Crowdfunding project aims to save Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit

It’s been 46 years since the astronauts on the Apollo 11 mission made history by setting foot on the moon.

Armstrong was not alone when on the first successful moon mission, of course.

But the museum says that it simply doesn’t have the funds for the project.

The US National Air and Space Museum is launching a crowdfunding campaign to conserve the spacesuit Neil Armstrong wore on the moon.

The end game for #RebootTheSuit is permanent exhibition in 2019 and a centerpiece in the “Destination Moon” exhibition, which will update the human story of lunar exploration for a new generation of wide-eyed youth.

Spacesuits are actually some of the most fragile artifacts housed at the National Air and Space Museum.

Before that can happen though, the Smithsonian – led by Lewis and conservator Lisa Young – wants to learn more about the spacesuit’s construction to be able to select the best environment for its display. With over eight million visitors a year, it is the the most visited museum in the country. The 3D scan is the coolest part of the project, because it’ll give everyone unprecedented access to Neil Armstrong’s historic moonwalk, allowing people to take a self-guided tour of the suit’s details and explore each of its 21 layers, according to Kickstarter.

“Reboot the Suit” backers will receive rewards that range from a special Armstrong spacesuit mission patch to a 3D print of the astronaut’s glove.

The goal of raising $500,000 (about £320,000 or AU$680,000) for this project represents the start of a year-long pilot collaboration project between the Smithsonian and Kickstarter.

Kickstarter CEO and cofounder Yancey Strickler said that it’s the first time the crowdfunding site has teamed up with a museum and that the company is “thrilled at the opportunity to collaborate with them”. The public can back the project on the Kickstarter page. “The public will have the chance to directly contribute to specific Smithsonian projects and follow the creative process from fundraising through completion, regardless of their level of support”. “This is the first time we’ve teamed up with a museum in this way”. Thus, the only way it can be displayed publicly is if a scientist takes steps to stop its deterioration and constructs a high-tech display case that can mimic the conditions of the climate-controlled storage area where the suit is now kept.