Apollo 11 lands in Valencia, Spain for a special moon shooting display

A LIFE-SIZE recreation of a spaceship module is the main attraction of a new exhibition called ‘Apollo 11: The landing of man on the moon’ at the CaixaForum in Valencia.

Open through June 11, the exhibit uses real objects taken into space, meteorite debris, and replicas to tell the story of the Apollo mission that gripped the world in July 1969.

It has a double purpose, namely to attract the adults who were alive at the time to refresh their memories about what happened and to introduce the younger generations to the historical event.

The displays have elements to interest all ages and the final section is a simulation of what it would have been like inside the Apollo spacecraft and the cramped conditions endured by astronauts Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins.

Visitors will be able to visualize the journey to the moon up to the moment the Eagle lunar module separated from the main ship to carry Armstrong and Aldrin to the surface.

CaixaForum director Álvaro Borrás said: “It is amazing that the equipment used to allow the Apollo 11 rocket to perform its functions had less power than a modern smartphone!”

Videos and screens show how NASA astronauts spent their days in space doing all kinds of tasks like sleeping, eating and even doing some hobbies.

There are examples of the uniforms the astronauts wore and some of the unappetizing food they had to eat.

Space exploration expert Rafael Clemente, who helped put together the exhibit, said: “The goal is to humanize a story that is almost beyond human comprehension.”

The screens show man’s fascination with the moon through the years leading up to the 1969 moon landing.

“To understand the importance of Apollo 11, you have to appreciate history from the moment observation of the moon through a telescope began,” Clemente added.