Opens New Exhibit Featuring Women Mission Controllers

The International Women’s Air & Space Museum (IWASM) recently received a donation from former NASA mission controller, Marianne Dyson, who is originally from Canton, Ohio.

Her donations include a FAO (Flight Activities Officer) console ascent checklist for STS-1 and an FAO entry checklist for STS-1. These are from the first space shuttle flight in 1981 of Space Shuttle Columbia. Dyson also donated a cardboard space shuttle with her in-flight notes made during several missions that were used to explain information to flight directors.

Finally, she donated numerous photos of hers and from NASA that help tell the story of the early space shuttle flight controllers. These items will be on display in a new exhibit featuring female NASA mission controllers.

Dyson recently visited the museum as a guest lecturer for a sold out dinner and had a book signing for attendees. After working at NASA, Dyson began another career as an author of science fiction and non-fiction articles and books.

The museum has also opened a new exhibit featuring NASA’s female mission controllers. On display are various photographs, patches, ID badges and checklists used during STS-1 the very first space shuttle flight. Former NASA mission controller, Marianne Dyson, recently donated a few of her personal items, including a FAO (Flight Activities Officer) console ascent checklist and entry checklist for STS-1, the very first space shuttle flight in 1981. The exhibit is adjacent to an actual mission control console donated to the museum from the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

The exhibit was curated by Cleveland State University graduate student, Sarah Prezioso, and Space Advisor and Trustee, Marcy Frumker.

(Source: IWASM news release)

FMI: http://iwasm.org