The discovery that artifacts are missing from its collection will force the Kansas Cosmosphere to rebuild its reputation and credibility as a safe repository for valuable items.

What a blow to one of the state’s premiere tourist attractions. Officials from the Kansas Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, announced this week that federal investigators have been called in to probe the sale of more than 100 artifacts that apparently were taken from the Cosmosphere’s storage areas. The items — small artifacts such as space helmets, gloves and other hardware — were found to be missing during an audit of the museum’s collection.

The audit was conducted after Cosmosphere officials became aware that items from its collection were turning up in private hands. At least some of the sales were taking place across state lines, prompting the Federal Bureau of Investigation to become involved.

Cosmosphere officials are painfully aware of the impact this incident could have on the facility’s reputation. None of the missing artifacts had been loaned to the Cosmosphere through its partnership with the Smithsonian Institution, but some had been on loan from the National Aeronautical and Space Administration. Those agencies obviously depend on the Cosmosphere to be a secure repository for those items in order to preserve the artifacts and the paper trail authenticating them.

Some private collectors of space-related artifacts already are indicating that items they purchased may have come from the Cosmosphere. Perhaps some of those items can be recovered and returned to the collection. Those collectors also may be able to make a connection to the person or persons who removed them from the Cosmosphere storage areas. If so, those persons should be vigorously prosecuted.

Regardless of how large or valuable the missing items are, their loss is a huge blow to the Cosmosphere, which now will have to rebuild its reputation as a safe repository for important artifacts. This facility has an incredible collection of space exhibits as well as a wonderful reputation as a restorer of space vehicles and other artifacts. Its camps and other programs have shared the wonders of space with millions of visitors.

Cosmosphere officials have taken the right action by turning over all their findings and fully cooperating with federal investigators. Hopefully their efforts will lead to the recovery of many of the artifacts and start the facility on the road to regain its stellar reputation as a research and tourist facility.