Blast Off:

50 years in Space

29 September 2007 - 9 February 2008
Curated by Richard Breckon

The space age, which began as a race between two superpowers keen to demonstrate ideological supremacy, has evolved into a cooperative effort involving nations around the globe. The major developments in space exploration over the past 50 years have been recognised on more than 500 stamps issued by Russia and about 80 stamps by the United States.

Features of the exhibition include:

• Australia's Post's newly-issued "Blast Off! - 50 years in space" stamps and products, including stamp artist Jamie Tufrey's original stamp designs.
• Space memorabilia provided courtesty of Space Education Promotions (Anne Buckland), including Space Shuttle wing strut and tile, space clothing, space food, Andy Thomas-signed objects and scale models of US spacecraft.
• Large frames of space stamps issued over the past 50 years by the three "space powers" - Russia (500+ stamps), United States (about 80 stamps) and China (about 50 stamps).
• Twenty space stories offering the key developments in 50 years of the space age.
• Twenty "trivia stories" providing an insight into the unusual aspects of the human presence in space.
• The Solar System is reproduced on a giant wall graphic, with details of the eight planets plus the "demoted" Pluto.