Бывший астронавт НСА Линда Годвин поддерживает перенос космического музея в округ Кейп-Гирардо

Add retired NASA astronaut and Jackson-native Linda Godwin to the list of those who would like to see The Space Museum and Grissom Center be relocated from its current home in Bonne Terre to Cape Girardeau County. “I fully support it,” Godwin said. The space museum is seeking a larger home to preserve its collection and expand. There are a few suitor cities in Missouri that have shown interest in the museum’s relocation, including Cape Girardeau, St. Charles and Neosho. Missourians contributed a “tremendous amount” to the space program, and the state has a “huge, huge aerospace legacy,” executive director and founder of the museum Earl Mullins told the Southeast Missourian. “That needs to be heard. That needs to be praised,” he said. Godwin has visited the museum and complimented its selection of space and space-related artifacts, adding that it would be a “great destination for field trips”. “And, you know, it’s just a great part of the state, right?” Godwin said. “I grew up there; it’s got a soft spot in my heart, so I just think that would be wonderful.” Godwin is a graduate of Jackson High School and received a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and physics from Southeast Missouri State University before finishing her academic career at the University of Missouri. Godwin began working for NASA in 1980 and was selected as an astronaut candidate in 1985, according to previous reporting. During her career as an astronaut, she took part in four space shuttle flights and spent more than 38 days in space. Having the museum in Cape Girardeau County would draw visitors from all over Southeast Missouri, she said. “I just want to see that history preserved, but I think it’ll get maybe the most people in the Cape County area,” Godwin said. Godwin’s hometown Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce released the following statement regarding the museum’s relocation: "As Jackson continues to place a greater emphasis on tourism, a high-quality space museum in our region would be a strong addition to the tourism assets and experiences available in Southeast Missouri." The man behind the museum, Mullins, has poured passion into the project, and being able to honor all his work and dedication — Godwin said she would hate to see that go away. “Our history informs our future, right?” she asked. Being able to see artifacts and hardware from space, “It just makes people think, and appreciate the history of the space program, and maybe, you know, think about more of what's going on today with the space program,” Godwin said. Mullins expects to hear something from the interested parties by the end of August. “I can’t emphasize enough that it would be a great asset to the community in Cape County,” Godwin said of The Space Museum and Grissom Center.