Thursday 15th December – Kennedy Space Centre day one!

Water feature at the entrance to Kennedy Space Centre

Today was our maiden voyage to Cape Canaveral – we were going to attend a launch on 18^th December so this was a trial run!  We got up quite early for us as it was a two-hour drive.  Arriving at 1130am we picked up our tickets and the itinerary for the day.  Simon had been to Kennedy Space Centre once before, many years ago, with his family but for me this was a first.  I don’t count myself as a space fanatic but there is so much to see here and it is presented so well.

The rocket garden

After an introductory spiel in the rocket garden covering the birth of (basic) rocket science we headed for the bus tour of the grounds – taking in all of the launch pads, buildings where NASA and their partners are creating the future of space travel.

The VAB (Vehicle assembly building) - the largest single-story building in the World with the largest painted American flag on it. This is where the Saturn V rockets were constructed and it is being used for the construction of the future SLS (Space Launch System)

MLB- Mobile Launcher platform - used to transport space craft from the VAB to the launch platforms

Launch pad 39(a or b!) where some of the space shuttles took off from

The tour drops you off at the Saturn V centre for the next stage – taking you through the history of the Apollo missions.  This includes a guided explanation of a full size Saturn V replica, exhibits containing artifacts from the shuttles and the moon itself as well as a presentation about the Apollo 11 moon landing.

Mock-up of Launch control, Cape Canaveral - video takes you through the launch of an Apollo mission

Simon touching the moon

By the time we got back from the bus tour our next priority was to see the Atlantis exhibit.  This not only contained the actual Atlantis shuttle and a warehouse-full of exhibits but also a shuttle launch simulator experience.  From experiencing the ‘twang’ when the shuttle bends backwards slightly just prior to launch to the take-off and landing – it is alleged to be as close to the actual sensation as possible…. Without the risk!

Me trying to land a space shuttle and failing quite spectacularly!

The actual prototype that Faget threw at his engineers with the suggestion of creating a re-usable space craft

A recovered section of Space shuttle Challenger that exploded shortly after take off in 1986 killing seven crew members

Not shying away from tragedy - there was a moving exhibit in memory of all of the astronauts who have lost their lives as a result of being involved in the Space program.

Thank goodness we had another chance to visit the centre… we had missed so many things out!  There really is too much to see in one day.  After we were asked to leave we made a coffee in the car park for the journey back to ‘the springs’ as we like to call it.  It was about 9pm by the time we got back to our little piece of forest.