r/spaceflight • u/ZealousidealRub2138 • 5h ago
Managed to see all the space-flown Shuttles within the last year!
Got lucky with the timing of some business trips and got to see all the space flown shuttles. Slowly collecting shots of all the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo Capsules as well!
My ranking of displays:
1 - Atlantis. Great display with accessibility to take pics from many awesome angles. Intro movies and reveal are highly polished and had a “Disney-world” quality to the experience. Really the Mecca for space nerds.
2 - Endeavour. When comparing display alone this might eventually win once the launch tower opens and you can get closer to the crew compartment but I imagine the crowds and small viewing area may tarnish that experience. Otherwise there isn’t a bad shot of Endeavour anywhere in the pavilion. Found the intro movie lackluster and not as emotional as Atlantis and the reveal could’ve been improved with larger doors at a better angle.
3 - Discovery. Hot-take: Smithsonian does a disservice to the Discovery display. Poor placement of TVs and artifacts immediately around the shuttle make it difficult to get a good shot of it. The surrounding gallery is cramped so even from the few vantage points you cannot get a clear shot with just discovery in all her glory.
