Behind the Scenes: Choosing a New Banner

A new face greets visitors to our Simonyi Space Gallery. The previous banner, on display since 2012, and had faded thanks to 24/7 exposure to the elements. This process is an excellent opportunity to show how in a museum like ours, something that may seem to an outsider as simple as Googling a picture actually demands thoughtful consideration.

Here are some questions we considered. At the core of the discussion was selecting an image that would spark inspiration and curiosity in our visitors while making them feel welcome in the Museum.

Should the picture include a human, or should we use one of the breathtaking Hubble photos? Both inspire in different ways. We decided to use a picture of a human astronaut, because doing so makes a statement that people are at the core of the aerospace story.

Should the astronaut’s face be visible, or should they be in a helmet (and therefore ‘anonymous’)? An ‘anonymous’ astronaut means that each visitor can decide for themselves what the astronaut inside the suit looks like, but at the same time it can feel impersonal because of the lack of a human face. Picking an image with a visible astronaut’s face can feel more personal, but might require securing permission and the photo selection could perpetuate the persistent misconception that being an astronaut is “man’s work.” We decided to use a photo with a visible face.

?Who should the astronaut be? What should they be doing? Should they be serious? Goofing around? There are thousands of photos of astronauts doing all sorts of things. We decided on a picture of Karen Nyberg looking through the Cupola of the International Space Station at Earth down below her. We picked this image for several reasons. Her long hair floating suggests motion, giving the static image a dynamic quality. Her action is aspirational; who doesn’t want to stare down at Earth from orbit? And by choosing a photo of a woman, we sent the clear message that there is space for everybody.