding; hazardous flight, overcoming many obstacles ending with safe return to earth. |
A deadly re-entry
Nov 30th
As Boris Volnyov watched the flames lapping at the blunt nose of his Soyuz spacecraft, he felt certain that death was near. With his heat shield out of position, the 5,000 degree heat outside would soon consume him. He could already smell the burning of the rubber seals which held the spacecraft’s hatch in place. And, wearing no spacesuit, Volnyov was himself beginning to feel the uncomfortably hot inside the crew compartment.
Alone, his fuel spent, and with nothing left to do, the cosmonaut began writing and recording notes—his final thoughts.
This wasn’t the first trouble Volnyov had experienced as a cosmonaut. From the beginning, Volnyov had difficulties, despite his unquestionable ability. Largely, this was because the Soviet Politburo didn’t like Volnyov’s