Just visited the National Air and Space Museum last Friday.
I had seen the Enterprise filming miniature there twice before (in the '70s and later in the '80s) but had never been to the museum since it was relocated to the floor level display in the Museum Shop basement.
While admiring the old girl, a museum employee approached me and told me that it was the actual model used to film the classic series. I thanked her and told her I knew about the model, but that that I had been looking forward to seeing it up close for the first time.
She then told me that my timing was good, because it would be going away next Thursday.
Seeing my stunned expression, she went on to say that they were taking it out to be "repaired," and that afterwards it would be on display upstairs in the actual museum. She couldn't tell me when it would return or precisely where it would be reinstalled.
Thanking her for the information, I mentioned that, while we all know the Enterprise is not an actual aerospace artifact, Star Trek had inspired many people to pursue careers in space exploration. I went on to tell her of the recent restoration of the Shuttlecraft set piece and how it was now on display at the Houston Space Center.
A woman listening to our conversation then spoke up excitedly and asked me for details about it. She said "Well, I guess I'm going to Houston!"
I can't say for certain that this is the long-hoped for restoration to her original condition, but it seems likely. We should all cross our fingers and hope our favorite dame can wipe the garish grease paint off her face, freshen up a bit, and return to her place of honor in America's aerospace shrine.
But if you have plans to see her any time soon, you'll need to get to Washington in the next two days.
M.
I had seen the Enterprise filming miniature there twice before (in the '70s and later in the '80s) but had never been to the museum since it was relocated to the floor level display in the Museum Shop basement.
While admiring the old girl, a museum employee approached me and told me that it was the actual model used to film the classic series. I thanked her and told her I knew about the model, but that that I had been looking forward to seeing it up close for the first time.
She then told me that my timing was good, because it would be going away next Thursday.
Seeing my stunned expression, she went on to say that they were taking it out to be "repaired," and that afterwards it would be on display upstairs in the actual museum. She couldn't tell me when it would return or precisely where it would be reinstalled.
Thanking her for the information, I mentioned that, while we all know the Enterprise is not an actual aerospace artifact, Star Trek had inspired many people to pursue careers in space exploration. I went on to tell her of the recent restoration of the Shuttlecraft set piece and how it was now on display at the Houston Space Center.
A woman listening to our conversation then spoke up excitedly and asked me for details about it. She said "Well, I guess I'm going to Houston!"
I can't say for certain that this is the long-hoped for restoration to her original condition, but it seems likely. We should all cross our fingers and hope our favorite dame can wipe the garish grease paint off her face, freshen up a bit, and return to her place of honor in America's aerospace shrine.
But if you have plans to see her any time soon, you'll need to get to Washington in the next two days.
M.
