Air & Space Museum

Apollo Command Module Boilerplate

Apollo Command Module Boilerplate

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)

Air & Space Museum Air & Space Museum

Lowry - Denver

Air & Space Museum

Upcoming Events

Saturday Dec 2
9:30AM TO 12:30PM
Exploration of Flight

Breakfast Fly-In

Breakfast Fly-In
Saturday, Dec 2 | 9:30AM to 12:30PM

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

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

Purchase Tickets

Food Truck: Cruz In & Eat
Please note: Food purchases are not included in admission.

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

Tuesday Dec 5

Colorado Gives Day

Colorado Gives Day
Tuesday, Dec 5

Help Wings reach new heights this Colorado Gives Day!

Your gift will support our educational programming and student learners, engaging exhibits, aircraft restoration and more!

Donate now! All gifts received between November 1st – December 5th count toward our Colorado Gives Day campaign. Not only will your donation supply Wings with critical funds, but your support could also qualify us for additional funding. Make your donation fly further! Visit our Colorado Gives Day page or donate below.

Saturday Dec 9
10:00AM TO 2:00PM
Air & Space Museum

Santa in the Hangar at the Museum

Santa in the Hangar at the Museum
Saturday, Dec 9 | 10:00AM to 2:00PM

Join us for a day of family fun and celebrate the holiday season at Wings Over the Rockies™ Air & Space Museum. Arrive early to see Santa arrive in a helicopter at 10:00 a.m.!

Join us for various holiday-themed activities including:

  • Meet Santa & Mrs. Claus
  • Games and holiday crafts
  • Candy cane scavenger hunt
  • Select Open Cockpits
    • Paser-Bushby Mustang II
    • Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23
    • Flight for Life AS316/318 Alouette III (Wheelchair accessible)
    • Convair F-102 Delta Dagger
    • LTV A-7D Corsair II
  • Pedal Planes
  • Discovery Carts
  • Magic show from Chad Wonder Magic
  • Photo Booth from Mihi Entertainment
  • Balloon Twisting from Clownin’ Around For Fun
  • And much more!

Pre-Purchase Tickets

You can also celebrate with us on December 10th at our second location, Exploration of Flight at Centennial Airport. Click here to learn more!

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