SPACE PARK

The Space Park was a very popular part of the Fair, for the Space Age was in full swing and there was tremendous interest in anything associated with NASA. While the Gemini capsule seen here was only a replica, the Mercury capsule had actually been launched as part of an early test - a fact not discovered until decades after the Fair had closed and the rocket was disassembled to be refurbished. A replica is now atop the rocket and the real capsule is on display inside the Hall of Science .(CD #20 Set 105 #43)

Visitors could look inside an actual Mercury capsule which had been flown in space. Here's the text of the sign seen in the picture (CD #20 Set 105 #45):

AURORA-7

This is the actual Aurora-7
Mercury spacecraft in which
astronaut Malcolm Scott Carpenter
orbited the Earth three times
on May 24, 1962

The mighty X-15 rocket plane was on display, although only as a full-size mock-up. The display was updated between seasons to include the latest improvements to the real X-15. Other displays showcased satellites and other aspects of the space program. (CD #29 Set 155 #5)

One of the most impressive displays was the lowest stage of the mighty Saturn V rockets that would eventually carry men to the moon. Like the X-15, NASA modified it during the Fair to keep it current with the latest designs for the real thing. (CD #33 Set 171 #9)

While many of the displays focused on the manned spacecraft program, there were also examples of satellite and interplanetary craft. This display showcased the Ranger series of missions to the moon, which sent back detailed photos to be used in choosing possible landing sites for the upcoming Apollo lunar landings. (CD #TBD Set 302 #8)

There were also mockups of possible vehicles, many of which never made it into space. This early "Space Shuttle," for example, was proposed as a way to carry crewmembers between spaceships in orbit. It was not intended to land as the actual Space Shuttle would years later. That's the Hall of Science under construction behind it. (CD #TBD Set 341 #14)

When the Fair closed most of the exhibits in the Space Park were donated to the City of New York for the museum planned for the adjacent Hall of Science. The victim of funding disputes, the Space Park was allowed to fall apart, with many of the once impressive displays falling apart due to the elements or succumbing to vandals. By the time this picture was taken in 1987 the area was fenced off, standing as a sad reminder of the Fair's glory days. Funding was later found to restore some of the rockets, but sadly not in time to save the Saturn V mock-up. (CD #2 Set 8 #73)