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“Inspired Excellence” exhibit debuts

Wednesday, June 02, 2010

This special exhibition will explore the life and world-changing scientific discoveries of two remarkable women: Marie Curie-Sklodowska and Lise Meitner. The exhibition, which opens on July 3, will deepen a visitor’s knowledge of the trials and tribulations that faced both and to showcase the spirit and contributions of each. These women endured incredible challenges during the Victorian era when women were not welcome in the field of scientific discovery. Despite a lack of financial support, unsophisticated academic facilities, and little recognition of their endeavors, they persevered and triumphed.

Admission to the exhibit is included in admission to the Museum. The exhibit will be on display until the end of the year.

Broadening Horizons: 40 Years of Change

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

On October 17, 2009, the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History opened a new exhibit, Broadening Horizons: 40 Years of Change. The exhibit demonstrates the Museum’s unique past. Rare or never-before-seen artifacts such as the Systems for Nuclear Auxiliary Power (SNAP) devices, and the “Anger Camera” (the first gamma camera developed by Hal Anger in 1957), are now on display. With 40 years of growth, change, challenge and triumph, this exhibit celebrates and explores the important people, places and items that shaped the Museum.

Dating from the 1950s, the SNAP devices and the Anger Camera are examples of the Museum’s expansion of its collection to more than weapons. SNAP devices are radioisotope thermoelectric generators or space reactors developed for the United States Atomic Energy Commission. They were a series of compact devices to supply power for space and terrestrial uses. (One of the devices has the distinction of being the only nuclear reactor launched into space by the United States.) The Anger Camera advanced early drug development and nuclear medical imaging. It viewed and analyzed images of the human body or the distribution of medically injected, inhaled, or ingested radio nuclides emitting gamma rays.

“The exhibit traces the people, buildings, and artifacts that have fostered this growing organization,” said Jim Walther, the Museum’s director. “This ‘trip down memory lane’ will interest Albuquerqueans, whether they have known us for some time or are new friends.”

The Museum was originally established in 1969 as the Sandia Atomic Museum and was located on Kirtland Air Force Base. The Museum’s purpose was to show the history of nuclear weapon development in addition to creating better community relations between the military and the public. In 1973, the museum changed its name to the National Atomic Museum to reflect the growing national and international audience. In addition, the National Atomic Museum was the only public museum that preserved the history of the nuclear industry.

From the 1970s to 1980s, the Museum expanded to display more than weapons by including exhibits on nuclear energy and medicine. These exhibits created a better history of nuclear technology as a whole. In 1991, the Museum was charted by Congress to serve as the nation’s repository and steward of nuclear-related historical items. It became apparent the Museum needed to expand and become more accessible to the public. While some plans were being formulated, the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and the Base closure that followed, prompted the Museum to make some drastic changes.

The Museum moved to Old Town as a temporary location and the quest for a new and bigger home began. After much planning, a ground-breaking ceremony at the new museum site occurred in 2006 and construction began shortly after. With a larger facility, new name and new exhibits in the works, excitement escalated as the opening date for the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History grew closer. Finally, on April 4, 2009, the Museum opened to the public in its new home.

The Museum is encouraging residents who have had memorable experiences to contribute to a blog that will feature stories about the Museum. Those who remember their first field trip to the Museum when it was located on Kirtland Air Force Base, or who experienced the Museum in its Old Town location, or who have recently visited the new location on south Eubank Boulevard, are all invited to share their impressions by contacting the Museum through this website at http://www.nuclearmuseum.org/contact-us/
Later, those views will be posted on the Museum’s blog at http://www.nuclearsciencemuseum.blogspot.com

Missiles to Move, Planes to be Reassembled

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

They’re back!

The popular company that moved several airplanes and other large artifacts to the new site of the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History will move the last four items from Kirtland Air Force Base to its new location on south Eubank Boulevard the week of September 21, 2009. Worldwide Aircraft Recovery Ltd. will move the Bomarc, Mace, Matador, and Snark cruise missiles.

Worldwide Aircraft Recovery drew crowds when they moved planes for the Museum in late 2008 and early 2009 as the new Museum prepared to open. Elsewhere in the country, Worldwide has provided assistance in a number of projects, including a move of the entire Strategic Air Command Museum and its B-52, B-36, B-58 airplanes, and an Atlas missile.

“We can finally have all of our large artifacts on display in our current location,” said Jim Walther, Director of the Museum. “Visitors will now have an opportunity to see missiles from the Cold War era spread amongst our large aircraft in our outdoor Heritage Park.”

The missiles will be hauled by tractor-trailer approximately two miles to the new Museum, which is adjacent to the Sandia Science and Technology Park and KAFB. The route will take the planes from their current location through the Eubank Boulevard gate to the Museum at Southern and Eubank SE.

While here, the company will also provide the last of the re-assembly of the Museum’s Boeing Stratofortress B-52 and the B29. The B-29 was a revolutionary aircraft, the first intercontinental bomber. At 70,000 pounds, it was the heaviest production bomber built. Its 135,000 pounds fully loaded required an 8,000-foot runway for takeoff. It could cruise above 30,000 feet, out of range of flak and most enemy fighters. Nearly 750 B-52s were built when production ended in October 1963; the Museum’s plane may be one of two B-52B planes still in existence.

Museum Mentioned in Blog

Friday, August 14, 2009

Tim Leffel has written an interesting blog, “Secret Cities and Atomic Tourism,” in which he describes a short history and his experience at a variety of places relating to the atomic testing era. Check out his blog by clicking on the following link: www.perceptivetravel.com

Author to Speak on Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Monday, July 27, 2009

Ted Spitzmiller, author, nuclear weapons specialist, and flight instructor, will be presenting lectures about the historic 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, events considered by many as the beginning of the “Atomic Age.”  Spitzmiller will speak at 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. on August 8th at the Museum. The lectures are FREE with regular museum admission: $8 for adults, $7 for seniors/youth, children under 5 are free.

The objective of these presentations is to better understand the views of those involved and the environment of the time in which the decision was made.  As part of this, visitors will observe some of the factors that made WWII different from previous conflicts and to examine the various points of views of those involved in making the decision to drop.  Sixty four years later, the technology and science derived from this project are most prevalent in the energy and medicine world, but can be found in numerous modern applications. Spitzmiller is well versed on this topic, having flown more than 4,000 hours in over 60 different types of aircraft, and having more than 40 articles and two book publications.

“That era of history, particularly the time in which Fat Man and Little Boy were used, is worth learning about at any age” said Jim Walther, Director of the Museum. “We hope visitors will expand their understanding of those difficult times by attending.”

The main subject of the presentation will be the decision to use the Atomic Bombs against Japan at the end of WWII.  On August 6th, 1945, the United States Air Force dropped a uranium based “gun” type nuclear fission detonation device on Hiroshima, Japan.  Nicknamed “Little Boy”, this weapon was the second artificial nuclear explosion in history, having followed the famed Trinity Test in southern New Mexico.  Three days later the 393rd Bombardment Squadron of the United States Air Force flew over Japan again, dropping “Fat Man” onto the city of Nagasaki on August 9th, 1945.  This time, however, the weapon was equipped with an implosion type plutonium core, similar to the device tested at Trinity weeks earlier. 

Presentations on Lunar Launch and Trinity Given by Ted Spitzmiller

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Saturday and Sunday’s lectures by Ted Spitzmiller were a success, as he spoke on the topics of the Apollo 11 Lunar Launch and the Trinity Site Nuclear Test.

Ted Spitzmiller is an author, nuclear weapons specialist, and flight instructor.  Having flown more than 4,000 hours in over 60 different types of aircraft, and having more than 40 articles and 2 book publications under his belt, Mr. Spitzmiller is truly an expert.  On Saturday July 18th and Sunday July 19th, Mr. Spitzmiller presented about two historic occasions at the Museum.  These consisted of one hour lectures about the Apollo 11 lunar launch, as well as the famed Trinity Site Nuclear Test. A brief overview of the topics is provided below:

Lunar Launch:
The Apollo 11 mission was the first manned mission to land on the moon.  The fifth human spaceflight of Project Apollo and third human voyage to the moon; this spaceflight launched on July 16, 1969.  The project was part of a larger political and technological “Space Race” between the United States and the Soviet Union during the 1960’s.  This race began after the Soviet launch of Sputnik on October 4, 1957, and was an ideological rivalry that focused on this vital space technology because of the potential military applications as well as the morale boosting social benefits during the Cold War.

Trinity:
On July 16, 1945 the US Army, via the Manhattan Project, tested an implosion design plutonium bomb on the White Sands Proving Ground - located about 35 miles southeast of Socorro, New Mexico.  This test and corresponding weapons project translated into the use of the “Fat Man”, which was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan on August 9, 1945.  This was considered by many as the beginning of the “Atomic Age.”  Sixty-four years later, the technology and science derived from this project are most prevalent in the energy and medicine world, but can be found in numerous applications.

The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History is now open!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History will celebrate 40 years as the nation’s resource regarding nuclear technology and its uses throughout history in the fall of 2009. Our new building is a treasure trove of interesting and engaging artifacts and exhibits, from the oldest understanding of the atom to the newest applications in nuclear medicine. We remain an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and Albuquerque’s only congressionally-chartered museum.