Mar 04, 2022

Cosmosphere renovation let visitors get up close to history

Posted Mar 04, 2022 2:44 PM
The expansion includes easier-to-read boards telling the history of the space race and those involved.
The expansion includes easier-to-read boards telling the history of the space race and those involved.

By ROD ZOOK
Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON — The Cosmosphere hopes that the approaching spring break will continue the strong flow of visitors to the space museum. The Cosmosphere just recently completed a renovation of a portion of the Hall of Space Museum, which opened to the public this winter.

“The story of the space race and the development of the technology to explore space is told with a better chronology and a better visitor flow,” Maria Kelson of the Cosmosphere said. 

The tour still begins in the V-2 area as it has before but has more space and better lighting. It also has several new artifacts from the space race including a better view of one of the Cosmosphere's more popular artifacts and two small items that carried a big significance in the space race.

The renovation allows for visitors to see some of the space artifacts up-close, including the Sputnik display.
The renovation allows for visitors to see some of the space artifacts up-close, including the Sputnik display.

“You can walk almost 360 degrees around the flight-ready backup of Sputnik that we have so you can get just right up-close and personal with our Sputnik,” Kelson said. “Another thing I’m excited about, there are slide rules (Wernher) von Braun and (Sergei) Korolev on display.”

The slide rules that belonged to Wernher von Braun, who led the American space race, and Sergei Korolev, who led the Soviet space program.
The slide rules that belonged to Wernher von Braun, who led the American space race, and Sergei Korolev, who led the Soviet space program.

It was von Braun who led the American space program after WWII and helped with the design of the Saturn V rocket that got America to the moon ahead of the Russians. Korolev was the mastermind behind the Soviet space program and was the leader of many firsts for the program in the early years of the Cold War.

Shannon Wetzel is the curator for the many artifacts that are in the Cosmosphere’s possession and says the renovation of the V-2 area is exciting since it is the oldest area of the museum. She also wants to make sure in the modern STEM environment for students that the historic significance of space flight isn’t forgotten.

The V-2 display, which kicks off the tour of the space museum is more open and brighter, with easier-to-read plaques that tell the history of the German rocket.
The V-2 display, which kicks off the tour of the space museum is more open and brighter, with easier-to-read plaques that tell the history of the German rocket.

“STEM came from somewhere and you can come down here and see the history of it,” Wetzel said. “The story of the space race as it fits into the Cold War is such a crucial part of our history.”

The expansion also includes the new interactive area called CosmoKids and a more open and expanded Bell X-1 display. The Bell X-1 plane carried General Chuck Yeager to the first flight beyond the sound barrier.

The area at the opening of the renovation features a replica of the Bell X-1 aircraft that broke the sound barrier. The area is much more open than before.
The area at the opening of the renovation features a replica of the Bell X-1 aircraft that broke the sound barrier. The area is much more open than before.
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