We finally had a chance to play tourists. After deciding that the tides were not favourable to visit the Blowholes at Point Quobba, we chose to head for the Carnarvon Space Museum instead. We had previously wandered around the exterior of the museum when we were travelling with the dogs during winter 2021, however we had not ventured further.
Hence, we now had the opportunity to discover what was on the inside. After paying the low entry fee, we plunged spellbound into a space adventure. We started with lying down on the job - on our backs inside a replica of the Apollo 11 capsule, counting down to that historic launch. That was a ripping introduction to the museum, which included the noise of takeoff in that memorable flight. We were able to allow our inner child(ren) full rein as we pulled weights with and without the help of pulleys, burrowed our hands into kinetic sand, played Space Invaders for the first time in forty years (!), read the history of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space programmes, viewed the International Space Station videos and watched the animated vision of a future mission to Mars.
There was also a replica of the Lunar Module, a chance to land the Space Shuttle in a simulator (Michael crashed it three times), watch the original "Lost In Space" series, plus the revolutionary "Thunderbirds", featuring Supermarionation!
Outside was a replica of a Mercury rocket, a space shuttle playground and a fantastic view over Carnarvon.
This tracking station had been of vital importance between 1963 and 1975. The complex supported the Gemini and Apollo programmes and later for the Skylab project. Unfortunately, the original buildings were demolished and the museum has gradually been built over four phases. The museum is operated by an enthusiastic bunch of volunteers - Deb's knowledge was a revelation - and the entire enterprise is supervised by museum cat Buzz.
The Carnarvon Space Museum has been visited and honoured by astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Andy Thomas and Gene Cernan. The museum even offered freeze dried ice-cream, which of course I had to sample. We also purchased some other items for family, a fridge magnet and a teeshirt for Michael. I had to buy the teeshirt because Michael's name was on the front!
So, whilst in Carnarvon, do yourselves a favour and explore the Space Museum for an hour or two. One would have to be a humourless stuffed shirt not to get a kick out our visiting this marvellous and quirky attraction. And give Buzz a stroke whilst you are there...
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