LM Mockup

A full-scale mockup of the Apollo lunar module has been in the museum's Rocket Park since the Rocket Center opened.

Although at the museum's opening it was possible for visitors to walk onto the simulated lunar landscape and directly inspect the mockup (as shown by the cover of an early souvenir booklet), there's been a fence preventing access to the lower moonscape (although the smaller, upper area remains accessible). Early in its life, the mockup had two astronauts, one on the ladder and one at the flag, but it is now displayed without any extravehicular personnel. An early concept called for additional equipment (it looks like perhaps a Surveyor and an early lunar rover concept) to join the LM on the moonscape, but I've never seen any actual photographs of this additional hardware.

Through much of its life, it sported a paint scheme which was similar to the foil covering of an actual lunar module. For the 30th anniversary of the moon landing in 1999, it was even fitted with gold foil on its descent stage, legs, and footpads. It has recently been painted with a simpler pattern.

While it is, overall, a relatively low-fidelity mockup, it is fitted with what appears to be a genuine S-Band steerable antenna. Rather than mounted at an angle on a strut near the top of the ascent stage as it is on a real LM, the mockup's antenna is mounted to the top of the ascent stage and spins freely, like the windvane on top of a barn (which makes it difficult to photograph when it's windy :-)