Day 10: KSC Redux

We headed back to the Kennedy Space Center to do the bus tour we missed on day one. Since the tickets we have are good until the launch, we were able to go back as often as we want.

On the way to the first stop we got a great view at the crawler they use to move the assembled shuttle to the launch pad and the VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building). The VAB is the 3 largest building in the world by volume. It can fit 4 Empire State Buildings inside.

The first stop on the bus tour took us to the Apollo/Saturn V Center. They take you through a simulation of an Apollo mission launch from the control room. It was pretty cool, even the windows shook when the rocket ignited.

Here they have an actual Saturn V Rocket laid out on its side. This is the rocket that took us to the moon. The scale of this rocket is just incomprehensible. Pictures just don't do it justice. It just wasn't possible to get the whole rocket in one picture.

This is just the first stage:
First stage looking the other way:
They also have on display a Lunar Module and the Lunar Rover that they did earth testing with.
This is the Command Module that the Lunar Lander attached to.

After the Saturn V tour, you get back on the bus and head over the International Space Station Center tour. This is the place where they bring all of the components for the space station before they go up on the shuttle. This is the observation window over the floor where some of the modules are waiting to be launched.
They have a room setup with examples of some of the original ISS modules. Most of the modules were kinda dated, but it was interesting that they used standard rack configurations for all of the componets, even the toilet.

We got done with the visitors center and on the way out stopped by the Astronaut Hall Of Fame. Its a separate museum that is included with the KSC admission. Its full of Astronaut memorabilia and exhibits.

This space suite was used by Gus Grissom during his Mercury-Redstone mission. Grissom was one of the Astronauts who dided in the Apollo I fire.
Here is the one of the actual computers they used on the moon missions.

Day 9: Stand by

We just kinda hung out on Monday. Nothing exciting.

Day 8: Shuttle Launch Rescheduled

After a couple of delays, NASA has confirmed that they will try to launch on Wednesday morning at 5:40AM. I have my fingers crossed.

Day 8: The Beach

We needed to actually make it to the Atlantic while were here, so we headed down to the beach. We found a very touristy beach at Cocoa Beach.
Right on the beach is this huge Ron Jon Surf Shop.
I though that its just funny that the biggest surf shop I've ever seen is on a beach that hardly has any waves. The store was pretty cool though. I picked up a sweet pair for board shorts and some stuff for Kendra. Nate got himself a sweet hat.
We ate lunch at "Captain J's." Its right on the beach. It was a real dive, probably would not have been open except for its cool location.

After lunch we walked the beach. It was pretty much just like a Southern California beach, the water was just a bit warmer.
Hurray I've made it to another ocean :)

Day 7.1: Kennedy Space Complex Visitors Center

So after the disappointment of this morning we decided to make a day out of seeing the Kennedy Space Complex Visitors Center (KSC). It was very cool. Well it was crazy hot but cool none the less.

We started with the 3D IMAX film "Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3-D". This film was moved me. It combined original footage with reenactments and great technical details. Plus it really had a human element.

The other IMAX theator had some technical dificuties so we did not get to see the "Space Station 3-D"

After the film we hit the Space Shuttle Experience. Its a 4 minute full motion ride that really simulated the acceleration and feel of the shuttle well. It tilts you back to almost vertical and shakes you in such away that if felt like you were accelerating the whole time. I was surprised on how realistic it felt. Now I know that a shuttle experiences about 3Gs on take off, and this was not that much force, but it was still neat.

After we finished the Space Shuttle Experience, we toured the Space Shuttle Replica. The Replica looked pretty realistic from the outside, all the way down to the ceramic tiles. Right next to it was the full sized Solid Rocket Boosters and External Tank.

We moved on to the astronaut memorial. They have a huge wall and a set of plaques memorializing the brave men and women that have lost their lives in the space program.

It was just hard to grasp the scale of the Rocket Garden. They had several Redstone, Atlas, Titan and a Saturn 1b rocket there. These things are just incredible in size. Pictures just don't do it justice.

The last thing we hit today was the Early Space Exploration Museum. They had exhibits on all of the pre-shuttle missions. I really dig the old space suits.

Day 7: Damn

The launch has been scrubbed for at least 4 days.


The launch of space shuttle Endeavour's STS-127 mission to the International Space Station is on hold due to a leak associated with the gaseous hydrogen venting system outside the external fuel tank. The system is used to carry excess hydrogen safely away from the launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. At 12:26 a.m. EDT Saturday, managers officially scrubbed the launch for at least 96 hours.

Now what?

Day 6: Titusville

Friday was spent gathering odds and ends. We borrowed my Aunt's Suburban and hit Walmart and Kinko's so Nate could replace the cards he's handing out. I grabbed another pair of light cotton shorts (I'm not sure what I was thinking bringing mostly jeans) and a couple of freeze dried meals to replace what we ate camping on Thursday.

My Aunt has really hooked us up. We have beds, a shower and great company. She has even set us up with passes to the Kennedy Space Center. I know she's family, but her generosity has blown me and Nate away.

Friday we went out for dinner with my Aunt Pat, my cousin Trisha and her son Corry, and daughters Taylor and Jasmine, to a restaurant called Dixie Crossroads. They are famous around here for their rock shrimp. I ate sooooo much and most of the awesome Key Lime pie. We hung out afterwards and showed off pictures of the family.
We hit the sack early in preparation to get up at 3:00AM to get out the KSC to see the launch.