The Intrepid Museum in Manhattan is hosting a massive exhibit called “Apollo: When We Went to the Moon,” which showcases more than 100 rare relics from the historic 1969 journey to the moon and subsequent missions. The exhibit includes items such as a Saturn V rocket engine fragment from the aborted Apollo 13 mission, a moon rock, a replica lunar rover from Apollo 15, and personal items from Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins. The 9,000-square-foot spectacle is the museum’s largest-ever temporary exhibit and will run through Sept. 2.
One of the highlights of the exhibit is a lunar meteorite recovered from northwest Africa in 2014. This slice of moon rock allows visitors to have a tactile experience and touch a piece of the moon. Researchers use moon rocks and soil collected during the Apollo 11 mission to identify lunar meteorites that land on Earth by comparing minerals, chemicals, and isotopes. This unique opportunity provides visitors with a close encounter with a piece of outer space.
Another interesting feature of the exhibit is a model of the lunar rover used by astronauts during the Apollo 15 mission in 1971. Visitors can hop onto the rover and take photos, experiencing what it might have been like to drive on the moon. The exhibit also showcases Apollo gear worn by astronauts, including space suits, gloves, and helmets. Visitors can see authentic casts of the hands of Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins, as well as Michael Collins’ wedding band left on his hand during the development of his space suit.
In addition to artifacts from the Apollo missions, the exhibit also explores the cultural impact of the lunar landing in 1969. The exhibit highlights how the historic event resonated around the globe and features televisions displaying broadcasts in multiple languages from the time of the moon landing. The exhibit includes an interactive “launch experience” that allows visitors to experience the audio and video from the Apollo 11 blastoff in 1969, providing a realistic simulation of being on the launch platform.
The exhibit is housed in the museum’s space shuttle pavilion alongside Enterprise, which has been on display at the Intrepid Museum since 2012. The exhibit aims to provide visitors with a deeper understanding of the Apollo missions and the people involved in them. By showcasing rare relics, interactive experiences, and historical context, “Apollo: When We Went to the Moon” offers a comprehensive and immersive look at one of the most significant events in human history. Visitors can explore the details of the moon landing and the impact it had both scientifically and culturally.
