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Author
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Topic: Space history meets Star Trek in San Diego
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FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 07-03-2008 10:14 PM
  
Star Trek: The Exhibition is making its official launch at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, and includes a number of interactive elements such as flight simulators, the original bridge of the Enterprise, and saucer sections with views out into the starry depths which any space fan will enjoy.  I thought, however, that collectSPACE readers might enjoy a little exclusive sneak peek at some of the exhibits with real-life space connections, and how they have been integrated into this future-looking exhibition. The connections between space history and science fiction are made in many places throughout, but here are some of the more obvious visual connections.   The real Apollo 9 command module is still in the museum’s entrance and outside of the exhibition – but now serves as a great taster for the frequent lines to get into the exhibition, showing visitors what was happening in space in the era that the original Star Trek TV series was being filmed.  A huge new banner shows the history of US manned spaceflight, including Wally Schirra's Sigma 7 spacecraft complete with insignia. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 07-03-2008 10:15 PM
 A timeline of events in Star Trek begins with real life space events going back to the 1960s.  The Shuttlepod El-Baz is on display, named after Dr. Farouk El-Baz, who trained so many of the Apollo astronauts in geology.  As you leave a Transporter room to enter a full-size set from "The Guardian of Forever," there is an enormous Apollo 17 panorama signed by the entire crew.  Connections are made between the layout of the fullsize Enterprise bridge set and the design of Mission Control. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 07-03-2008 10:17 PM
 A full-size Gemini spacecraft mockup leads the way for an Enterprise shuttlepod simulator.  An array of spacecraft named "Enterprise" includes the Space Shuttle.  Comparisons are made between Star Trek spacesuits and technology currently used in real life suits.   Mercury and Apollo spacesuits draw comparison to future possibilities. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 07-03-2008 10:19 PM
 A space station model accompanies the Starship Enterprise (which, from this angle, looks as if it is about to dock...).   Some beautiful presentations of future NASA plans. The museum owns some flown shuttle Enterprise items that they are also planning to integrate into the exhibition. Plus, of course, the rest of the museum (with moon rocks, other space exhibitions and a wonderful history of aviation) is still open and included in admission. Well worth a visit! |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 07-04-2008 07:02 PM
quote:
Originally posted by FFrench:
A timeline of events in Star Trek begins with real life space events going back to the 1960s.
The first edition of the Star Trek Chronology has Gagarin's flight as 1959; guess who wrote and got it corrected to 1961...  quote:
The Shuttlepod El-Baz is on display, named after Dr. Farouk El-Baz, who trained so many of the Apollo astronauts in geology.
One of the Okudagrams in The Final Frontier (I think) lists a USS Challenger and a USS Helin (it's visible and readable in the calendar that was issued.) The Challenger connection is obvious; I remember reading in Bjo Trimble's Space-Time Continuum newsletter that a model of the Helin was made and given to Dr. Eleanor Helin; the ship was an Oberth-class, similar to the Grissom from the second ST movie.While there are other ST-NASA connections - such as Ares indeed becoming the US' manned Mars mission effort - I think one of the neatest ones was the USS Endeavour being named after the space shuttle, much as the shuttle Enterprise was named after the fictional starship. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 07-05-2008 01:02 AM
Hello Hart,Oh, indeed, there are hundreds of connections between real space travel and the Star Trek universe... I was just pointing out some of the more evident ones in this exhibition. Mike Okuda is heavily involved, and has been down here a lot steering the exhibition as it was installed and refined. Okuda himself, of course, also crosses the gap between fact and fiction in his work on Star Trek and his design of a
number of NASA logos...
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Lunar rock nut
Member Posts: 911
From: Oklahoma city, Oklahoma U.S.A.
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 07-05-2008 03:15 PM
Francis you are having to much fun. The first time I saw the original Trek was in Alabama or Mississippi. I was about 12 years old in the late sixties traveling with my parents and brother to my grandmothers home in Florida. In a motel on a very snowy black and white picture with no audio I saw the Enterprise for the first time. It was two years or so after that when it aired in Oklahoma. Sweet exhibit!Terry |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 07-07-2008 12:06 AM
Thanks Terry - sounds like you should come out to San Diego and see it! I was only concentrating on the space-history-related elements in my above message, but of course there is so much more, including the original bridge from the Enterprise (you can sit in the captain's chair), the transporter room where you can be 'beamed,' and much more - here is a story that I spotted online by a local National Space Society / Mars Society person, with photos of some more of it... |
cklofas
Member Posts: 221
From: Euless,TX USA
Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 07-07-2008 03:41 PM
Francis -Thanks for the great photos!! How long will this exhibition run? Will it travel after it closes in San Diego? |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 07-08-2008 10:10 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Cklofas:
Thanks for the great photos!! How long will this exhibition run?
The exhibition is on "limited engagement," thus no publicly advertised end date... I would recommend trying to get here in the next few months, and keep watching the website. |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2476
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 07-12-2008 08:59 AM
I sure would be great if it hung around until Spacefest 2009! |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 07-18-2008 05:05 PM
It sounds like quite a few of you are interested in the science fiction side of the exhibition too, so here is a video one of my coworkers just did for a media spot... shows more of the exhibition. |
Spacepsycho
Member Posts: 818
From: Huntington Beach, Calif.
Registered: Aug 2004
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posted 09-19-2008 11:57 PM
I took my son to the SDAM to see the Star Trek exhibit. I've always been a fan of the TV show in the 60's, but never got into the new series. I was also a little leery about having a fantasy exhibit taking over 1/2 of the exhibit space where the museums hall of fame, the Russian space artifacts are and a large area with M-G-A artifacts were displayed. After all, it's a museum, not a Hollywood backlot.I was very pleasantly surprised at how well done the Star Trek exhibit was put together The displays feature everything from authentic uniforms, Capt Kirks command chair, spacecraft models used in filming and other pieces used in the TV show. The exhibits were very well done, the mockups and reproduced hardware were very high fidelity and the display areas flowed nicely. My favorite part was getting to sit in Capt Kirks command chair and telling at my son to take us to warp 8, but when we didn't move, I was yelling at him that the Klingons were moving in for the attack. Watching a 7 year old look at you like you're a mental patient has it's own special rewards.  The other very cool display was of the transporter room. We pretended to explode like the animal in Galaxy Quest (one of our favorites), then we were rolling around while getting transported back to another planet. You're not allowed to take your own photos in Capt Kirks chair or the transporter, but the exhibit has people with digital cameras & video, that show you appear and disappear in the transporter and sitting in Capt Kirks chair. I was very impressed by the exhibit, it's well worth the time & money to go through it and if you happen to be in the area, it's a must see. I've also got to send out a very special thank you to Francis French for taking the photos of my son & I on the bridge of the Enterprise. Francis was also able to get my son & I into the Apollo 9 CM that's on display in the lobby of the museum. My son & I were able to flip switches, turn dials, work all of the equipment and pretend we were flying a real mission. Then Francis let me cut off a nice sized chunk of the heatshield and a peel a large piece of kapton foil for my collection. NOT !!!!!!! LOL. Ray |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 09-25-2008 11:09 PM
What Ray is not mentioning is that he has also very kindly loaned the museum some items related to the space shuttle Enterprise. These make a very nice counterpoint to the science fiction exhibitions, as we discuss the connections. One item shown here is a shuttle tile that Ray identifies as used on the Enterprise ALT tests. I showed this tile at a 600-teacher event last night as a great example of how science fiction and science fact can intertwine and mutually inspire.    |
Shalene
Member Posts: 47
From: San Diego, California
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 10-22-2008 12:15 AM
We encountered a hostile takeover of the exhibition by a competing franchise this week, however everything is back to normal now if you wished to visit the museum... 
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cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 10-22-2008 12:22 AM
Having fun?  Chris. (who's the character with a brown costume who has apparently a grudge against Francis?). |
Shalene
Member Posts: 47
From: San Diego, California
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 10-22-2008 04:30 PM
quote:
Originally posted by cspg:
(who's the character with a brown costume who has apparently a grudge against Francis?)
Probably a disgruntled book purchaser. Everyone's a critic! |
Henk Boshuijer
Member Posts: 450
From: Netherlands
Registered: May 2007
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posted 10-28-2008 08:42 AM
I am planning my trip to the USA in the summer of 2009. I will definitely visit this great museum... I hope the Star Trek exhibition is still there but if not I can enjoy the Apollo capsule. (It's my goal to see every flown manned Apollo- capsule... until now I have seen Apollo 10, 11, 13, 14, Skylab 4 and ASTP.) Henk Boshuijer |
ejectr
Member Posts: 1751
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 10-28-2008 10:13 AM
I have to say Francis, that selling machine tools that manufacture the hardware used for space travel is NOT as much fun as you're having. |
golddog
Member Posts: 210
From: australia
Registered: Feb 2008
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posted 10-28-2008 03:29 PM
quote:
Originally posted by cspg:
...who's the character with a brown costume who has apparently a grudge against Francis?
That's a Sand person. They are however easily scared...Damn, looks like I've outed myself as a starwars geek! |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 10-29-2008 06:03 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Henk Boshuijer:
I can enjoy the Apollo capsule. (It's my goal to see every flown manned Apollo- capsule... until now I have seen Apollo 10, 11, 13, 14, Skylab 4 and ASTP.)
Happy to help you with your goal! Let me know when you might be coming, happy to give you a little behind-the-scenes tour too. |
Henk Boshuijer
Member Posts: 450
From: Netherlands
Registered: May 2007
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posted 10-30-2008 04:16 PM
quote:
Originally posted by FFrench:
Let me know when you might be coming, happy to give you a little behind-the-scenes tour too.
That is really great Francis. I am looking forward to my visit... I will let you know as soon as I have the exact dates. (My trip is probably in July 2009.)Thank you for helping me to reach my goal. Henk Boshuijer |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 11-01-2008 09:49 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Henk Boshuijer:
I am looking forward to my visit... I will let you know as soon as I have the exact dates.
We're ready for you...  |
Henk Boshuijer
Member Posts: 450
From: Netherlands
Registered: May 2007
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posted 11-02-2008 03:01 AM
That is a beautifull picture. I am speechless. WOWThank you Francis. |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1306
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 11-02-2008 01:37 PM
Henk-O.K. You got me thinking. We should all plan to visit a command module near us in July, 2009. While Apollo 9 is not near me I do need an excuse to go to the west coast. We know the place -in front of Apollo 9 & the time July 2009. Do any other cS's want arrange a meeting? Francis- Leave the sign up, please. -Lou |
ilbasso
Member Posts: 1522
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 11-02-2008 01:57 PM
How about for those of us who are going to Spacefest the third week of February? That's only two weeks short of the anniversary of the flight of Apollo 9. I'm certainly looking forward to my first visit to the San Diego Air & Space Museum!
--Jonathan |
Shalene
Member Posts: 47
From: San Diego, California
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 12-11-2008 05:46 PM
 The first and last feet to leave footprints on the moon. Armstrong on the left, Cernan on the right.  |
Shalene
Member Posts: 47
From: San Diego, California
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 12-11-2008 05:51 PM
 We just "beamed" Apollo Flight Controllers Glynn Lunney and Gerry Griffin...  Francis French giving a tour of Star Trek. In front – Flight Controller Gerry Griffin, Walt Cunningham Captain's chair – Flight Controller Glynn Lunney Rear – L-R – Alan Bean, Francis French, Mark Larson (emcee for our Apollo 8 event tonight), Gene Cernan, Neil Armstrong |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 12-11-2008 05:58 PM
 Collision Course!  Beam Us Up!  To Boldly Go... where many of these guys have already been... |
ejectr
Member Posts: 1751
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 12-11-2008 06:14 PM
Francis... can I come over and play with your friends? |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 12-11-2008 06:45 PM
quote:
Originally posted by ejectr:
Francis... can I come over and play with your friends?
Can you get here in the next two hours from Massachusetts?? |
ejectr
Member Posts: 1751
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 12-11-2008 08:46 PM
quote:
Originally posted by FFrench:
Can you get here in the next two hours from Massachusetts??
My Grumman Tiger is fast, but not that fast.  |
Mr Meek
Member Posts: 353
From: Chattanooga, TN
Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 12-11-2008 10:47 PM
Pardon me, I think my head just exploded. Nerd Christmas came early this year. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 12-13-2008 09:13 AM
 Gerry Griffin, Glynn Lunney and their wives recreate the leap through the Guardian Of Forever... ...as noted earlier in this thread, some of the signage talks about how the Enterprise bridge layout was studied by NASA engineers when revamping Mission Control - these guys found that interesting... |
E2M Lem Man
Member Posts: 846
From: Los Angeles CA. USA
Registered: Jan 2005
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posted 12-16-2008 11:28 PM
Francis - That's what I would call one small step for Star Trek!Jim |
BMacKinnon
Member Posts: 230
From: Waterford, MI. USA
Registered: Jul 2007
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posted 12-20-2008 05:49 AM
Star Trek The Exhibition will be beaming from San Diego to Detroit in February. It will be at the Detroit Science Center - but at the moment their website is down. I hope it is as much fun here as it looks in San Diego. Now to figure out how to get those astronauts to Detroit!  |
ejectr
Member Posts: 1751
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 12-20-2008 06:09 AM
Won't be as much fun because Francis won't be there. |
Aztecdoug
Member Posts: 1405
From: Huntington Beach
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 12-20-2008 12:21 PM
Will Star Trek still be in San Diego for Spacefest?------------------
Kind Regards Douglas Henry Enjoy yourself and have fun.... it is only a hobby!
http://home.earthlink.net/~aztecdoug/ |
Bernasconi
Member Posts: 47
From: San Diego, CA
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 01-13-2009 05:26 PM
 Unfortunately, the last day of Star Trek: The Exhibition here is on January 19 (one week left, if you want to come and see it!). After that, it is moving on to Detroit and another version (with the Enterprise bridge from "The Next Generation") is already in Phoenix. We hope you enjoy them!
Coming next for us (and while Spacefest is in town) is a great hands-on exploration of Leonardo da Vinci's incredible inventions, which is going to be a lot of fun too!
Brent Bernasconi
Education Coordinator
San Diego Air & Space Museum
www.sandiegoairandspace.org |
Shalene
Member Posts: 47
From: San Diego, California
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 01-22-2009 12:47 AM
And on the last day... we threw Francis out the airlock. 
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