The Apollo 7 CM display left the center couch empty. It gives a better view of the interior and show how the couches were built.

i found myself blown away by everything I found at the Air and Space Museum. I've always liked learning about space travel, but to see some of the things that were actually taken there is just something totally new. Seeing in person the tools and devices of man's battle between two super powers to race to the stars is something I'll never forget. I can only hope that man's desire for knowledge continues us on the path that these men started us on.

Museum of Flight

4 sets of these thrusters were used to maneuver the Apollo spacecaft

As displayed in the London Science Museum

On July 16, 1969, Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and Michael Collins were launched from Cape Kennedy atop a Saturn V rocket. This Command Module, no. 107, manufactured by North American Rockwell, was one of three parts of the complete Apollo spacecraft. The other two parts were the Service Module and the Lunar Module, nicknamed "Eagle." The Service Module contained the main spacecraft propulsion system and consumables while the Lunar Module was the two-person craft used by Armstrong and Aldrin to descend to the Moon's surface on July 20. The Command Module is the only portion of the spacecraft to return to Earth.

As displayed in the London Science Museum

Edited NASA image of the Apollo 17 Command Module's parachutes just before splashdown.

The Apollo 10 Command Module heat shield (or what's left of it after the re-entry)

Skylab 4 command module.

Alameda, California-USS Hornet Museum (Apollo Block 1 Command Module CM-011)

There's a lot to see here. You can really see how re-entry scorched the CM's hull. The hatch at the top was just blanked off, but that would have been led to the Lunar Module.

The are pitch and yaw reaction motors are mounted in pairs. The angled holes below the side window are roll reaction motors.

There's a story to that side window. It looks melted because it is. During the flight, there was a condensation problem with the window, so it was removed when the CM was de-commissioned. This substitute, plastic in a wooden frame, was installed even before it arrived at the museum 30 years earlier.

Chantilly, VA

Edited NASA image of the Apollo 17 Command Module's parachutes just at splashdown.

Chicago, Ill

Chicago, Ill

This is what goes into making a door that opens outward, withstands internal pressure, locks securely, and can be opened quickly.

As displayed in the London Science Museum

Phobos mission rocket releases spent propellant stage.

And an Apollo Command Module sitting in the yard.

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Science Museum

London

The Apollo Command Module from the Skylab 3 mission (which was the second crewed flight to the Skylab space station) located at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

The two circles near the top of the command module are the sextant and telescope used for navigation. The umbilical connection to the service module is down near the heat shield.

Orion Capsule Mockup. It's a bit bigger and roomier than the Apollo capsules, seating four. Currently under development, NASA plans on flying these in a few years.

At the Air & Space exhibit, Peter stands in front of the Apollo-Soyus command module that went into space on July 15th, 1975.

The Apollo Command Module from the Skylab 3 mission (which was the second crewed flight to the Skylab space station) located at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

Note the DSKY computer interface on the left side of the control panel.