An online platform launched by the Smithsonian Institution now provides public access to almost three million Apollo 11 command module. Source: Smithsonian Institutionhigh-resolution 2D and 3D images from all 19 Smithsonian museums, nine research centers, libraries, archives and the National Zoo.

Artifacts, specimens and datasets covering fields from the arts to science and engineering are compiled in the digital database for download and reuse without copyright restrictions. Over 2,200 3D models were created by the Smithsonian’s Digitization Program Office, which also published several open-source software tools designed to help the institution and other interested parties preserve, process and publish 3D content. These include a prototype 3D repository called Packrat and an automated processing tool called the Cook.

An additional 200,000 or so images will be released later in 2020 as the Institution continues to digitize its collection of 155 million items.