In July 1969, millions of people across the globe watched in awe as Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed their Lunar Module on the Moon’s Sea of Tranquility.  Stepping onto the lunar surface, Armstrong gave perhaps one of history’s most famous quotes; “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” The Apollo Program, with its 6 successful lunar landings, is often cited as the greatest technological achievement in human history. Visitors are invited to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the Lunar Landing and all of NASA’s Apollo era missions up close and personal at Space Center Houston. Explore and discover unique artifacts like no place on Earth. Really.

1.) Presidential Podium–“We Choose to Go to the Moon”

In a famous speech at Rice University on Sept. 12 1962, behind this very podium, President John. F Kennedy boldly stated his challenge to put a man on the Moon by the end of the decade. The mission was a success with Apollo 11, and this unique piece of history can be viewed on permanent display featured as part of Space Center Houston’s “On Human Destiny” film presentation.

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We have been offered quite a few artifacts over the past years. From spare parts for a Saturn V Moon rocket to a cigar butt smoked by a former flight director, it is always interesting to see what shows up at our front door. While each item carries with it an interesting piece of history, it doesn’t always meet the criteria for our permanent collection. However, there are those rare and amazing pieces you just can’t pass up.

Moments after the explosion on Apollo 13, any hope of landing on the Moon was abandoned. Despite the disaster, history would ultimately label Apollo 13 as NASA’s most “successful failure”. Space Center Houston is now honored to host a rare artifact from one of NASA’s finest hours. An artifact that would today be forgotten on the surface on the Moon if things had gone as planned.

(above:)This checklist would have been the guidebook for the Apollo 13 crew while on the Lunar surface.

On a perfect mission, Jim Lovell would have picked up this artifact shortly after landing. It is a collection of pages held together with three metal rings. Although it is marked as the “final copy,” various pages are marked in longhand with last minute notes and reminders. The Apollo 13 Lunar Surface Checklist would have served as the crews guide during the exploration of the lunar surface. Although it conjures up memories of a nearly disastrous mission, it also gives some unique insight to the mission planning and how an alternate reality might have played out. (more…)

May the Force be with You! Star Wars:The Clone Wars, the newest exhibit at Space Center Houston, opened with a huge bang over the 4th of July weekend! Big thanks goes out to our friends at LucasFilm Ltd., and the SCH staff for all the hard work round the clock to make this Star Wars dream a reality! Remember, Space Center Houston has the largest collection of Star Wars: Clone Wars and Star Wars artifacts and memorabilia in the world! Have you ever seen an infamous Star Wars lightsaber, a full-sized Starfighter, or wished you could go behind-the-scenes of the next Star Wars saga, before it comes out in theaters? The once-in-a-lifetime chance is now, and its only at Space Center Houston with Star Wars:The Clone Wars! Now Open all summer long!(P.S. Save Big on admission at Spacecenter.org!)

(below: SCH guests experiencing Star Wars:Clone Wars and Genuine Obi-Wan Kenobi Starfighter on display)