(11 Feb 2016) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus048258
The National Air and Space Museum has uncovered notes, figures, and other "graffiti" inside the historic spacecraft that took U.S. astronauts to the moon and back in 1969, and it plans to make digital images of this available online later this year.
The museum has joined hands with the Smithsonian's 3D Digigitization Program to scan the Command Module in 3-D to create a high-resolution interactive model of the spacecraft.
"It's an indescribable thrill," said Allan Needell, the curator of space history at the museum. "I have colleagues and teammates who I work with continuously to answer very, very detailed questions, to pose questions. The opportunity to share with them this information, and to refine some of the discoveries we have already made is the dream of a researcher," he said.
Some of the markings include numbers and calculations relayed from mission control written on the wall near the spacecraft's navigational tools.
The model will be available in June on 3d.si.edu.
"If you have access to a 3-D printer, you are able to download a model of the command module once we launch this in summer 2016, and you'll be able to print it out in schools, classroom, or your living room, which we think is really exciting," said Vince Rossi, a 3-D program officer at the Smithsonian.
The spacecraft took Astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins to the moon and back to earth from July 16th to July 24th, 1969.
Research is currently being conducted to determine what the markings were for, which astronauts made them, and what insights they provide about man's first trip to the moon.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
