posted 05-08-2005 06:54 AM            

Yesterday, Saturday 7th May 2005 , I had part of my space hardware collection on display at the Liverpool Maritime Museum as part of their Collectors Display Event. Besides my space collection their were collectors displaying slide rules, matchbox covers,'Barbie' dolls and even a Dr.Who series Dalek amongst several other displays !

The Maritime Museum is one of several museum's that form part of Liverpool's Albert Dock historic waterfront . Although not inundated with visitors ( - due partly to a very wet and gusty day) there was a steady trickle of people throughout the event - including local people with their children and several groups from Poland and Romania .

Each display was allocated one trestle table (about 6x4 feet) and I had on display cosmonaut Valerie Lyakhov's Pinguin space suit, cosmonaut Alex Volkov LH space glove , a space helmet, Salyut-6 on board computer unit, Apollo-16 flown to surface USA flag, Apollo prototype moon boot,a small rocket quad thruster,a couple of space books, some space badges,MIR onboard space toilet and a Shuttle EVA 'nappy'.

I was watching the visitors to find out which of the space items seemed to be the 'most interesting' to them. I personally would have thought the helmet ,space suit and space glove would be the attraction but was a little surprised by the fact that the space toilet and the prototype moon boot seemed to draw their attentions most. There was some interest in the space glove. I've had the same sort of 'reaction' at other displays I have done in past few months.

What did surprise me most , though , was the fact that very,very few people knew about the Apollo lunar landing programme and even less knew about the Russian space stations or even about the space shuttle ! This included many of the older generation who would have been watching Apollo 'live' on television in 1969. Those few who did know about Apollo knew that Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the Moon but only one person knew about Apollo-16 (whose lunar surface USA flag I had on display). Very very few people knew about the space shuttle and the ISS space station.

From my perspective, the event was worthwhile as it helped not only display real space hardware but to further educate people in space flight in general - which most of the displays I have done have set out to accomplish.

I was thankful for one party of Romanian students . Although they did not know Russian they were able to translate a few of the words on the Salyut-6 computer unit - which had bothered me for some months. Now I know !

The image shows my table with the flag, boot and other items on display, some of the visitors and part of the Albert Dock,Liverpool.

I would like to thank Robert Pearlman (for bringing to attention this event so that I could take part on behalf of cS and spaceflight in general) and to Mr Mike Graham (the Curatorial Manager of the Natural History Centre of Liverpool Museums ) who helped me with unloading/loading of items, arranged free car parking and free lunch !

All in all - a good day !

Phill Parker,UK

http://uk.geocities.com/spaceuk@btinternet.com/images/liverpool.JPG

posted 05-08-2005 07:02 AM            

see image:-
http://uk.geocities.com/spaceuk@btinternet.com/images/Lpost2.JPG

posted 05-12-2005 09:46 AM            

Spaceport (due to open in summer 2005) is an exciting new leisure attraction - a joint enterprise between Mersey Ferries and Liverpool John Moores University (JMU). Based on the Wirral Waterfront, at Mersey Ferries' Seacombe terminal, this attraction will allow visitors to explore space, from our own solar system out to distant galaxies, examining a variety of space phenomena on the way.

Spaceport will take visitors on a 'journey through space' by means of exciting, fully immersive experiences, simulators and theatrical presentations, supported with interactive displays and plasma screens.

Phill

posted 05-12-2005 11:43 AM               

From a personal perspective I am looking forward to the new Spaceport, not least because it is only a ten minute ride from my home. Fortunately or unfortunately however I have been told that the emphasis will be almost entirely on astronomy and not manned space flight.

A contact at John Moores University indicated to me last year that they would be leaving the manned stuff to their "sister" centre at Leicester; as far as American manned spaceflight goes the National Space Centre in Leicester is in my opinion poor in the extreme....

Regards,

Rick.