Russian Spacecraft Lands at Museum

Museum takes delivery of Soyuz for Space Gallery

SEATTLE, Feb. 10, 2012--Today the Museum took delivery of the first large artifact for its new Space Gallery today - a Soyuz TMA-14 spacecraft. The three-person vehicle arrived in a large wooden crate on flatbed truck, and was met by Museum officials, representatives of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, and the spacecraft's owner - and loaner - Charles Simonyi. Simonyi was onboard the Soyuz when it was flown to the International Space Station in 2009. Simonyi later bought the vehicle and has given it to The Museum of Flight on a long-term loan. Very pleased, the two-time space traveler was happy to be a part of the historic moment, chatting with Museum visitors and posing for photos with a group young students on a school field trip. The gallery is named for Simonyi. 

The Charles Simonyi Space Gallery's centerpiece, the space shuttle Full-Fuselage Trainer, will be delivered to the Museum in May.

Photo: Charles Simonyi (left) shakes hands with The Museum of Flight Chief Curator Dan Hagedorn in front of Soyuz spacraft. The Soyuz is on long-term loan to the Museum from Simonyi, who flew in the spacecraft in 2009, and later bought the used vehicle from the Russian Space Agency. 

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The non-profit Museum of Flight is one of the largest independent air and space museums in the world. The Museum's collection includes more than 150 historically significant air- and spacecraft, as well as the William E. Boeing Red Barn^® -- the original manufacturing facility of the Boeing Co. The Airpark includes outdoor displays with the first jet Air Force One, a Concorde airliner, and the first Boeing 747 jumbo jet. The Museum aeronautical library and archival holdings are the largest on the West Coast. The Education Office offers weekend family programs, programs for students and educators, and overnight camps for children. McCormick & Schmick's Wings Café is on site.

The Museum of Flight is located at 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle, Exit 158 off Interstate 5 on Boeing Field half-way between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $17 for adults, $14 for seniors 65 and older, $13 for active military, $9 for youth 5 to 17, and free for children under 5. Group rates are available. Admission on the first Thursday of the month is free from 5 to 9 p.m. courtesy of Wells Fargo. For general Museum information, please call 206-764-5720 or visit museumofflight.org.