BP-1101 “Boilerplate” Capsule | Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum

Many of us remember the excitement of the Apollo missions that landed a dozen Americans on the Moon more than 50 years ago. The Apollo Command Module was the only part of the massive, skyscraper-sized Saturn V rocket that returned to Earth at the end of each flight. You can recognize an enlarged version of the Command Module’s cone shape in today’s Lockheed Martin Orion spacecraft and the Boeing Starliner.

This artifact looks very much like an actual Apollo Command Module, but it never carried astronauts into space. It is a boilerplate—a simplified metal model created to test specific aspects of the real spacecraft, such as water landings, launch abort escape rockets, or recovery systems. It duplicates the size, weight, shape, and center of gravity of the actual vehicle.

This particular boilerplate is BP-1101A. NASA used it for flotation tests in the Gulf of Mexico in July, 1965. After some modifications, NASA used it again for additional ocean testing in 1966 and 1967. In most photos of Apollo spacecraft floating in the ocean you can see large round balloons near the top. They pull the spacecraft right-side-up if it capsizes, and they were tested on this very boilerplate.

On loan from the National Air and Space Museum.

Capsule specifications:
Diameter: 12 ft 10 in (3.9 m)
Height: 8 ft 10 in (2.7 m)
Weight: Varied, approximately 10,000 lbs (4,536 kg)

Lowry - Denver

Air & Space Museum

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Saturday Dec 28

10:00AM TO 4:00PM

Exploration of Flight (Centennial Airport)

30% Off Flight Experiences!

Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 | 10:00AM to 4:00PM

This year, give the gift of flight! Give yourself or someone special the ultimate adventure – a Wings flight experience in our Beechcraft T-34 Mentor or L-19 Bird Dog. In honor of Wings 30th anniversary, receive 30% off your flight on Saturday, December 28, 2024 only!

Feel the thrill of soaring above the clouds! Your flight will take off from Exploration of Flight at Centennial Airport and take you on a 20-minute trip. Our flights are run by certified pilots. Pre-registration is required. Prices listed on the registration form are the discounted rates. Please arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled flight time.

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*Weather permitting. Refunds are not available. A voucher will be provided if flight is canceled due to weather to reschedule with Exploration of Flight. Guests accompanying a flight purchaser must purchase admission to Exploration of Flight. One passenger per flight, must be at least 12 years old.

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Saturday Jan 4

11:00AM TO 12:30PM

Exploration of Flight (Centennial Airport)

Speaker Series: Commercial Aviation in Colorado

Saturday, Jan 4, 2025 | 11:00AM to 12:30PM

Join us at Exploration of Flight as we honor the first commercial passenger flight that took place on January 1, 1914! Steve Kelly will give a presentation covering the highlights of the historic development of air travel in Colorado over the past 85 years.

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The commercial aviation industry in Colorado began its development in the 1920’s with the original Air Mail routes connecting cities in the state to the East/West transcontinental air corridor. The city of Denver saw a great opportunity in air transport and built Denver Municipal Airport in 1929. Although built shortly before the Great Depression, the airport was a success, so much so that 65 years later the city had become a major airline hub and a new airport had to be constructed. The new Denver International Airport exceeded expectations and is now ranked the third largest by passenger volume in the world.

Photo above: Stapleton Airport, Denver, Colorado, United Airlines DC-6 “Mainliner 300 NC37508” is on the tarmac. Credit: Denver Public Library Special Collections, Z-117

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Saturday Jan 11

9:30AM TO 12:30PM

Exploration of Flight (Centennial Airport)

Breakfast Fly-In

Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 | 9:30AM to 12:30PM

Join Wings Over the Rockies Exploration of Flight for monthly fly-ins featuring planes, pilots, speakers and breakfast*!

On the second Saturday of every month, enjoy breakfast from a local food truck, watch aircraft fly in and explore interactive exhibits and simulators.

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Pilots – Fly in for free breakfast! For tie-down space, contact Flight@WingsMuseum.org or 303.360.5360 ext 160.

Food Truck: Cruz In & Eat

*Weather permitting. Aircraft on display are subject to change.

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