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Author
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Topic: LB 7 comes my way!
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Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 01-11-2001 04:30 PM
   
The LB-7 exhibit will open Jan 27th here at the Liberty Science Center, across the river. No plans for any astros..or anyone else...attending. Info:
www.lsc.org/lsc_info/press_releases/current/liberty7.html ------------------
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-Ben "'Time was invented to keep everything from happening at the same time.
Space was invented so that everything doesen't happen to you.' -Anonymous" (Feel free to email me, subject line "Collect space", as I will not recognize you otherwise! Thank you.) |
Ed beck
Member Posts: 227
From: Florida
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 01-24-2001 05:17 AM
Ben,
Enjoy Liberty Bell 7. I found it facinating. I could just sit and study it for hours if time permitted. But, now that I have my own small fitting, I can study it, and not get in anyones way. I recomend that if you have a video camera, to bring it. The exibit is very well done, but kept very dark. Video seems to compensate for this. Don't try flash photography. You will only get a beautiful picture of your flash reflected off of the plastic wall.
The way they have the spacecraft turned, you can only see the white painted crack in its reflection from the top of the plastic box that surrounds the Bell on all sides. At least that is how it was done at the Kennedy Space Center where I saw it.
Another word of advice, you will want to rush through the Discovery Channel exibit and go right to the Liberty Bell. Try not to do that. Treat your self to a quick peek, then go back through the exibit, it will prepare you for what you will be looking at.
Then you can visually devour the spacecraft.
One stop in the exibit that I recomend you try is the Mercury spacecraft simulator. There is usually a line, but it is worth the wait. I shoe horned myself in and performed a manual landing. I was told by the recorded voice of the simulation trainer that I should not quit my day job.  It is a very tight fit if you are built like George Forman like I am. But none the less worth the effort. Enjoy! And let us know what you thought of the exibit.
Ed ------------------
" I collect space, in order to fill the space between my ears."
ME |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 01-24-2001 05:25 AM
Well, I dont own nor plan to own a video camera. Im an all photo guy. Ill try and figure out something. Photos arent always necessary,, and sometimes the situation doesent permit. Thanks for the tip though! ------------------
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-Ben "'Time was invented to keep everything from happening at the same time.
Space was invented so that everything doesen't happen to you.' -Anonymous" (Feel free to email me, subject line "Collect space", as I will not recognize you otherwise! Thank you.) |
clifford
Member Posts: 233
From: Maplewood, nj, 07040
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 01-24-2001 07:14 AM
indeed, thanks for the advise ed. I too am very excited to see it at the liberty science center. Am trying to convince my family to come along, but so far they just roll thier eyes and say "oh dad!" Great piece of marketing by cosmodome, having the acrylics out and the tour at the same time. I expect to look over the capsule and try to figure where my acrylic piece might have come from. Doubt I'll have much luck, but what fun ! Clifford. By the way Ben, the liberty science center is not across the river. It is right here where it belongs, in New Jersey. |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 01-24-2001 04:38 PM
Clifford,Huh?! Im here in Brooklyn. So yea, its across the river. The Hudson that is. I guess you though I was in NJ? Sorry! -Ben [This message has been edited by Ben (edited January 24, 2001).] |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 01-31-2001 01:36 PM
Well, just got back!Nice. I could of gotten some photos, with a tripod. Maybe Ill go back some day. Nice, quiet small exhibit. Good thing about today is that its a school day for most...so it was empty (except for the school groups,which of course have no respect!). ------------------
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-Ben "'Time was invented to keep everything from happening at the same time.
Space was invented so that everything doesen't happen to you.' -Anonymous" (Feel free to email me, subject line "Collect space", as I will not recognize you otherwise! Thank you.) |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 02-05-2001 11:42 PM
You guys are lucky. I'm very jelous! I wish they would bring it to Seattle for a visit. We have a great place for it to stay for a few weeks in the Musuem of Flight at Boeing Field.
Well, if nothing else, I did buy a screw from the spacecraft.
When I was visiting Kennedy Space Center a few weeks ago, I bought the mission patch for the flight, and I am looking for a good photograph that I could mount everything into a frame and put it on my wall.Tom |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 02-18-2001 01:05 PM
Ben, If you have a 35mm SLR camera buy yourself a Vivitar 283 flashgun. This has the option to connect the flash to the camera via an extension cord with the flash sensor then sitting on top of the camera. You can then place the flash right up against the perspex of any similarly entoumbed display ie. at the Smithsonian and the camera lens also against the perspex also. You will then avoid flash reflections and get excellent results. I have used this technique during several tours of US space centers to great effect. The flash would cost approximately $75 dollars all,in but well worth it for the calibre of results you will get using it as outlined above. Regards,Rick. |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 02-18-2001 03:28 PM
Thanks.Im not yet "into" use of a flash in photography. IF there is too little light, I open the shutter longer. Although I havent done this at a museum yet. Thanks though. Ill keep it in mind. -Ben |
Hawkman
Member Posts: 400
From: Union, New Jersey
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 03-23-2001 03:12 PM
Well, I went to see Liberty Bell 7 this morning (before it jammed with kids) and it was wonderful! As mentioned here, try not to zoom through the exhibit just to get to the spacecraft. There are lots of interesting things to see and I especially liked the "recreation" of an early 1960's living room with "Gus Grissom: Hoosier In Space" playing on the tv. The kids that were there were mostly interested in being on line for the Centrifuge simulator. The little exhibit that allowed you to orient a "capsule" for re-entry was broken. There were two other hands on exhbits that allowed you to be the helicopter pilot trying to hook on to the capsule and another that let you be an RV driver trying to capture the capsule under the sea.
One of the things that I found most interesting was that LB7 was diplayed with the landing bag deployed. Very cool. I've only seen Freedom 7 and Friendship 7 in addition to Liberty Bell 7 and I don't think that any other Mercury craft are diplayed with their landing bags, if they exist. Also of interest are the cases around the room that display items found in the capsule. Especially interesting were a plastic cup and cigarette butt found in the capsule during restoration, obviously left by a workman. The dimes that they found were there and it mentioned that they were "secretly stowed" by launch pad personnel looking for souveniers. Nice. Don't bother telling the pilot.
Those of you in the NY/NJ area might want to take the ride. It's off of Exit 14-B on the Turnpike and is very easy to get to. If you just want to see the "exhibit floor" and pass on the Imax and other stuff, it's $9.50. HOWEVER, you may want to bring a little extra for the gift shop. I walked out with the Discovery Channel video and the Drop Zone Mercury Capsule with parachute. :-) They had some specific LB7 items but I found then to be a bit on the chincy side. IMHO.Gene [This message has been edited by Hawkman (edited March 23, 2001).] |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 03-23-2001 03:42 PM
I still think they should add Seattle to the list of places it should visit!  Tom |
Jacqueline
Member Posts: 344
From: UK
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 03-23-2001 03:47 PM
What about the UK??? Fat chance!Jacqueline |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 03-23-2001 04:40 PM
Gene,What is this "drop zone mercury capsule" in the gift shop? I went in and asked about them selling the acrylcis specifcally, and they had no idea what I was talking about. BTW, it was the dollar bills that the workers put around the wires without telling anyone...one claimed after the restoration for one. The dimes were Gus' secrets, as were tiny capsule plastic models. -Ben [This message has been edited by Ben (edited March 23, 2001).] |
Hawkman
Member Posts: 400
From: Union, New Jersey
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 03-23-2001 08:57 PM
Ben,
The Drop Zone Mercury capsule is a toy. It's a toy that you throw up in the air and it comes down on a parachute. Drop Zone is the name of the line of toys. They also have an army man and a sky surfer. :-) The Liberty Science Center WOULDN'T know about the acrylics as they are only being sold through the Kansas Cosmosphere.
The dimes that Gus carried with him on the flight were all in his suit. All were minted in 1961 making them Roosevelt dimes. The ones found in the capsule were Mercury dimes which were not minted after 1945. Chris Kraft even mentions that the dimes were placed there by NASA technicians in his book. The "dollar bill" that they have with the display is signed by Gus. It's actually a "silver certificate" which are no longer made and haven't been for decades.
If you watch the Discovery Channel tape, it also mentions that the dimes were placed there by NASA technicians and were NOT the dimes that Gus had with him. Sounds like the NASA folks had a little "easter egg hunt" with Gus' craft, hiding these things all over. The tape even goes on to say that all of the guys took things up with them for souveniers.Gene |
Aztecdoug
Member Posts: 1405
From: Huntington Beach
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 03-24-2001 01:10 AM
Wow!Hey, thanks for the heads up! I am going to NJ/NY on Saturday for business. I didn't even imagine that LB-7 was there until I read the post tonight. I will be there Sunday morning to check it out. I can see where my valve and bolt came from! Woo Hoo! I also heard Armstrong is in town Saturday night, but I don't have a tux or the $245 for dinner! Such is life at this level of the SES scale.
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Warm Regards Douglas Henry
"The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled."
Plutarch
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Hawkman
Member Posts: 400
From: Union, New Jersey
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 03-24-2001 06:29 AM
Aztecdoug,
Definitely go! I don't know where in NY/NJ you are going to be but all you need to do is head for the NJ Turnpike and get off at exit 14-B for Liberty State Park. There are signs all over so unless you really aren't paying attention, it should be easy to find. :-)
Unless you feel like taking in the whole place, you can save your self some cash and just pay $9.50 for the exhibit floor. Bring a camera if you can or get one of those diposables at the gift shop. Make sure you stick your head up close to the plexiglass and get a good look inside!!Gene |
lunarrv15
Member Posts: 1355
From: Cincinnati, Ohio, Hamilton
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 03-24-2001 10:07 AM
It sound like the capsule has been restored to its old sef.
I saw it being refurbish at the Cosmosphere museum in Hutchinson,KS November of 1999. It was the last exhibit on the route. Everything was removed from the capsule. The window opening was tilted toward the public to see the inside. There was a guy inside doing something with a drill. Whatever he was doing, he would run the drill for brief seconds then stop an pause. They map of the wiring and instruments of the capsule was hung on the wall in the back of the enclosed roon. They had everything spread out all over the room.
I saw the dimes and pennies spread on table up to window for viewing. I have three pictures. One I tried a close up of the inside with the camera zoom lense. It came out so-so. |
Aztecdoug
Member Posts: 1405
From: Huntington Beach
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 03-28-2001 10:20 PM
A stunning display. Very beautiful. I spent one and a half hours looking at the capsule. Most of the time I spent looking for bolts and valves similar to mine.The bolts were plentiful. The only valves I could see were part of the forward RCS system. Very nice lighting. Check it out. ------------------
Warm Regards Douglas Henry
"The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled."
Plutarch
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