TUKWILA, Wash., March 1, 2019—On April 11 at 10 a.m. there will be a preview for the media of the Museum’s signature exhibition of 2019, Destination Moon: The Apollo 11 Mission. The exhibition’s centerpiece is Apollo 11’s historic command module, Columbia, the iconic spacecraft that brought Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins to the Moon and back.

Destination Moon, on view April 13-Sept. 2, is organized by the National Air and Space Museum and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES). The exhibition will also feature new content developed by The Museum of Flight expressly for this location, with dozens of NASA and Russian spaceflight additions from the Museum’s renowned collection.

Speakers at the 10 a.m. introduction to the preview include Museum President/CEO Matt Hayes and Dr. Michael J. Neufeld, Senior Curator in the National Air and Space Museum’s Space History Department. Special guests include David Concannon, team leader for Bezos Expeditions' Apollo F-1 Search and Recovery Project. There will be interview opportunities with the speakers, other Smithsonian staffers, Museum space experts and content developers for the exhibition in Seattle. Other speakers and special guests to be announced soon.

Media will also learn about how Seattle tourism will be enhanced with Seattle’s Summer of Space, a regional business partnership program celebrating the Moon landing anniversary during the run of Destination Moon.

Please RSVP by April 5, 2019 to Ted Huetter, thuetter@museumofflight.org

Museum Events During Destination Moon: The Apollo 11 Mission
The Museum will be offering special events and programs during the run of the exhibit, including a weekend festival during the July 20 50th anniversary of the Moon landing, each day with a theme: July 19, a ”1969” family day, with an evening '60s music concert and movie; July 20, a rocking celebration of the Moon landing with an evening outdoor concert for 4,000 (artist to be announced); July 21, a presentation reflecting upon spaceflight today and tomorrow. There will also be several free community days for Destination Moon (dates to be announced).

Patrons at the Museum’s April 12, 6-11p.m. celebration of spaceflight dance party, Yuri’s Night, will be treated to the first public preview of Destination Moon. The April 13-14 opening weekend of the exhibition will offer special lectures, family programs and Moon-themed VR experiences.

Destination Moon tickets are $10 plus Museum admission, and special pricing for Museum Members.

Destination Moon: The Apollo 11 Mission is made possible by the support of Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos, Joe Clark, Bruce R. McCaw Family Foundation, the Charles and Lisa Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences, John and Susann Norton, and Gregory D. and Jennifer Walston Johnson. Transportation services for Destination Moon are provided by FedEx.

Image: Apollo 11 command module Columbia on temporary cradle. Credit: Photo by Eric Long, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Ted Huetter/Senior Public Relations Manager
T: 206.768.7105 C: 206.455.5360 Email: thuetter@museumofflight.org