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With its mission: “Honoring the Past. Inspiring the Future,” the Tulsa Air and Space Museum (TASM) has carved out a unique niche in the Oklahoma museum community. The Tulsa Air and Space Museum has launched a special exhibit featuring Oklahoma-born NASA astronaut William 'Bill' Pogue. The exhibit, set to run until Feb. 17, features items from Pogue's distinguished, record-setting career. Pogue was born in 1930 and served in the Air Force and served as a combat fighter pilot in Korea before being selected by NASA in 1966. He then launched his own mission in 1973 as the pilot for Skylab 4. He donated several items to the museum, including three NASA flight suits, signed prints from his space photographs, honorary medallions, and various letters and telegrams from notable people like President Richard Nixon and Oklahoma Gov. Henry Bellmon.
Published : 4 months ago by Journal Record Staff in Science
TULSA – The Tulsa Air and Space Museum has launched a special exhibit featuring Oklahoma-born NASA astronaut William ‘Bill’ Pogue.
The special exhibit, to run through Feb. 17, features Items from Pogue’s distinguished, record-setting career.
Pogue was born in Okemah on Jan. 23, 1930. He grew up attending small rural schools, but graduated from Sand Springs High School in 1947. He earned degrees from Oklahoma Baptist University and Oklahoma State University.
He served in the Air Force, becoming a combat fighter pilot in Korea and an aerobatic pilot with the Air Force’s Thunderbirds. In 1966, he was selected by NASA for the space program and got his chance at space when he blasted off on Nov. 16, 1973, as the pilot for Skylab 4.
“This exhibit is an opportunity for Oklahomans to celebrate a fellow Oklahoman who achieved great things that were literally out of this world,” said Tonya Blansett, executive director of the Tulsa Air and Space Museum. “We feel very honored to share these special items that Bill donated to TASM to share for generations to come.”
Pogue donated several items to the museum, including three NASA flight suits, signed prints from his collection of space photographs, honorary medallions and various letters and telegrams from notable people like President Richard Nixon and Oklahoma Gov. Henry Bellmon. Other items of interest are Mission Control Access identification badges where Pogue provided mission support during Apollo and SkyLab missions.
“There are several artifacts in our archives we would like to have on permanent display,” said museum curator, Alex London, “having a special exhibit like this, is one way we can share these stories.”
This special exhibit is included with regular museum admission.
With its mission: “Honoring the Past. Inspiring the Future,” the Tulsa Air and Space Museum (TASM) has carved out a unique niche in the Oklahoma museum community. It has been exposing students to real-world applications of STEM for over 15 years through hands-on STEM engagement, consisting of museum tours, interactive exhibits, inspirational messages and planetarium educational programming.
Topics: Space