Experience the Apollo mission to the Meteor Crater in Arizona

Did you know that the Apollo mission astronauts took their first Moon walk right here in Northern Arizona? Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and other astronauts trained for the landing at Meteor Crater in Arizona, located between Flagstaff and Winslow-40.

At Meteor Crater, you can not only see the massive crater itself, but to learn all about the space program interactive visitor centre of the Park. Boasts the largest collection of relics and artifacts related to the solar system. There is much to learn and much to see in this attraction of world class space exploration.

Training for the Apollo space mission

A group of astronauts have been born in January 1963, Flagstaff, Arizona. From there, they visited a number of sites in the area where it was believed that the land resembled that of the moon. These sites are Sunset Crater, parts of the Grand Canyon and the Barringer Meteorite crater, also known as Meteor Crater.

The Barringer crater was chosen for the wider training due to its resemblance to the surface of the moon with its many craters of various dimensions. Under the hot sun of the desert, the astronauts practiced soil and rock samples collected from the rim of the canyon, using specialized tools on the moon. The astronauts continued to train here until mid-1970.

Outer space at the visitor centre experience

The Meteor Crater Visitor Center, you'll find the Interactive Discovery Center, which includes 24 shows only comprising two interactive computer screens that show the outer limits of the known universe using high-tech graphics. Display cover asteroids, planets, solar system, meteorites, the Canyon Diablo meteorite that has influenced the Meteor crater and the Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 hit Jupiter.

The Center also has information about "near earth objects." These are things sail through space at an incredible speed that scientists believe that Earth might cause concern. Scientists are studying these objects and their trajectories in order to prepare for future collisions.

There is an actual Apollo test capsule in the courtyard of the Center, so you can see how astronauts were cramped quarters. It's hard to believe that they could have traveled to the moon into something that small. There's also the astronaut Wall of Fame, which walks you through the history of the space program.

And don't forget the meteorite. Ever touched something from space? At Meteor Crater, is possible. An original piece of the meteorite is exposed in the Park's visitor centre. You can touch it, but don't try to raise it-mainly consists of iron and weighs approximately 1,400 pounds.

The shop also has ice-astronaut, patch, toys, games and science kits. It is an excellent one-stop shop for kids who like, science and outer space. In addition to meteor and space related goods, also have a wide variety of things related to the American Southwest, Route 66, Native American cultures and history in Arizona.

The biggest hole in the ground that you never

While you're there, be sure to see the crater! Is a gigantic hole in the ground 550 meters deep and 3.9 miles around. You can hike the rim, which is about 150 feet above the desert floor and look down into the crater in one of its faces. There is also a viewing area inside the air-conditioned visitor center if it becomes too hot for you. Glasses allow you to see the land where the astronauts walked and there's also an astronaut cardboard cut-out to give you an idea of how massive the scale.

Meteor Crater has the best space exploration information National Center. Is an excellent experience for Science lovers of any age.