One Small Step for Man . . . Miniaturization and the Space Program

Last night, I watched a TV show about the moon landing's 50th anniversary.  Much of the preparation dealt with the use of intricate models and miniature, the kind of thing discussed in Simon Garflield's In Miniature: How Small Things Illuminate the World.  One commentator made the point that the miniaturization involved in promoting the space program led to miniaturization in things we use all the time, e.g., TV's, cell phones, radios, etc.  Even computers became more and more effective as they became smaller.

Robotics also played a role; think early automatons and androids; even Lindbergh had a collection of them.  These, too, were early computers and robots.

So, two things related to dolls, miniatures, and robotic technology which emerged with automatons and mechanical dolls, aided the space program.

Antiques Road Show recently showed miniature space suits, prototypes put on companion dolls of the sixties.  They were special gifts to those in NASA involved in their construction.

Don't forget all the space and sci fi toys, and the post I did a couple years ago on how toys and moon models inspired NASA scientists and astronauts based on a collection at The University of Iowa.

Go, dolls!