3-2-1...BLASTOFF!
For years, those who frequent the Institute's Science Park can imagine they are on a mission to Mars, landing on the Moon, or leaving Earth to travel millions of miles into space. The object that sparks these astronomical imaginings is the Lunar Module, loaned to the Institute by NASA and exhibited outside the museum since 1976.
The inscription on the Lunar Module reads:
Grumman Lunar Module (LM) Restoration Team
A group of Grumman Aerospace Corporation retirees and employees volunteered their time and labor to rebuild this spacecraft. The LM restoration team dubbed themselves "The Spacecats" just for this project. Another example of their versatile restorative skills—a U.S. Navy/Grumman F4F Wildcat, a World War II fighter airplane—is already on permanent display in the Smithsonian Institution's Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C.
The Restoration Team consisted of the following Grumman employees and retirees:
William Adams, George Black, Charles Chlanda, Helen Chlanda, Fred Ciento, John DuDonis, Vinnie Emanuele, Anthony Ferrarioli, Milt Guttenberger, Gus Henriksen, Chris Herrnkind, John Kacinski, John Kost, William Murdoch, Joe Oliver, Joe Riccobono, Charles Salerno, George Smith, Charles Staffeldt, Sid Steele, and Joe Stryjewski. Project Director: Jake Bussolini; Consulting Engineer: Bob Specht; Administrative Assistance: Erwin McCalla, Steve Kiss, and Karl Watjen.
Note: The object pictured above is part of The Franklin Institute's protected collection of objects. The images are ©The Franklin Institute. All rights are reserved.
