The Smithsonian Institution's very first online crowdfunding – an effort to restore and preserve Neil Armstrong's spacesuit from the 1969 Apollo 11 mission – has exceeded it's goal of $500,000, ending with $720,000. Additionally, the excess funds of Smithsonian's "Reboot the Suit" mission will be used to preserve and display the spacesuit worn by Alan Shepard.
The Smithsonian's first shot at online crowdfunding ended Wednesday after raising a hefty $719,779 to restore the spacesuit that Neil Armstrong wore when he walked on the moon.
A total of 9,477 people contributed to the month-long Kickstarter "Reboot the Suit" campaign, which surpassed its $500,000 goal on July 24.
The windfall means the Smithsonian will have money to spare to preserve and display a second spacesuit used by Alan Shepard, the first American in space.
"It is mind-blowing," Yoonhyung Lee, the Smithsonian's director of digital philanthropy, told AFP in an interview at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in downtown Washington.
"We did not really expect to both hit our goal so quickly and also to exceed our goal so dramatically. This was a huge triumph for us."
It was the first time the Smithsonian has turned to crowdfunding to help cover the cost of preserving its most valuable artifacts from the ravages of time.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by No Respect on Saturday August 22 2015, @07:48AM
It also infuriates me. The Smithsonian spends all kinds of money each and every year. If they won't pick up the tab to preserve, oh, I dunno.... THE FUCKING SPACESUIT OF THE 1ST MAN ON THE MOON than what the fuck else are they spending it on? It's gratifying that so many people donated to this cause. It should not have been necessary. It makes the US govt look chintzy and cheap. Neil Armstrong will be remembered forever as the face of one of the best things the American government and the American people have ever accomplished. It disgusts me to no end that it was necessary to fund this project by begging.
I'll stop now but I could go on for another 1,000 words. It's a disgrace.
(Score: 0, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 22 2015, @08:01AM
I know production companies like to dispose of their garbage by selling props at auction, but this is ridiculous.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 22 2015, @08:18AM
I was asking myself this very question, when I realized, what if I am Zefram Cochrane? I'd better get to work. I'll need a doctorate in physics. Time to start drinking and hit the books. Should take me about 50 years. See you then!