Space History News space history and collectibles feature articles Messages discussion forums about space history and collecting Sightings calendar of worldwide astronaut appearances buySPACE marketplace for space artifacts, toys and memorabilia Resources collecting guides and selected space history documents Websites related space memorabilia and history websites - The Editor's Collection - Artifacts space flown equipment and ground support hardware Autographs who's who in space: the first 25 years of space exploration Books galleys, drafts, and advanced reading copies Medallions flown coins and those minted with flown metal Philatelics first day ceremony programs and flown stamps

Spacecraft launched on nationwide tour April 27, 2000 — Liberty Bell 7, Virgil "Gus" Grissom's Mercury capsule, begins a nationwide tour June 17 when it arrives at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor's Complex in Florida for a three month stay. The recently rescued and fully restored spacecraft is the centerpiece of a new interactive 6,000-square-foot traveling exhibit financed by the Discovery Channel. The Lost Spacecraft: Liberty Bell-7 Recovered will take museum visitors on a virtual ride with Grissom 118 miles into space and then 3 miles below the ocean's surface where the capsule sat untouched. The exhibit engages visitors in astronaut training, spacecraft technology and launch sequences circa 1961. It then fast-forwards to 1999 to follow the events surrounding the rescue of the capsule by Curt Newport and the expedition team he led. The project to preserve the spacecraft is a collaborative effort between Discovery Channel and the Smithsonian affiliated Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, which will serve as its permanent home after its three-year tour. "[We are] proud to be a part of this next step with the Liberty Bell 7 space capsule and to present this historical exhibit to families across the country," said Discovery's executive vice president and general manager, Mike Quattrone. "Those who lived during the period when the world stood still to watch a Mercury launch will marvel at the memories the exhibit evokes, while people of all ages will be fascinated with this engaging piece of history." The second U.S. manned space mission, Liberty Bell 7 was flown by Capt. Grissom on a mission that lasted 15 minutes and 37 seconds before sinking to the floor of the Atlantic Ocean, where it laid for nearly four decades. "The Lost Spacecraft" will travel to science museums in 12 cities throughout the United States (dates and venues are subject to change; updated June 8, 2002): June 17, 2000- September 17, 2000 Kennedy Space Center Visitor's Complex, Cape Canaveral, Florida October 7, 2000- January 7, 2001 The Children's Museum, Indianapolis, Indiana January 27, 2001- May 13, 2001 Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, New Jersey June 9, 2001- September 9, 2001 St. Louis Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri September 29, 2001- January 6, 2002 The Tech Museum, San Jose, California January 26, 2002- March 24, 2002 Boston Museum of Science, Boston, Massachusetts April 13, 2002- June 9, 2002 Kirkpatrick Science & Air Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma June 29, 2002- September 15, 2002 Chabot Space & Science Center, Oakland, California October 5, 2002- January 26, 2003 Denver Museum of Natural History, Denver, Colorado February 15, 2003- May 26, 2003 TBD June 14, 2003- September 7, 2003 Museum of Science & History, Ft. Worth, Texas September 26, 2003- January 4, 2004 ScienceCity, Kansas City, Missouri back to News © 1999-2008 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved. Questions? E-mail contact@collectspace.com