Who named the command module Columbia for Apollo 11?
Julian Scheer, NASA assistant administrator of public affairs during the Apollo program, suggested the name. He mentioned it in passing during a phone conversation with Michael Collins.
Questions about Command module Columbia
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did the Smithsonian Institution receive the command module Columbia?
Officials gave the spacecraft to the Smithsonian Institution in 1971. They designated it a Milestone in Flight and displayed it at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
What personal markings were found on the interior walls of command module Columbia during digitization?
A calendar appeared on one section of the interior while another message warned about smelly waste on one of the lockers. These markings were invisible to the naked eye before the 3D scan process revealed them.
Which cities hosted the command module Columbia during its 2019 tour?
Museums in Houston hosted the module first followed by stops in St. Louis and Pittsburgh. Seattle and Cincinnati also received the spacecraft for display during the event commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing.
Where is the command module Columbia currently located after museum renovations?
The module returned to the National Air and Space Museum when the facility reopened in the fall of 2022. It became a centerpiece of their new Destination Moon exhibit.