Apollo Docking Probe

For a short time in the early 2000s, the museum displayed an Apollo docking probe in its upper-level West Mezzanine in the "old" museum. The museum had a number of shuttle-related displays in this gallery, and the nearby signs the docking probe described a shuttle docking probe. Of course, I recognized it as an Apollo docking probe.

The probe was only on display for a few years prior to being taken off exhibit. Looking at my photos, it appears that the display was rotated between my visits, so the background in some of the photos may be inconsistent. Additionally, some of the blue cables seem to have been rerouted (perhaps a young "explorer" pulled on a cable, disconnecting it, and it was reconnected by a nervous parent??) and some of the handles were actuated.

In 2013, the museum added a probe and drogue system display in the Davidson Center. I don't know whether the docking probe in this exhibit is the same as this docking probe or whether the museum has a number of them.