Posted on 11/08/2003 2:11:58 PM PST by BenLurkin
From early astronomy and Leonardo Da Vinci's flying contraptions to World War II planes and Mars rovers, the City of Lancaster Musuem/Art Gallery's newest exhibition, "Cosmic Adventures - Space, Science and Technology," is a comprehensive look at the history of flight as well as Antelope Valley's own aviation and aerospace history. Opening with a reception from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday , the exhibit will continue through Jan. 11.
Made possible by a grant from The Boeing Co. and the Boeing Employees Community Fund, the exhibit will feature displays from Boeing, the World War II 475th Fighter Group, Air Museum Planes of Fame, March Air Field Museum, the P-38 National Association and the Antelope Valley Astronomy Club.
"You have to look at the whole history to see how we got to the modern space age," said museum curator Norma Gurba.
Commemorating the centennial of the Wright brothers' flight, the exhibit will include an eight-foot model of the Wright Flyer as well as tidbits of local history, such as the first documented flight in the Antelope Valley by Clyde Primmer in 1912 and past Valley airports.
A noted highlight is a recreation of the Mars landscape, complete with a model of the Sojourner Truth rover that children can help maneuver across mock rocks.
A camera mounted to the machine allows visitors to view the landscape via computer, similar to the real-life Mars rover set to land on Jan. 3.
The museum will celebrate "Mars Rover Landing Day" with a special event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the same day.
In addition, the Wright brothers will be celebrated with a special program on Dec. 17.
Visitors will also see space-related memorabilia and models, space suits and the cockpit of a P-38 aircraft. (Members from the P-38 National Association will act as mechanics for a re-enactment with the World War II plane during the reception.)
Saturday's opening reception will feature Captain Bob's "Rockets and Robots" presentation at 2 p.m., the opportunity to meet members of the World War II 475th Fighter Group, a book signing by test pilot authors of "Breaking Free," painting demonstrations by artist Randy Barnicki, and daylight astronomy and NASA lunar rocks courtesy of the Antelope Valley Astronomy Club.
Gurba said the exhibit is aimed at examining not only the roots of the space age, but the ways that such technological advances have affected other realms of life here on the ground.
"A lot of the technology used in outer space is used on earth, from food wrappings … to mechanical things"- such as voice-powered wheelchairs, Gurba said.
She added the exhibit offers something for everyone, including a children's area with space-related toys and an F-86 Sabre jet ejector seat to spark the imagination.
Open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays, the City of Lancaster Museum/Art Gallery is at 44801 Sierra Highway.
Somebody invite that democrat congresswoman who wanted asked JPL to drive the Mars Rover to where Neil Armstrong planted the American flag on Mars.
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