Visiting Washington D.C.? Celebrate 50 years of the historic moment with Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
On 20th July, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man ever to walk on Moon. The marvellous and historic moment is being commemorated in style by the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Spread over 5 days, the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of First Moon Landing includes an Apollo 50 Festival from 18-20 July, 2019, and a late-night event to commemorate the exact time of man’s first steps on moon.
For the first time in 13 years, Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 spacesuit will be on display for the public. Interestingly, the suit has been conserved using donations generated from a Kickstarter campaign carried out in 2015. The fragile suit will be seen in a state-of-the-art display case on a mannequin created specially for it. Until the Destination Moon exhibition completes around 2022, the suit will be available for viewing near the 1903 Wright Flyer.
Visitors to the Smithsonian will also be able to relive the historic mission through hi-tech digital simulations on the museum’s media wall in the Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall. Created by Analytical Graphics Inc., it follows the actual flight communication transcripts and displays the key milestones of the mission.
On 17th July, 2019, the award-winning animated space-themed PBS KIDS series – Ready, Jet, Go! – will be shown at the Lockheed Martin IMAX theatre with a live-action interstitial thrown in by the museum, followed by live performances and meet and greet with some of the show’s stars.
The Apollo 50 Festival from 18-20th July, will feature hands-on exhibits, live performances, ISS astronauts, NASA scientists and engineers and many more special guests. There will be over 20 exciting displays by NASA, Boeing, Raytheon, The LEGO Group and Ready, Jet, Go!
Also on will be a programme titled ‘One Giant Leap: Space Diplomacy Past, Present, Future,’ for which the museum is partnering with the US State Department and the George Washington University. The panel will be moderated by Teasel Muir-Harmony, Apollo curator at the museum and will include Michael Collins, Apollo 11 astronaut and former assistant secretary of state for public affairs; Ellen Stofan, John and Adrienne Mars Director of the National Air and Space Museum; and Charles Bolden, U.S. Science Envoy for Space and former NASA administrator.
On 19th July will be another educational programme, ‘Discover the Moon Day!’, where visitors will get the opportunity to interact with museum scientists to learn about lunar exploration, research and missions.
The final ‘The Eagle Has Landed’ event is planned to be a free late-night celebration from 8 pm to 2 am that will commemorate the 50th Anniversary of First Moon Landing. Plenty of activities will be organised throughout the museum, ranging from trivia and scavenger hunts, astronaut costume designing, stargazing at the Phoebe Waterman Haas Public Observatory and a special Apollo 11-themed musical performance by electronic-duo Quindar.
So, if you’re visiting Washington DC this July, don’t miss visiting the Smithsonian, especially for the countdown at 10:56 p.m. ET on 20th July, 2019, that will celebrate 50 years to the exact time Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon.