Space Cadet

I had a day off from class today, so I went to check out the National Air and Space Museum located in the National Mall. Since all museums under the Smithsonian have free admission, it was ridiculously packed with whiny teens and wailing tots even on a random Wednesday afternoon. They have an amazing display of ORIGINAL historical pieces... I'm not even into this type of fancypants aerospace stuff, but I ended up having a really entertaining time walking around the exhibits and ducking the relentless 98 degree DC heat. And sorry folks, Pluto really did get kicked out of the Solar System. :(

The original propeller from the Wright Flyer.

"This is one of the propellers used on the Wright flyer during its historic flights on December 17, 1903. The propeller and airplane were damaged after the final flight that day. The propellers now on the flyer are original Wright propellers made at a later time."

Able, O Courageous and and Unwitting Participant in Space History.

(Seriously, that's him. Preserved and taxidermied in a glass box.)

"On May 28, 1959, biological experiments involving two monkeys were added to a Jupiter missile nose cone test flight (The Able-Baker Mission). The test took its name from the two monkeys, Able... and Baker. In 16 minutes, the nose cone traveled 2735 kilometers from Cape Canaveral and reached an altitude of approximately 579 kilometers. The two monkeys survived the flight in good condition, however, Able died 4 days later from a reaction to the anesthetic given during surgery to remove an infected electrode. Baker died on November 29, 1984 of kidney failure at the age of 27."

Apollo 11 Command Module Hatch. Yes, the flight that landed the first man on the moon!

"This is the hatch from the Apollo 11 Command Module. This single hatch could be opened outward in five seconds by pumping the handle to activate a pressurized nitrogen cylinder. Prior to the tragic fire in January 1967 in which three astronauts died, there were two hatches on the Apollo command module requiring 90 seconds to open."

I can't explain why I find this funny. I amuse myself so very easily. :)