New Mexico Museum of Space History

It is fitting that New Mexico, which is the birthplace of the America's space program offers a museum to celebrate man's exploration of space. This museum, theater and  planetarium complex is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the history, technology, and science of the "Space Age."

The Museum of Space History is a  five-story golden cube nestled on the western slope of the Sacramento Mountains. The Museum's has exhibits ranging from Robert Goddard's early rocket experiments near Roswell to mock-ups of tomorrow's space stations. The Planetarium, which is part of the Museum, can project 2,400 stars, the five visible planets, the sun and moon. The Astronaut Memorial Garden pays tribute to the crew members of the Space Shuttle Challenger.

The International Space Hall of Fame honors more than 100 individuals, including Dr. Sally Ride, the first woman in space, Walter Cronkite; and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space.

There are various models of satellites, spacecraft and even a sample moon rock to view while in the Space Center . The Space Center also lets you simulate cruising the surface of the moon and landing in a lunar rover.

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Galleries and Displays
 Here is a guide to the 11 most popular:

John P. Stapp Air & Space Park

As you leave the parking lot to enter the Museum Building you will see and enter the John P. Stapp Air & Space Park with its outside display of rockets, missiles, rocket engines and other items of relevance to man's space exploration effort.

Some of the exhibits you will see include the:

F-1 Engine - Used to propel astronauts on their journeys to the moon.

X-7A test vehicle - Used to develop a ramjet engine for an anti-aircraft missile.

Sonic Wind I Rocket Sled – Used in 1954 to test acceleration/deceleration on human tissue.

V-2 Rocket tail section -  This V-2 tail section is identical to the ones of the "Vengeance Weapon-2", the worlds first long-range ballistic missile. The V-2 was used by Nazi Germany toward the end of World War II as a terror weapon against London.

PTV (Parachute Test Vehicle) -  This unmanned sled, used for parachute testing, was the first liquid-fuel, rocket powered vehicle to be run on a high speed test track.

Little Joe II - The solid-fuel Little Joe II tested the Apollo launch escape system. Five of them flew from White Sands Missile Range a few miles away.

Nike Ajax with Launcher - The Nike Ajax was the world's first operational air defense guided missile. Designed to intercept high-altitude aircraft, the vehicle consisted of a solid propellant booster and a liquid-fueled upper stage. The first Nike Ajax flew from the White Sands Missile Range NM, in 1951,

Mini track Satellite Tracking System Antenna - Designed and built to track the Vanguard satellite, 14 were installed at sites around the world.

Rocket Gallery

This gallery tells the story of rocket development. On the left side of the gallery entrance are panels summarizing the long history of the development of rocketry, and the right side honors the many pioneers in the field. Rocketry displays with large artifacts fill the gallery. Don't miss the exhibit which features the sounds of rocket engines. Push the buttons... and hear
them... ROAR!
 

Satellites Serving Mankind Gallery

Before man could travel in space, satellites explored the unknown frontier. From Sputnik, launched in 1957, through India's remote sensing satellite, this gallery tells the story of the remarkable technology of the satellite. At the gallery entrance, hanging above, is a replica of America's first satellite, Explorer 1. The gallery also features Sputnik. Sputnik was the first satellite to orbit the earth and launched the "space race." This replica is one of only three full-scale models in the world.
 

Living and Working in Space Gallery

In this gallery you will see displays of different types of space station designs, and learn how mankind has adapted to space travel. Visit "Space Station 2001" which was designed to give you an idea of what living conditions are like in space. Also you can try your skills at a realistic moon landing in the Space Shuttle Landing Simulator new in one of three modes from "Beginner" to "Expert". Also on display are space-suits, hygiene equipment, American and Russian Space Food, and bio-instrumentation.
 

Blazing New Trails Gallery

This gallery contains displays on the first manned space flights. Both Soviet and American capsule models are on display including the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Mir capsules.
Presentations about the International Space Station are offered periodically throughout each day. Go through the light-locked entrance to the observation deck for a must see view of the Tularosa Basin.
 

International Space Hall of Fame

The International Space Hall of Fame (ISHF) was established in 1976 to recognize the imagination, efforts and achievements of those who have endeavored to advance man's knowledge of the universe, and his ability to explore space.  The upper level of the ISHF is filled with colorful back-lit photographic panels identifying those who have been inducted into the ISHF. The lower level of ISHF contains more detailed information and memorabilia for those most recent inductees. There are two touch-screen kiosks that provide detailed biographies and photographs for each of the inductees.
 

Temporary Exhibition Gallery

This gallery offers exciting exhibitions which change approximately every 6 months. The current display in the gallery is a beautiful set of photographs taken by the Hubble Space Telescope
 

Challenger Memorial Garden

The Astronaut Memorial Garden is dedicated to the memory of the "seven" astronauts who perished when the Shuttle Challenger exploded on January 28, 1986. Seven Globe willow trees, one for each of the crew, grace this area. The crew member names are all listed on a plaque in the center of the garden.
 

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The Space Center
P.O. Box 533
Alamogordo, NM 88311-0533
Voice: 505-437-2840
Toll Free: 1-877-333-6589
Fax: 505-434-2245
Open 7 days a week, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

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