Space History Museum

Sunday we went into Alamogordo to the Space History Museum, a museum that we were told was well worth our time.  And it was for a number of reasons.  You could see the rockets and building from just about anywhere in town, it sits up in the mountains that flank the eastern side of Alamogordo.  Why in Alamogordo?  This area was the testing site for the first test of the atomic bomb (Trinity), area right by White Sands was and still is used for flight testing, the area sits in a valley with low population (less to be affected by bombs and such), the valley is perfect for flying - can fly almost every day of the year.

They have an IMAX theater and as part of the admission into the museum, you can view a movie and we chose the one about the National Parks.  After watching it we definitely want to see more parks (we have 8 National Parks in the 48 contingent states and so many more in Alaska and Hawaii to go to).  Thank goodness Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir had a wonderful vision to protect and preserve our beautiful land.

I remember listening on the radio to this historic flight

Simulation of Space Station 2001

Nicely displayed

Had a simulation of the forces of lift off- stood on a platform to feel it

Back into the museum we went after the movie, you begin your tour on the top floor and the museum starts at the beginning, explaining who and what was going on and the time frame from the beginning.  As you traveled down the building through the exhibits you get a clear picture of just what was involved and the dedication and perseverence to launch into space and go 'go where no man has gone before'.  Even had a wonderful exhibit on Star Trek and the founder Gene Roddenberry.  Very cool.

These are the voyages.......

I remember that episode!

And then the WOW factor hit - Dave saw the Mercury and the Gemini space capsules on display.  He worked on a project while in college to design a fuel pump system, it was a contest sponsored by the government, not given what the design was to be used for.  Top secret.  Dave designed it, tested it, won a patent for it (had to give it up since it was property of the company he was working for at the time), and much later he found out it was for the space program to be used in the Mercury and then Gemini space capsules.  Proud day for Dave to see his work and how the program progressed after that.

A family trying on space suits and then have their pic taken, cute

The display outside, seen through the window

You could sit and fly the Space Shuttle

Dave pointing to where the pump is located on the Mercury

And pointing to where the fuel pump system is on the Gemini

On the way back from the museum we passed a beautiful church, pulled in to look at it more closely and saw American, Israeli, New Mexico, and the Christian flags flying.  Yesterday I sent the church a note asking the significance to the Israeli flag and their reply was, 'because we love, stand and pray for our friends in Israel.'  Wonderful.