A seven-hour drive from Ridgecrest will take you from China Lake’s role in the lunar lander and Mars lander subsystems to Flagstaff, AZ, to follow in the footsteps of astronauts who walked on the moon. Located on legendary Route 66, Flagstaff played key roles in the Apollo Moon Missions, testing space suits and equipment, lunar rover simulation, lunar mapping, and the fact that every astronaut who walked on the moon trained in and around there. Often called “the world’s best destination for astro tourism,” Flagstaff officially became the world’s first Dark Sky City in 2001. Its Lunar Landmark Trail includes sites explored by astronauts Neil Armstrong, Alan Shepard, and Buzz Aldrin, culminating with the brand-new Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center. Hailed by the Smithsonian as one of the 10 most anticipated museum openings worldwide in 2024, it opened at Lowell Observatory on November 16.
The Discovery Center features the Immersive Universe Theater with wraparound…..