USU’s Wright Flyer on loan to Idaho
Utah State University, known for its students’ experiments in space, has loaned several items from the Space Dynamics Laboratory to help launch an exhibit at the Museum of Idaho.
A satellite, a replica of the Wright Brothers’ Flyer and a vessel similar to the container used for experiments in the Mir Space Station, are now on display at the Space Journey exhibit in Idaho Falls, Idaho, which runs through Sept. 10.
“Utah State was asked if we would like to participate to showcase our rich history in space,” said Trina Paskett, spokeswoman for USU’s Space Dynamics Laboratory. “Utah State has sent more experiments into space than any other university in the world.”
The museum, which is also displaying A Dinosaur Named Sue, celebrated its two-year anniversary by opening the new space exhibit on Feb. 8.
The crowd more than doubled last Saturday, and I expect it to only go up from there,” Tori White, the museum’s operations manger, said.
The museum also received items from Utah’s Hill Air Force Base and Alabama’s Marshall Space Flight Center, but USU’s contributions were particularly impressive.
“I couldn’t believe the amount of technology coming from, what I though, was just a small agricultural school,” White said. “The loaned pieces have been a big help.”
USU’s iridium satellite, made from a metallic element used in scientific instruments and ordinary watches, originally came from Motorola. The only other iridium satellite is on display at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C.
The Wright Flyer, a smaller version of the famous aircraft, was built by USU students. The container, also constructed by a USU student, is for wheat-growing experiments in space.
The entire display is geared toward people of all ages – including teenagers.
“The hope is that the display will encourage high school students to choose to come to Utah State and become a part of its legacy,” Paskett said.
Other artifacts are a Mercury spacecraft, moon rocks, vintage aircrafts, early rockets, an astronaut spinning, multi-axis trainer, an Atlas rocket engine and a replica of the command module used in the Hollywood-hit movie, “Apollo 13.”
-gbrownlee@cc.usu.edu