Space Expo

A visit to Europe's first permanent space exhibition in Noordwijk, the Netherlands and a walk through two modules of the International Space Station (ISS).

Photo credit: Viki Secrets

Hi, I have been on the International Space Station, *lol* not the real, but on a replica in the space exhibition in Noordwijk, on our last vacation in the Netherlands.

The Space Expo is part of the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) located in Noordwijk, which is the largest site and the technical heart of the European Space Agency (ESA).

Moon landscape showing the first manned landing on the Moon in 1969. Later manned space flights to the Moon and several planned missions to Mars came to a halt, because of their complexity, cost, danger and little scientific value. Cannot await the first crewed flight to Mars though.

Flight suit and space sleeping bag. Wubbo Ockels wore this flight suit for his work on board the European space laboratory Spacelab in 1985. He also designed a sleeping bag especially for use in space. It can be partially inflated to give the feeling of a bed and blankets.

Funny poster by NASA. Pilots over the Caribbean Expedition Thirty :P Oleg Kononenko, Anatoly Ivanishin, Dan Burbank, Anton Shkaplerov, Andre Kuipers, and Don Pettit.

The USSR Vostok 1 capsule. First spacecraft in human history built by the Soviet Union.

Autograph of cosmonaut Viktor Afanasyev.

ESTEC rocket engine.

Russian medals "Energia".

A replica of the Russian Zvezda ISS module.

A replica of the European Columbus ISS module.

Photo credit: Xena Live

Me and Xena in the Columbus module :) Making an experiment ;P

Photo credit: Xena Live

Inside a crew quarter inside the ISS. This is where you are supposed to sleep I guess. Private space is really limited ;) I hardly fit inside the cabin.

Photo credit: Viki Secrets

Spacy restroom sign :P

Our Space Expo tour ends here. When do you think we will see the first manned mission to Mars? Or when will it be possible to make a week vacation on the Moon at an affordable price? What will be the next big scientific discovery in space?

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