Category Archives: History

NM space museum becomes Smithsonian affiliate, gets Apollo module exhibit

Here’s an announcement from the New Mexico Museum of Space History  in Alamogordo, New Mexico:

New Mexico Museum of Space History First State Museum
to Obtain Smithsonian Affiliation

Apollo Boilerplate Command Module First of Expected New Exhibits

(Alamogordo, New Mexico) – The New Mexico Museum of Space History, a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, is the first museum within the state system to become a Smithsonian Affiliate.  An Apollo Boilerplate Command Module, the first artifact to arrive as part of the Smithsonian Affiliations Program, is scheduled to be delivered to the museum at noon on Friday, March 1, 2013 (weather and road conditions permitting). The official announcement will be made on the patio of the museum upon arrival of the boilerplate.

“New Mexico was a pioneer of the United States’ space program,” said Cabinet Secretary Veronica N. Gonzales. “Being chosen as a Smithsonian Affiliate is a significant milestone for a museum and the New Mexico Museum of Space History is privileged to be among those chosen.”

“The arrival of the Apollo Boilerplate represents the first of many new artifacts and exhibits that the Museum will be able to share with its visitors because of our Smithsonian Affiliation,” stated Chris Orwoll, New Mexico Museum of Space History Executive Director.

Affiliate organizations are selected for their record of presenting high quality exhibitions, scholarship, professionalism, and museum educational programs. The New Mexico Museum of Space History will be offering new museum membership packages beginning May 1, 2013, that will include Smithsonian benefits such as a one year subscription to either Smithsonian Magazine or Air & Space Magazine, personalized Smithsonian membership cards, and travel and tour opportunities.  Of the thousands of museums across the country, there are currently only 177 Smithsonian Affiliates representing 41 states, Puerto Rico and Panama.

The Department of Cultural Affairs is New Mexico’s cultural steward and is charged with preserving and showcasing the state’s cultural riches. With its eight museums, eight historic monuments, arts, archaeology, historic preservation and library programs, the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs is the largest state cultural agency in the nation. Together, the facilities, programs and services of the Department support a $3.3 billion cultural industry in New Mexico.

ApolloBoilerplate1_450x338

PHOTO CUTLINE: Apollo Boilerplate 1 – Behind this banner is an Apollo Boilerplate Command Module on its way to the New Mexico Museum of Space History from its previous home at the Discovery Center in Ocala, Florida. The boilerplate, which is the first of many exhibits and artifacts expected through the museum’s new affiliation with the Smithsonian, left Florida on Tuesday, February 26, and is expected to arrive at the museum in Alamogordo at noon on Friday, March 1, weather permitting. The public is invited to welcome the module to its new home.

Crowdfunding the Lunar Orbiter Image Recovery Project

Dennis Wingo announces a crowdsourcing campaign to fund the Lunar Orbiter Image Recovery Project (LOIRP). This technoarchaeology (“mining the past to support science in the future”) seeks to recover images from recorded on analog magnetic tapes from the five NASA  lunar orbiter missions between 1966 and 1967.