posted 08-29-2006 12:07 PM               

Recently the Saturn V model in the Apollo to the Moon gallery was cleaned and given lighting upgrades by its creator, Dave Gianakos. About twice a year, the Denver-based Northwest Airlines pilot comes at his own expense to clean the model, which he donated in 1995.

Gianakos also replaced a multitude of tiny white incandescent lights that dot the length of the tower, which have only now started to fail after more than 10 years of continuous service. The brighter LED lights should last 30 years or more.

The Saturn V model was originally a sophisticated, guided three-stage rocket built to fly for the 25th anniversary of Apollo 11. But due to the unavailability of motors for the first stage, plans to fly the rocket were abandoned.

Gianakos also built the Soviet N-1 moon rocket model on display in the Space Race gallery, the Navaho cruise missile model at the Udvar-Hazy Center, and numerous models for other museums.