#cosmosphere

[the-telescope-times]

On This Day in 1957

Happy Sputnik Day. On October 4th, 1957 the USSR launched the very first satellite into Earth orbit disjointing countless noses here in the US.

Pictured above is the backup Sputnik that was to be launched should the first attempt have failed. It can be found at the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson Kansas along with many more air and space wonders.

[commodorez]

An SAIC rebranded GRiD laptop used on the Space Shuttle - Kansas Cosmosphere

[lindahall]

Liberty Bell 7 – Scientist of the Day

Liberty Bell 7, a space capsule, was launched atop a Mercury-Redstone 4 rocket, on July 21, 1961.

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[tempest-melody]

Central Kansas In Review

Central Kansas In Review

This trip to Kansas was so much fun. It allowed us to visit a portion of the state that we hadn’t seen much of before.

Kansas Cities:

Lindsborg

Marquette

Kansas Sightseeing:

Introduction

Carriage Crossing

Cosmosphere

Mushroom Rock State Park

Coronado Heights

Kansas Motorcycle Museum

Road Trip Home:

Part I

Part II

Part III

There are some fantastic places to explore in the US. Many are seen by…

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[projecthabu]

     The Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, Kansas, is the only place where young people can train inside a real astronaut trainer. During the early years of the International Space Station inhabitancy, the interior of this Soyuz T spacecraft was used at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, helping our astronaut corps prepare for the contingency of an emergency evacuation. Fortunately, this function was never needed. After being replaced with more up to date, advanced trainers, this equipment made it to the Cosmosphere.

     Climbing inside the small spacecraft was a harrowing event for my 6′ 4′’ frame. The Syouz is very cramped, even for people of smaller size. As I struggled to settle back into the seat, my thoughts went to 6′ 2′’ NASA astronaut Scott Parazynski. During the process of being fitted for a custom Soyuz seat, Parazynski was lying down in a plaster mold while Russian technicians tended to the operation. After much head shaking and Russian muttering, it became evident to Parazynski that he simply wouldn’t fit in the seat. As a result, he continued flying aboard the much larger Shuttle instead of the Soyuz. Among his astronaut colleagues, he gained the nickname, “Too Tall”. Fortunately, the young people that visit the Cosmosphere fit quite nicely inside the trainer, where educators use this hardware to inspire students to look toward the stars, no matter their stature.

[yiluda]

170818 Incheon Airport Departure ©

[officialjrocksupportblog]

Tatsuya

Cosmosphere

Guitarist

January 26th

Aquarius

[the-telescope-times]

Cosmosphere Lobby

Built around the SR-71 Blackbird after it was set in place, the lobby of the Cosmosphere is a fascinating place all by itself. A full-scale mock-up of Space Shuttle Endeavour is a prominent feature.

Image credits: Telescope Times