The Hayden Letters
In 1950, the Museum's Hayden Planetarium began accepting reservations for the first trip into space as part of a publicity campaign for its exhibition Conquest of Space. Letters poured in from around the world with requests to book trips to the Moon, Mars, Jupiter, and beyond, capturing the public's passion and curiosity for space exploration. View a selection of letters from enthusiastic would-be space travelers here, and tell us where you'd like to go today.
Though interplanetary tourism is not yet possible, our fascination with space travel persists. Discover what the future holds for space exploration in the Museum's exhibition Beyond Planet Earth.
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I would like to participate in the creation of our first planetary outposts, which will (logically) be lunar. Because I want to participate in my lifetime, I choose to go to the Moon!
I would love to see the Earth from space, just one bright ball of blue!
I have been thinking of Mars for much of my life. I would like to see the things I have studied with my own eyes.
... My choice is...Saturn, because it is the most beautiful planet in our Solar System, and on my way there I would also see its moons (especially Titan) and its rings.
My first choice is Mars, to see the largest known mountain. Second choice is Jupiter, so I can see a gaseous planet up close... but where would I stand?!
As more planets like Kepler 22b are found, I'd love to be able to visit any that could support human life. Now that we know the speed of light isn't an obstacle warp drives can't be far behind, so this should be doable in a couple years! ;)
