Tag Archives: nm museum of space history

A new year brings a new Astronomy Club, launched by the New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo.

Led by museum Outreach Coordinator Tony Gondola, this organizational meeting is free to attend and is scheduled for Thursday, January 9, at 7:00 pm in the Tombaugh Education Building on the museum’s campus.

“The goal of this new club is to provide a stable and well supported organization for area amateur astronomers to further their hobby and interest in observing the cosmos,” said Gondola. A NASA solar system ambassador, Gondola is also an amateur astronomer himself. “I think the most important thing about being a member of a club is that it gives you the opportunity to learn from others in the group and to share your enthusiasm for astronomy not only with each other but with the general public during special events.”

The museum hosts a three day star party each May and offers viewing events for the public during the year when there is an opportunity, for instance during an eclipse or planetary conjunction.

“People love to look at the skies and see things they’ve never seen before,” said Gondola, “and we hope that our Astronomy Club members will enjoy interacting with the public and sharing their knowledge.”

The club is open to adults and students 14 and older with an interest in astronomy and will meet on the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm in the Tombaugh Education Building. Although owning a telescope is encouraged, it is not required.

The New Mexico Museum of Space History, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is a division of the NM Department of Cultural Affairs. For more information, call 575-437-2840 or toll free 1-877-333-6589 or visit their website or Facebook page.

From early effects on world history to intergalactic interlopers, take a fascinating look at the sometimes terrifying but always beautiful and fascinating world of comets.

Join Museum Outreach Coordinator Tony Gondola for the new year’s first Launch Pad Lecture, Friday, January 3, at 9 a.m. on the museum’s first floor as he explores the world of comets.

Harbingers of doom in the past, comets today provide a fascinating look into the early days of the formation of our solar system as well as a glimpse into the deep, cold and unknown regions of our own galaxy and beyond.

The Launch Pad Lecture is free to the public and is held at 9 a.m. on the Museum’s first floor on the first Friday of each month. Coffee and donuts are compliments of the International Space Hall of Fame Foundation.

The next Launch Pad Lecture will be on February 7, and the subject will be the 90^th Anniversary of the discovery of Pluto. A special guest speaker is pending.

The Launch Pad Lectures are streamed live on Periscope and also available after the lecture on the museum’s YouTube channel.

The New Mexico Museum of Space History, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is a division of the NM Department of Cultural Affairs. For more information, call 575-437-2840 or toll free 1-877-333-6589 or visit their website, or like their Facebook page.

The first Great Southwest Star Party is slated to be held at the New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo.

The three day event, running from May 31 to June 2, 2019, will feature night sky viewing parties, museum and area tours, workshops, food vendors and on-site RV and tent camping.

“Southern New Mexico is internationally known for its dark skies and clear nights, with several public and private observatories in the area. It just made sense for the Museum of Space History to create something like this,” said Museum Outreach Coordinator Tony Gondola, an amateur astronomy himself who originated the concept for the event.

“Several counties and cities, including Alamogordo, have enacted dark sky ordinances to protect and encourage night sky viewing. We’re looking at this event as a way to showcase what we have in our area to amateur astronomers and their families across the country.”

Opening day of the event, Friday, May 31, offers a welcome BBQ dinner with a special guest speaker followed by the first night of observing. On Saturday and Sunday mornings, a cowboy breakfast provides the lead in to the swap meet style vendor displays, optional field trips and local tours, solar observing, various presentations and astronomy workshops.

The evening meals will offer a taste of southwestern flavor and local cuisine before a full night of viewing. Sunday evening is open to the general public, with participating astronomers allowing the public to view the skies through their telescopes.

The lower parking lot on the museum grounds (the large lot just above the New Horizons Theater) will be designated for RV and tent camping, with an estimated capacity of 18 RVs and more than 40 tent sites. Food vendors will be on-site all three days, as will vendors offering astronomy related items.

“The museum provides a perfect host site for an event like this,” said Museum Executive Director Chris Orwoll. “The museum is base camp, and where most of the activities happen, but it’s also an excellent springboard for showing our guests what we have to offer in the area, like Apache Point, White Sands and of course, the local pistachio groves and wineries.” Local tours are planned for Saturday and Sunday afternoons during the event.

Online registration for the event is currently underway on the museum’s website and offers guests the option of picking and choosing their activities. Applications for vendors who would like to participate in the event are now available through the museum’s marketing department.

The New Mexico Museum of Space History, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is a division of the NM Department of Cultural Affairs. For more information, call 575-437-2840 or toll free 1-877-333-6589 or visit the website at website or like their us at Facebook.

While SpaceX and Blue Origin are stunning the world with their vertical launch, vertical landing vehicles, in the early ‘90s, that exact type of spacecraft was tested at White Sands Missile Range.

On Saturday, December 22, visitors can join New Mexico Museum of Space History Curator Sue Taylor and Assistant Curator Jim Mayberry for the quarterly Warehouse 1402 Behind the Scenes Tour entitled “The Delta Clipper Experimental: A Successful Failure”.

Taylor and Mayberry will be showing seldom seen artifacts from the Delta Clipper Experimental (DC-X) program, along with historical photos and documentation. Weather permitting, the duo will also provide a guided tour of DC-X artifacts inside the museum’s Daisy Track building.

The Warehouse 1402 Behind the Scenes tour is Saturday, December 22, at 9:00 am on the museum first floor. Free coffee and donuts are compliments of the International Space Hall of Fame Foundation.

For more information, call 575-437-2840 or toll free 1-877-333-6589 or visit the website or Facebook page.

Almost thirty five years ago, on June 18, 1983, Dr. Sally Ride became the first U.S. woman in space. Considered an “achiever” by those who knew her, few people were surprised that she would become America’s first woman to hop a ride aboard a Space Shuttle.

But what about the real Sally? Who was she and why did she inspire so many people?  Why are there so many things dedicated to her honor? There is the Sally Ride EarthKAM, the Sally Ride postage stamp, the Sally Ride Lunar Impact Site, a US Navy research vessel named the Sally Ride and many more memorials to this extremely talented woman.

After her first ride to space, Ride was asked about her experience and she responded, “Ever been to Disneyland? That was definitely an E Ticket!”

On Friday, June 1, join Museum Curator Sue Taylor as she presents the Launch Pad Lecture:  America’s First Woman in Space: Sally and her E-Ticket Ride.

The Launch Pad Lecture is free to the public and is held at 9 a.m. on the Museum’s first floor on the first Friday of each month. Coffee and donuts are compliments of the International Space Hall of Fame Foundation.

The Launch Pad Lectures are streamed live on Periscope and are available on the museum’s YouTube channel.

The next Launch Pad Lecture will be on July 6, 2018, and the topic will be NASA: 60 Years of Launching Our Imagination with Museum Executive Director Chris Orwoll.

The New Mexico Museum of Space History, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is a division of the NM Department of Cultural Affairs. For more information, call 575-437-2840 or toll free 1-877-333-6589, visit the website or ‘Like’ the Facebook Page.

The Tularosa Basin is known for its natural beauty, the white sands of gypsum and the space program. Wait a minute – the space program? To find out more about how the white sands and rockets go together, the public is invited to the Warehouse 1402 program Space and the Tularosa Basin.

On Saturday, March 24th, Curator Sue Taylor and Assistant Curator Jim Mayberry share stories of the early space program that took place in Alamogordo. The program will start on the first floor of the museum, where special artifacts from the Manhigh program and the high-speed track will be shown.

Then the program moves outside to the Rocket Park where such artifacts as Little Joe II and the case of the missing Apollo Boilerplate will be discussed. Just when you thought you knew it all, you find out there’s more.

The Warehouse 1402 Behind the Scenes tour will be Saturday, March 24, beginning on the first floor of the museum at 9:00 am. Free coffee and donuts are compliments of the International Space Hall of Fame Foundation.

The New Mexico Museum of Space History, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is a division of the NM Department of Cultural Affairs. For more information, call 575-437-2840 or toll free 1-877-333-6589 or visit their website and ‘like’ their Facebook Page.

Space exploration is a risky business and over the years NASA has dealt with a variety of scenarios that show just how dangerous it is. Can astronauts be rescued?

What about the combined U.S./Soviet rescue mission concept and how would the Apollo Soyuz Test Project have fit into that? Have you heard of SAFER – the backpack to rescue stranded space walkers?

On Friday, March 2, join Museum Executive Director Christopher Orwoll as he talks about safety strategies in space and how they worked – or didn’t work – during the free Launch Pad Lecture titled We’re Gonna Do What? Bizarre Rescues in Space.

The Launch Pad Lecture is free to the public and is held at 9 a.m. on the Museum’s first floor on the first Friday of each month. Coffee and donuts are compliments of the International Space Hall of Fame Foundation.

The next Launch Pad Lecture will be on April 6, 2018, and the topic will be 2001: The Space Odyssey That Changed the Way We Think with Museum Educator Michael Shinabery.

The Launch Pad Lectures are streamed live on Periscope and are available on the museum’s YouTube channel.

The New Mexico Museum of Space History, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is a division of the NM Department of Cultural Affairs. For more information, visit their website, ‘Like’ their Facebook page or  call 575-437-2840 (Toll free 1-877-333-6589)

It’s that time of year when people are thinking about all the great holiday food they’ll be enjoying and how they’re going to get rid of those extra calories.

Astronauts have to watch their waistlines too, and exercise regularly to prevent bone and muscle loss along with maintaining their cardiovascular health. But exercising in space is a bit trickier than here on Earth. For instance, free weights don’t have weight in microgravity.

So how do they do it and why is their treadmill named COLBERT? Join Museum Executive Director Christopher Orwoll as he explains the intricacies of staying fit onboard the International Space Station this Friday, December 1 at 9:00 am, for the museum’s free Launch Pad Lecture titled Running Around the World: Exercise in Space.

The Launch Pad Lecture is free to the public and is held at 9 a.m. on the Museum’s first floor on the first Friday of each month. Coffee and donuts are compliments of the International Space Hall of Fame Foundation.

The next Launch Pad Lecture will be on January 5, 2018, and the topic will be Explorer 1 and Earth’s Invisible Shield with Museum Education Director Dave Dooling.

The Launch Pad Lectures are streamed live on Periscope and are available on the museum’s YouTube channel.

The New Mexico Museum of Space History, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is a division of the NM Department of Cultural Affairs. For more information, call 575-437-2840 (toll free 1-877-333-6589), visit the website or ‘Like’ their Facebook Page.

The New Mexico Museum of Space History is pleased to announce that it has been formally re-accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, continuing a tradition of excellence for more than 24 years.

The Museum was first accredited by the AAM in 1993, and has remained in good standing since.

For nearly 50 years, the mark of distinction in the museum field has been accreditation through the American Alliance of Museums and it continues to be so today.

Accreditation offers a wide range of benefits to museums, but most importantly it speaks to the commitment that the museum staff has to fulfilling the mission of the museum and to meeting and exceeding best practice standards for museums nationwide.

According to the International Council of Museums, there are approximately 55,000 museums in the world. Of those, only 1,067 are accredited by AAM.  The Museum of Space History is also a Smithsonian Affiliate, which puts it in the elite 8% of AAM accredited institutions that carry both prestigious honors – only 87 institutions worldwide.

Of all the Smithsonian Affiliates, however, 40% are accredited by AAM.

“We are very pleased that the AAM has re-accredited our museum. It is a testament to the hard work of our staff and supporters, including the Department of Cultural Affairs, Governor’s Commission, Foundation and the City of Alamogordo,” said Museum Executive Director Christopher Orwoll. “The investment that our state is making in the museum continues to pay off, with this re-accreditation and with ever increasing visitors.”

The museum exceeded the 100,000 visitor mark this year, for the first time in a decade.

Once a museum is accredited, the process of re-accreditation happens again every ten years in order to make sure institutions are maintaining the standards expected. It’s a process that involves every department of the facility with the application usually taking several weeks to complete. It covers everything from square footage to budget to staffing, and much more.

When the self-study is completed, the museum receives feedback from AAM staff, refines the application and then waits for the Accreditation Commission to determine if a site visit is in order. After the site visit, which is normally a group of two peer professionals visiting for one to three days, a report is submitted to the Commission which reviews it and then decides if the re-accreditation is warranted.

The entire process can take as long as eight months, sometimes longer.

The New Mexico Museum of Space History, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is a division of the NM Department of Cultural Affairs. For more information, call 575-437-2840 or toll free 1-877-333-6589 or visit the website or like their facebook page.

The New Mexico Museum of Space History will open its doors free of charge on Saturday September 23, 2017, as part of Smithsonian magazine’s thirteenth annual Museum Day Live!

Museum Day Live! is an initiative in which participating museums across the United States emulate the spirit of the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington DC-based facilities, which offer free admission every day, and open their doors for free to those who download a Museum Day Live! ticket.

Smithsonian recognizes the extraordinary power of museums, and other cultural institutions, to provide visitors with insight and inspiration. The event represents a nationwide commitment to boundless curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge wherever you are.

Over 200,000 people downloaded tickets for last year’s event, and this year’s event is expected to attract more museum-goers than ever before.

“Museum Day Live! Gives people from all walks of life the opportunity to visit museums they may have never been to, or haven’t been to in a long time. We hope everyone takes advantage of the day and visits a participating museum,” said Museum Executive Director Chris Orwoll.

The New Mexico Museum of Space History, established in 1976, offers a large collection of space related exhibits with a focus on New Mexico’s pivotal role in the U.S. space program. Special features include the International Space Hall of Fame and several interactives like the Rocket Rumbler and Shuttle Simulator.

Outside exhibits include the John P. Stapp Air and Space Park, Daisy Track Exhibit, and Astronaut Memorial Garden.

The Museum Day Live! ticket is available for download HERE. Visitors who present the Museum Day Live! ticket will gain free entrance for two at participating venues on September 23, 2017.

One ticket per email address is permitted. For more information about Museum Day Live! 2017 and a full list of participating museums and cultural institutions, click HERE.

The New Mexico Museum of Space History, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is a division of the NM Department of Cultural Affairs. For more information, call 575-437-2840 or toll free 1-877-333-6589 or visit the website or like their facebook page.

On July 16, 1945, a tremendous explosion in the New Mexico desert marked the beginning of the end of World War II. The world’s first atomic bomb was detonated on that day at Trinity Site, on the north end of what is now White Sands Missile Range.

The New Mexico Museum of Space History hosts a motor coach tour to the site each April and October as part of a fundraiser for its Foundation.  Museum volunteer and renowned local historian Pete Eidenbach will accompany guests on the coach, giving an in-depth talk on the bomb and its history, along with unique insight into local history.

Once on site, guests enjoy a brown bag lunch, visit to the McDonald House and go on a walking tour of Trinity Site. On the way back, Pete’s debriefing is highlighted with a special showing of the movie The Land of Space and Time.

Once at the museum, guests will be treated to a guided tour followed by reserved seating for an exclusive showing of Trinity: The Atomic Bomb Movie in the New Horizons Theater.

Trinity Site is open to the public twice each year, on the first Saturday in April and again on the first Saturday in October. White Sands Missile Range hosts the annual events because this national historic site is on the north end of the normally highly restricted range. Special interpretation at the site is provided by Missile Range staff.

All visitors must have government issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license or passport.

“If you’ve never been to Trinity Site, this is the way to travel. On the coach, you’ll be able to enjoy the trip comfortably and get a fascinating talk about the bomb and Trinity Site from our guest travel guide Pete Eidenbach,” said Museum Executive Director Chris Orwoll.

The roughly 140 mile round trip from Alamogordo to Trinity Site crosses through a large area of White Sands Missile Range. There are no facilities and no stopping along the route once the caravan has left Tularosa, although the museum’s motor coach does have onboard restrooms.

Limited advance tickets are on sale now through the museum’s marketing department or online, and include the round trip to Trinity Site, guided tour, brown bag lunch, guided tour of the museum, and reserved seating for the New Horizons Theater showing of Trinity: The Atomic Bomb Movie.

The ticket price is $70 per person, or $60 for museum members. To reserve your tickets or for more information, call 575-437-2840 ext. 41132 or visit nmspacemuseum.org.

The New Mexico Museum of Space History is a division of the NM Department of Cultural Affairs.  For more information, call 575-437-2840 or toll free 1-877-333-6589 or visit the website or visit the Facebook page.

Address + Map: 3198 State Rd 2001   |   Alamogordo, New Mexico, NM 88310

Did you know that the man known as a “Dean of Science Fiction” actually hailed from the small town of Portales, New Mexico? Jack Williamson was a prolific science fiction author, teacher, and traveler – whether aboard a boat, plane, or train boxcar.

Remember the pulp magazine Amazing Stories? In 1928, when Williamson was only 20, he sold his first story to the magazine and went on to become one of the most popular science fiction authors of the early 20^th century.

Williamson, a New Mexico native, said of his early life, “We lived on isolated farms and ranches, far from anybody, and when I was young I knew very few other kids, so I lived to a great extent in my imagination.”

The winner of two Hugos and a Nebulae award, Williamson used that imagination to write hundreds of popular science fiction stories and books.

Learn more about this amazing New Mexico native during the free Launch Pad Lecture on at 9:00 am on Friday, July 7^th at the New Mexico Museum of Space History with Museum Education Specialist Michael Shinabery.

The Launch Pad Lectures are also streamed live on Periscope and are available on the museum’s YouTube channel.

The Launch Pad Lecture is free to the public and is held at 9 a.m. on the Museum’s first floor on the first Friday of each month.

Coffee and donuts are compliments of the International Space Hall of Fame Foundation.

The next Launch Pad Lecture will be on August 4, 2017 and the topic will be Total Solar Eclipse: What You Need to Know with Museum Education Director Dave Dooling.

The New Mexico Museum of Space History, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is a division of the NM Department of Cultural Affairs. For more information, call 575-437-2840 (toll free 1-877-333-6589)or visit their website or Facebook page.