04 Autumn 2015 Issue 04
Issue 04 of the Journal collates an interesting mix of original research and discussion articles, as well as a book review and an exhibition review. The content reflects the recent opening and acclamation awarded to the new Cosmonauts exhibition, with one article that reflects on the challenges of curating such an exhibition and another that analyses the modern interest in space tourism. We also have two articles which research historic Leonardo da Vinci exhibitions and their associated models and objects. Other articles focus on new methods in sustainable storage of museum collections, early microphone recording techniques relating to the Nightingale broadcasts, a favourable review of a new Lovelace and Babbage illustrated novel, and a review of one author’s visit to the Fairfield Heritage Centre.
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Editorial
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Capturing the song of the nightingale
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The Science Museum and the Leonardo da Vinci Quincentenary Exhibition of 1952
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The birth of a collection in Milan: from the Leonardo Exhibition of 1939 to the opening of the National Museum of Science and Technology in 1953
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A sustainable storage solution for the Science Museum Group
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The Cosmonauts challenge
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Through the lens of a space tourist
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Review: The thrilling adventures of Lovelace and Babbage: the (mostly) true story of the first computer, by Sydney Padua
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Review: Fairfield Govan: visiting a future heritage space
Featured content
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The Science Museum and the Leonardo da Vinci Quincentenary Exhibition of 1952
This article tells the story of the Science Museum’s role in an exhibition at the Royal Academy, London, in 1952, to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the birth of Leonardo da Vinci, and in particular in displaying mechanical models based on Leonardo’s drawings.
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The Cosmonauts challenge
This paper investigates how the development of new contacts and partnerships has contributed not only to the loan of material of historic significance to the Science Museum’s exhibition, but more broadly changes perceptions about Russia and its space programme in the western world.
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Through the Lens of a Space Tourist
As the first paying customer to fly to the ISS, Dennis Tito’s journey can be seen as a historic turning point within the history of space travel following the end of the Space Race and inaugurating the space programme as a new marketplace.
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Review: The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Computer, by Sydney Padua
A review of the popular, comic-style illustrated book by Sydney Padua that fictionalises the lives of Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage and their invention of the first computer.