HUTCHINSON, Kan., – The Cosmosphere received a donation of fifteen Kansas state flags from Moon walker and former NASA astronaut Charlie Duke.
Duke took the flags with him to the Moon on Apollo 16 in 1972. “We are grateful to General Duke for this generous contribution to the Cosmosphere’s collection,” said Cosmosphere CEO Jim Remar. “Tangible artifacts that have been to the Moon strengthen the connection between present and past, solidifying historic events in our collective memory.
The Cosmosphere will use these flags to continue to inspire the future through space exploration.” At least one of the flags will become part of the Cosmosphere’s extensive collection, which includes artifacts from NASA’s Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs, as well as the largest collection of Soviet space artifacts outside of Moscow.
Cosmosphere staff will confer with its governing board to determine the best use for the remaining flags.