Smithsonian's Spacesuit Crowdfunding Campaign Hits $500,000 Goal in Single Week

Houston, the Smithsonian has a problem—or at least it did. Its National Air and Space Museum wanted to display Neil Armstrong's Apollo 11 spacesuit in July 2019 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, but traditional fundraising methods had not proved adequate to support the project. In response, a museum complex founded in the 19th century took a 21st-century tack: It launched an online campaign to crowdfund the endeavor. The Smithsonian's campaign, which met its goal with ease, was a forward-thinking way to sweep the dust out of "America's attic." We hope to see more like it.

The "Reboot the Suit" Kickstarter met its month-long $500,000 goal within a week. Now it is aiming for $200,000 more.