Posts: 39
From: Akron, OH
Registered: Feb 2021

posted 12-12-2022 12:35 PM               

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With Artemis I in the history books, a few of us were discussing what Artemis museum exhibits of the future might be. What do you think these galleries will have, and how will they differentiate themselves from Apollo exhibits?

An SLS, much like the three Saturn Vs and upcoming Endeavour full stack, would warrant its own gallery from remaining hardware. Perhaps space centers would recognize the long-term importance of such an artifact and prioritize immediate indoor display more than the Saturn Vs initially received.

With Starship being provided by SpaceX, a flown lunar lander could conceivably be exhibited for the first time.

Artemis III will no doubt accompany Columbia in the National Air and Space Museum's galleries. NASA has opted to build a new Orion capsule for each of the upcoming flights, which will leave opportunities for numerous museums to exhibit flown spacecraft similar to the display of Apollo command modules.

Will components of Gateway be salvaged or instead receive no significant plans for return, similar to what has been announced for the International Space Station? How do you see stories being told in relation to Apollo, Shuttle, Constellation, and Commercial Crew?

While most would acknowledge it is difficult to speculate so early into the program, exhibits are already becoming a reality at facilities such as Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and Space Center Houston. I'm interested to hear what your thoughts are.

Posts: 1751
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010

Posts: 49665
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 12-12-2022 07:19 PM               

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The SLS core stage pathfinder (or at least a section of it) has already been set aside to go on museum display. There also exists an RS-25 engine pathfinder and a solid rocket booster pathfinder that could be exhibited.

And while it is true that SpaceX is not planning to return its Artemis III or IV HLS Starships from the moon, the company has said that if it is selected for the second contract, or if it has commercial missions to support, it could establish a fuel depot in lunar orbit to enable bringing back Starships to Earth.

Posts: 1391
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007

posted 12-13-2022 08:53 AM               

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While displaying a flown Orion spacecraft (perhaps attached to an ESA service propulsion module mockup/engineering model) will inevitably happen, I think putting together a 'full stack' SLS Artemis rocket is a bit too expensive, even if spares/test articles are used. Perhaps they could build a reproduction, similar to the Saturn V displayed vertically at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville?

The expense in putting together such a display (to say nothing of the cost in constructing the building that would house it) would be better spent in acquiring, conserving and refurbishing other exhibits.