Published: Sunday, August 22, 2010
IN OUR VIEW / HOUSING A RETIRED SPACE SHUTTLE
Let local imaginations soar
Just about any American over 50 will shake their head in amazement if you ask them to recall the early days of NASA's manned space program.
The excitement of John Glenn orbiting the Earth in a tiny Mercury capsule in 1962; the crowning achievement of Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon in 1969; the heartbreak of the space shuttle Challenger's explosion shortly after liftoff in 1986 -- these and others were collective experiences that boosted national pride and fueled imaginations, old and young.
Our region has a chance to become a hub for such inspiration. The private, nonprofit Museum of Flight, located near Boeing Field in Seattle, is one of several sites across the country seeking to become home to one of the remaining four space shuttles when the fleet is retired next year.
Museum officials, led by CEO and former astronaut Bonnie J. Dunbar -- a Washington native who flew on five shuttle missions -- have been pursuing the idea full-throttle, raising enough money to begin construction of a $12 million building to house a shuttle. Most of the money has already been raised privately. The state is chipping in $3 million, a wise investment considering the potential return in tourism spending.
Ground was broken in June on a 15,500-square-foot, climate-controlled Human Space Flight Gallery that must be completed by next July. That's one of NASA's requirements for winning the competition, because the shuttles are made of fibrous materials that won't hold up to rain or hail. Plan B, should the museum not be chosen, is to house other space-related exhibits there.
But it's hard to imagine a stronger bid than the Museum of Flight's. The institution, founded in 1965, is much more than your typical museum. It's a premiere center for education, serving more than 120,000 K-12 students each year through 22 programs that are aligned with state academic standards.
Landing the space shuttle is all about enhancing that educational mission. For emphasis, Dunbar has moved into a new role as executive director for Wings Over Washington, and will oversee development of the part of the museum's campus that will include the space gallery. Plans also include a new building for the Highline School District's renowned Aviation High School.
Learning will be the reward for anyone who visits the museum. With the region's historical status as the birthplace of Boeing and one of the nation's leading aerospace centers, the addition of a retired space shuttle -- which would arrive on the back of an Everett-built Boeing 747 -- is a natural fit.
Besides drawing thousands of new visitors to the region, it'll fuel plenty of imaginations here at home -- of future engineers, scientists, mechanics, pilots and, yes, astronauts.
The excitement of John Glenn orbiting the Earth in a tiny Mercury capsule in 1962; the crowning achievement of Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon in 1969; the heartbreak of the space shuttle Challenger's explosion shortly after liftoff in 1986 -- these and others were collective experiences that boosted national pride and fueled imaginations, old and young.
Our region has a chance to become a hub for such inspiration. The private, nonprofit Museum of Flight, located near Boeing Field in Seattle, is one of several sites across the country seeking to become home to one of the remaining four space shuttles when the fleet is retired next year.
Museum officials, led by CEO and former astronaut Bonnie J. Dunbar -- a Washington native who flew on five shuttle missions -- have been pursuing the idea full-throttle, raising enough money to begin construction of a $12 million building to house a shuttle. Most of the money has already been raised privately. The state is chipping in $3 million, a wise investment considering the potential return in tourism spending.
Ground was broken in June on a 15,500-square-foot, climate-controlled Human Space Flight Gallery that must be completed by next July. That's one of NASA's requirements for winning the competition, because the shuttles are made of fibrous materials that won't hold up to rain or hail. Plan B, should the museum not be chosen, is to house other space-related exhibits there.
But it's hard to imagine a stronger bid than the Museum of Flight's. The institution, founded in 1965, is much more than your typical museum. It's a premiere center for education, serving more than 120,000 K-12 students each year through 22 programs that are aligned with state academic standards.
Landing the space shuttle is all about enhancing that educational mission. For emphasis, Dunbar has moved into a new role as executive director for Wings Over Washington, and will oversee development of the part of the museum's campus that will include the space gallery. Plans also include a new building for the Highline School District's renowned Aviation High School.
Learning will be the reward for anyone who visits the museum. With the region's historical status as the birthplace of Boeing and one of the nation's leading aerospace centers, the addition of a retired space shuttle -- which would arrive on the back of an Everett-built Boeing 747 -- is a natural fit.
Besides drawing thousands of new visitors to the region, it'll fuel plenty of imaginations here at home -- of future engineers, scientists, mechanics, pilots and, yes, astronauts.
Comments
(