Early vistor feedback from the top of the Rocket Tower is that Project Apollo is really “out of this world”. Sky News visited the National Space Centre for the 40th anniversary and spoke to visitors throughout the day live on television. “It is amazing” said one family, “this is the best day out we have ever had” they went on to all agree and we never even gave them free tickets!
In a few years time he could be off to Mars!
HUGE thanks to the Brickish Association, a UK group of talented and dedicated LEGO fans, who have joined the National Space Centre for the Project Apollo launch weekend with an amazing exhibition of LEGO spacecraft from the past, present and future.
Saturn 5 made of LEGO
The Saturn 5 rocket is just a small part of the exhibition, however, it certainly isn’t a small rocket at over 8ft in length the detail is stunning, down to the words United States all built into the structure in individual red and white bricks. Never will you curse when standing on a LEGO brick again once you have seen what they can become when true skill is added into the mix. (oh and the Mars Astronaut is mine!!!)
As the heavens opened and to the sound of huge droplets of rain thundering on the Rocket Tower the Science and Innovation Minister, Lord Drayson, officially launched Project Apollo.
Lord Drayson includes his memories of Apollo 11 in the exhibition
The Minister praised the new exhibition and said; “There’s some really cool stuff for kids to do, and for someone of my age, it takes you back.” He added; “I think space is something which has an amazing capacity to inspire. I’ve got five young kids myself and I know how enthralled they are both by the history of space exploration and what’s happening now, especially the talk about going back to the Moon, as a stepping stone for going to Mars. I think we need to point out that it’s likely that the first human being to step on Mars will be a teenager at the moment.”
It seems there has been an invasion of a pink and fluffy kind on the surface of the Moon…
This is Lucky. our original Clanger, who has made it upstairs to take up his new home (not in the spacesuit) as part of Project Apollo.
Huge thanks to Philip Webb from the International Society of Meccanomen, who are all working furiously towards a huge Meccano weekend at the National Space Centre in November, for his special gift for this weekend’s Apollo 11 celebrations…
As a small child I dreamt I could build something like this!
Thanks to all the Meccanomen (and women) out there, it truely is an amazing skill and I look forward to seeing the fruit of your labours very soon. Philip has also sent me an update and it seems that are some new highlights to look forward to; “Appart from Apollo craft there will be a collection of planetary orreries from one of our foremost modellers, a selection of military rocketry models showing some of the background to the Space vehicles, a collection of Meccano-space kits from over the years and of course a wide variety of other models and subjects as well as the King Ghidorah model (Japanese anime) that was a limited edition display in the far east a year of so ago.
As we countdown to the 40th anniversary of the first man to walk on the moon, the journey has to start with a launch and today is the day forty years ago that Neil, Buzz and Michael left Earth on their momentous voyage of discovery.
The Exhibition Development Team have been working over time to complete Project Apollo, but it seems Darren (the designer) still finds time to have some fun:
Darren on the surface of the Moon
Don’t worry, you to can have your photo taken as Buzz Aldrin, as this is part of Project Apollo, although I am sure you wouldn’t pull such a silly face (sorry Darren!)
Project Apollo is definately taking shape, the carpet was fitted yesterday and the timeline has been finished with lots of intriguing spaces for some of the stunning artifacts our Curator has managed to secure. The only problem at the moment is that, as you can see from the picture, our Moon rock is missing!!!
Only joking, it is safely locked away in a titanium safe and our security staff assure me that should I try to touch it the alarm on the safe will bring blood to my ears. As one of the last pieces to be returned by Gene Cernan in 1972, it is also one of the largest pieces on display in the world.
The Apollo moon landings were a momentous milestone in our history. Buzz, Neil and Michael all became heroes overnight and will be remembered for their joint achievements. But what other things do we remember from the Space Race? Here are just two of the hundreds that have been chosen to be part of the timeline in Project Apollo.
Dad's Army and a Big Mac!
I had to go with the Big Mac for 20p, although I have never eaten one (no really I haven’t) it is so cheap it reminded me of how far my pocket money stretched, I used to get a copy of the Beano, a Curly Wirly and a Highland Toffee bar for 20p. What milestones do you think we have included? Let us know and if you are correct a family pass to the opening weekend will be winging its way to you.
Project Apollo is really starting to take shape now and one of the features is a 1969 sitting room for you to sit back in and watch the Apollo 11 mission take shape. I did have to step back and admire the wallpaper, my memory of the wallpaper in my parent’s home is that it was almost identical to this, but with paint fingerprints all over it… I was very “creative” as a child!
The steplader isn't authentic!
Did you have a room decorated like this? If you did and you have photographic evidence that has not been burnt or hidden for crimes against fashion, share them with us and there is a family ticket in it for you!
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