By ROD ZOOK
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Liberty Bell 7 spacecraft came back home to the Cosmosphere on Monday after touring around the world for the past six years.
Cosmosphere president Jim Remar says the tour of the spacecraft serves two purposes for the museum. He understands that the Cosmosphere mission is to not only care for the artifacts, but to share them as well.
“The Liberty Bell is owned by the Cosmosphere and obviously is an important part of our collection,” Remar said. “We feel that part of our mission is to share our artifacts with the public at large.”
Remar says there is revenue that comes into the museum for sharing the artifacts that help fund the museum’s operations. While the spacecraft that was rescued from the bottom of the ocean floor is certainly the most recognizable artifact that the Cosmosphere tours, it's not the only one.
“We have two international exhibits that we support,” Remar said. “And then we’re in conversation with a group in Brazil for a third international exhibit, so we literally have hundreds of artifacts around the globe.”
Most of these items, including the Liberty Bell, are valuable beyond a number. Remar admits being a little nervous when such artifacts are on tour:
“The spacecraft is invaluable,” Remar noted. “It’s an incredible artifact and has a special place in this county’s history of space exploration and so it does make you nervous as it crisscrosses the country and even travels internationally.”
The Cosmosphere is one of the few museums to have a spacecraft from each of the space race programs with Liberty Bell 7, Gemini 10 and Apollo 13.
The Liberty Bell will be in Hutchinson until the end of the year before making its way to South America.