Suited for Space. sites.si.edu. Smithsonian. Smithsonian. Now Available for Booking. Exhibition at a Glance

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2 Suited for Space Now Available for Booking A new exhibition organized by the Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with the s National Air and Space Museum and generously supported by DuPont. Exhibition at a Glance Contents: More than 30 large, full-color framed photographs; 5 large-scale, freestanding flexible graphics with text; detailed x-rays of suits mounted on 6 portable light boxes; objects; replica space suit; video (venue provides equipment); and suit cut-out for visitors to pose with Participation fee: $15,000 per 12-week booking period, plus prorated shipping Size: 2,000-2,500 square feet, est. Security: Moderate Shipping: Prorated, SITES-designated carrier Tour begins: March 2011 Perilous voyages to the unknown mark many chapters in this country s history, but few have captured the imagination like the journey into space. Through American ingenuity, innovation, and determination, our dreams of space travel were realized, but a successful launch was only half the battle. Spacesuits were the survival gear that made it possible for humans to take flight. Explore the extreme mechanics of the ultimate life-support system with Suited for Space, a new exhibition from SITES and the s National Air and Space Museum. Front: Air hoses from the spacecraft (or connected to the life support unit) pumped oxygen into Neil Armstrong s Apollo 11 suit through designated chest valves. Photo by Mark Avino sites.si.edu

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4 Suited for Space Unlimited Access Development and construction of the spacesuit moved at lightning speed in the late-20th century. There were hits great advancements in suit technology and misses, those promising experiments that never evolved beyond the laboratory. Until recently, only a few engineers, scientists, and curators have had access to any of these marvels of modern engineering. Suited for Space gives visitors a chance to see iconic pieces of American history displayed as never before as large, ultra highresolution images, captured by one of the National Air and Space Museum s most accomplished photographers. Every spacesuit component, no matter how minute, can be scrutinized and examined, in a way that only 21st-century technology allows. X-rays give visitors a chance to look inside the spacesuits, helmets, gloves, and boots and reveal ball bearings, fibers, sewing holes, and rubber joints. Radiant light boxes, on which the x-rays are mounted, allow for an even closer view of construction and fabrication details. The cables and buckle visible in this x-ray of an A-7L extra-vehicular glove prevented the astronaut s hand from slipping out while the glove was under pressure. X-ray by Roland Cunningham and Mark Avino Front: This radiograph of an A4-H Universal helmet shows a complex communication wiring system. X-ray by Roland Cunningham and Mark Avino sites.si.edu

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6 Suited for Space Look and Learn: Sample Exhibition Text Project Mercury ( ) was NASA s first human spaceflight program. On May 5, 1961, during a 15-minute flight on Freedom 7, astronaut Alan Shepard made history becoming the first American launched into space. With that remarkable achievement, a new era of discovery was born. On the first five Mercury missions, the astronauts wore unpressurized spacesuits like the one pictured on the front of this card. Because the astronauts remained seated throughout the mission, the spacesuit design included fabric break-lines in the shoulders, arms, and knees for comfort and flexibility. The spacesuit s silver color is a powdered aluminum coating that reflected heat. Get a feel for one of the 26 layers of a spacesuit. Kevlar fiber has been a critical material in suits and other space applications. Front: Alan B. Shepard, one of the original Mercury 7, wore this suit on the first flight of an American astronaut (1961). Photo by Mark Avino sites.si.edu

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8 Suited for Space Get the Complete Spacesuit Experience This remarkable exhibition, with full-scale lightweight freestanding flexible graphics, framed photographs, x-rays with portable light boxes, text panels, replica space suit, objects in cases, video, and suit cut-out for visitors to pose with, is just a portion of what SITES delivers. As a host of Suited for Space, you will also receive the following: Complete curatorial and registrarial information Complete shipping, handling, and installation instructions Wall-to-wall fine-arts insurance coverage under the s policy Public relations support including a sample press release, images, logos, and advice on promoting the exhibition and hosting special events Educational and programming resources Ordering information for museum shops Ability to link to and from SITES website and social media platforms Front top: Protecting the astronaut against extreme temperatures and sharp rocks, these lunar overshoes were worn on the Apollo 17 mission (1972). Photo by Mark Avino Front bottom: Buzz Aldrin s famous bootprint on the lunar surface shows the ridges left by the overshoe. Courtesy of NASA sites.si.edu

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10 Suited for Space The Technical Side of Hosting Suited for Space has been designated moderate security and will be offered to those institutions able to meet the s requirements. Key requirements are listed below. For more information, contact Shavonne Harding, or hardings@si.edu. Space: Exhibitors must have limited access gallery(ies) of sufficient area and space to accommodate the exhibition. An open mall, hallway, or lounge area is not acceptable. Fire protection systems and protection devices (subject to approval) must be according to local ordinances. Environment: The exhibition space, staging, and storage areas must have temperature and humidity controls to guarantee 40- to 60% relative humidity and degrees Fahrenheit, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Light levels must be adjustable down to 15 foot-candles. No direct sunlight must reach the artifacts, photographs, or graphics. Security: Guards or other trained security personnel, whose sole duty is to supervise the exhibition while it is on display, must be present in sufficient numbers,. Guards or other trained personnel must be present during truck off-loading, unpacking, installation, takedown, and packing. Exhibition area must be locked and secure during closing hours. Handling: Handling of objects, if not actually by a registrar or curator, must be by a preparator, exhibit technician, or other persons trained in handling museum objects. A member of the venue s professional collections management or conservation staff must check the exhibition once daily. Display: The exhibition includes 1 oversized crate. Venues must have appropriate staff and equipment to receive and ship out the crate safely. Venues must have a power source for each of the 6 light boxes. Front: The A7-L extra-vehicular gloves (used from ) protected the astronauts hands from extreme temperatures and sharp lunar rocks while allowing for some feeling in the fingertips. Photo by Mark Avino sites.si.edu

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12 Suited for Space Explore Spacesuits with... s National Air and Space Museum The National Air and Space Museum, with its flagship building on the National Mall in Washington and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, is home to the world s finest collection of artifacts of flight. The museum is also a key institution for research into the history, science, and technology of aviation and space flight. Institution Traveling Exhibition Service SITES has been sharing the wealth of collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, DC, for more than 50 years. SITES creates tangible connections to the Institution through traveling and virtual exhibits that present the full breadth of scholarly and collection resources, and engage, educate, and inspire. Suited for Space was developed by the Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with the s National Air and Space Museum. The national exhibition tour is generously supported by DuPont. SITES Contacts Scheduling Shavonne Harding hardings@si.edu Content Design Devra Wexler wexlerd@si.edu SITES, PO Box 37012, MRC 941 Washington, DC Design by Studio A 2010 Institution Front: A radiograph of the EX1-A spacesuit (1968) shows the intricate nature of the suit s joint construction. X-ray by Roland Cunningham and Mark Avino sites.si.edu