Space travel, reentry of the capsule

MaeZe · Dec 26, 2018

I'm watching the NOVA program on the first flight to the Moon (it's good) and a memory came to me I wanted to share.

Have you ever been to the Smithsonian and seen one of the actual, for-real capsules that had safely reentered the Earth's atmosphere?

The bottom is burnt black. You imagine if you ran your fingers over it they would come away with black ash.

It's covered in tiles and there were a couple missing, also interesting.

Nothing like actually seeing the real thing to come away with at least some changes to your previous concepts.

WilkinsonMJ · Dec 27, 2018

I'd love to make it to the Smithsonian some time to see them but there's a big old ocean in the way! That does sound very cool, the closest I can compare it to here is when I went to Stonehenge and touched them and it was so amazing to be that close to something so old and so known.

Brightdreamer · Dec 27, 2018

I went to the Smithsonian ages ago - do remember seeing that.

A few years ago, I visited the local Museum of Flight during a limited-time display of a SpaceX Dragon capsule, which was also impressive. (They had signs up around it: Do Not Pet the Dragon. Really think they should've sold bumper stickers or fridge magnets or something with that on it...) Hadn't even realized it was going to be there; we just wanted to visit the museum as a family thing.

MaeZe · Dec 27, 2018

WilkinsonMJ said:
I'd love to make it to the Smithsonian some time to see them but there's a big old ocean in the way! That does sound very cool, the closest I can compare it to here is when I went to Stonehenge and touched them and it was so amazing to be that close to something so old and so known.

There are so many historic places to go to in the UK. Besides being overwhelmed by the almost 500 year old doors of Westminster Abby I went to count the holes in the Royal Albert Hall and found young people camping out for a place on the standing floor for the PROMs concert. History is so cool when you can actually touch it.

[I now return the thread to regular programming, though reminiscing is always welcome.]

talktidy · Dec 28, 2018

MaeZe said:
I'm watching the NOVA program on the first flight to the Moon (it's good) and a memory came to me I wanted to share.

Have you ever been to the Smithsonian and seen one of the actual, for-real capsules that had safely reentered the Earth's atmosphere?

The bottom is burnt black. You imagine if you ran your fingers over it they would come away with black ash.

It's covered in tiles and there were a couple missing, also interesting.

Nothing like actually seeing the real thing to come away with at least some changes to your previous concepts.

Don't know where you live, but if you are based in the UK, I believe the Apollo 10 command module is on loan to the Science Museum in London.

I keep saying I'm going to go to see it, but my health is a bit of an obstacle.

MaeZe · Dec 28, 2018

Here's a stock photo of the bottom of the capsule. doesn't beat seeing it in person. I think it was because all burnt up was not what I was expecting. Definitely see it in person if you can.

Space travel, reentry of the capsule

MaeZe

WilkinsonMJ

Brightdreamer

Just Another Lazy Perfectionist

MaeZe

talktidy

MaeZe