A Summer of Space Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing
ASHLAND, NE – (March 13, 2019) The Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum is offering a summer of exciting exhibits, keynote speakers, and events all focused on space flight and the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. A Smithsonian expert will present imagery of space flight during the Apollo 11 mission and a retired astronaut will present the future of space flight.
In celebration of National Space Day the Museum will hold an event May 4, 2019 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dr. Jennifer Levasseur from the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, will present on the topic of space imagery and how space photography technology has changed throughout the years. Dr. Levasseur is the curator for the National Air & Space Museum’s astronaut cameras, Skylab program, and astronaut personal equipment (pre-shuttle) collections. Her presentation begins at 10 a.m. and reservations are not required.
The Museum will also hold Jedi training classes presented by Husker Saber Academy for youth ages 6 and up. Reservations may be made upon entering the Museum on May 4. Young Jedi’s will master the tricks of the trade, learning the correct stance, how to swing, and how to defend themselves with their lightsaber. They will master using “The Force” to defeat any enemy in their way.
On July 20, 2019 the U.S. will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Retired Astronaut Clayton Anderson will take stage at 9 a.m. for a presentation about the future of space flight and will lead guests into a new exhibit entitled Space: Humanity’s Longest Journey. The exhibit includes art and artifacts themed from a time when humans curiosity with the skies led to the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. The exhibit includes artifacts on loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force, the Cosmosphere, artist Chesley Bonestell, and U.S. Space and Rocket Center. Featured items include official photos of the Apollo 11 moon landing, science fiction art by Chesley Bonestell, Soviet Union space propaganda posters, along with Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo program artifacts; and everyday items representing the space race.
The Museum will offer family space activities after the 9 a.m. presentation by Clayton Anderson. Visitors will be able to experience Apollo 11 moon landing through a virtual reality game, make and keep a planet, take a picture with an inflatable Astronaut, view space art, watch a free planetarium show and the Apollo 11 launch video.
Space: Humanity’s Longest Journey will close on September 15 and on September 28 the Museum, in collaboration with Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science, will open an interactive STEM exhibition that focuses on space exploration and the next evolution of space travel. This exhibit, entitled Space Exploration: A New Generation includes 13 interactive displays with an emphasis on science and flight concepts. Guests will get hands-on experience on how spacecraft can adjust flight while in zero atmosphere of space and practice launching their own rockets or even building a moon colony. The exhibit will remain at the Museum until January 5, 2020.