Will Be Dedicated At EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2006
A ground-breaking new display at the EAA AirVenture Museum will
explore the rapidly emerging era of civilian spacecraft and space
tourism when it is dedicated during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2006,
which will take place July 24-30 at Wittman Regional Airport in
Oshkosh.
EAA representatives tell ANN the new exhibit includes a
full-size replica of SpaceShipOne, the world's first successful
civilian-built spacecraft, made from the same molds as the original
craft that won the $10 million Ansari X Prize in 2004.
While the spacecraft on display at the EAA AirVenture Museum
won't be the actual SpaceShipOne, it'll be very close: a complete
set of spacecraft components were fabricated at Scaled Composites
in Mojave, CA by volunteer Scaled staff members, under the
supervision of the world's first civilian spacecraft pilot,
longtime EAA member Mike Melvill.
The sections are currently being assembled by EAA exhibit
specialists in Oshkosh. The finished spacecraft replica will be the
centerpiece of one of the most ambitious displays ever attempted in
an aviation museum.
"The EAA AirVenture Museum aims to preserve and salute the
spirit of personal courage and innovation begun by the Wright
Brothers and shown by aircraft designers, builders and pilots
throughout aviation history," said Adam Smith, the museum's
director. "SpaceShipOne's accomplishments fit well within that
tradition. This exhibit will also help broaden our museum's own
horizons, adding an exciting space element to what is already one
of the world's finest air museums."
The exhibit will also use dramatic sound and lighting effects,
as well as rare video footage -- some never seen in public -- to
tell the story of a mission into space aboard SpaceShipOne. During
this journey, EAA's replica spacecraft will demonstrate a key
technological breakthrough conceived by spacecraft designer Burt
Rutan. To safely re-enter the atmosphere without excessive heating,
SpaceShipOne hinges in half, completely changing the shape of the
vehicle. This amazing physical transformation, which "feathers" the
spacecraft for re-entry, will occur before museum visitors' eyes as
part of the exhibit.
The SpaceShipOne
exhibit will be part of the Innovations Gallery, which salutes
pioneering designs and flight accomplishments by EAA members and
other designers. Six other aircraft designed by Rutan, a longtime
EAA member, are part of that area, including a full-size mock-up of
the Voyager, which became the first aircraft to fly around the
world nonstop on one tank of fuel in 1986. The actual Voyager and
SpaceShipOne are displayed at the National Air and Space Museum in
Washington, D.C.
Rutan, Melvill and other members of the SpaceShipOne team are
scheduled to attend EAA AirVenture 2006 and make several
presentations about their ongoing work to launch the space tourism
industry.