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

Monday	10am-5pm
Tuesday	10am-5pm
Wednesday	10am-5pm
Thursday	10am-5pm
Friday	10am-5pm
Saturday	10am-5pm
Sunday	12pm-5pm

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7711 East Academy Blvd Denver, CO 80230

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P: 303-360-5360

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Saturday Jan 24

10:00AM TO 2:00PM

Exploration of Flight (Centennial Airport)

Furry Friends & Flyers

Saturday, Jan 24, 2026 | 10:00AM to 2:00PM

Spend an uplifting day* at our Centennial campus exploring aviation in a whole new way. From meeting the calming Denver International Airport’s Canine Airport Therapy Squad Volunteers (DEN CATS) to stepping inside aircraft with McAir Aviation and connecting with Challenge Air about inclusive flight opportunities, this experience blends education, comfort, and fun through hands-on activities inside our hangar.

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Food Truck: The Crepe Outdoors (Gluten-Free Options Available)

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Sunday Jan 25

10:00AM TO 11:30AM

Air & Space Museum

Sensory Friendly Hours

Sunday, Jan 25, 2026 | 10:00AM to 11:30AM

We are pleased to offer a more comfortable museum experience for our friends who have sensory processing sensitivities and their families. We welcome families with children, teenagers and adults with sensory processing disorders and other cognitive disabilities, including anyone on the autism spectrum, to experience our museum in a lower sensory environment.

Join us to experience the museum turned down and participate in hands-on STEAM activities including a scavenger hunt, discovery carts, sensory activities and more!

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Saturday Feb 14

9:30AM TO 12:30PM

Exploration of Flight (Centennial Airport)

Breakfast Fly-In

Saturday, Feb 14, 2026 | 9:30AM to 12:30PM

Love is in the air! Start your Saturday with tasty food, aircraft, and a little romance at our monthly Breakfast Fly-In!*

In honor of Valentine’s Day, we’re featuring a special pop-up exhibit from Wings Museum’s archives celebrating aviators in love. Step back in time and discover the personal side of aviation history through heartfelt stories and rare artifacts, including:

WWII letters from the newly acquired Earle Parker collection
1940s Victory mail (V-mail) photographs and correspondence
Additional archival pieces that reveal how relationships have endured globally throughout the decades

Plus, you’ll also have the opportunity to chat with our Curator, Stewart Bailey, who will share behind-the-scenes insights into our archive, answer questions, and highlight the remarkable stories housed within our collections. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity!

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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. Food is not included with admission.

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