Kennedy Space Center.....AMAZING

It had been cool and a bit rainy for a few days, but things were looking good today. We picked up friend Reba at the Orlando airport and headed to KSC....we knew we'd like it, but had no idea just how much. This place is HUGE and in the middle of NO WHERE. However, I suppose that's how it has to be.....

They were in the holiday spirit.... 

We had tickets for a bus tour so we went straight there. It covered so many things and was about 2hrs long. we went into areas that you can ONLY go to if on a tour or you have the right sticker on your car. These bleachers are where the VIP's get to sit to watch launches. They even have a speaking on the pole behind the bleachers so they can hear well....how nice.

This is the VAB...Vehicle Assembly Building....wish we could have gone in. They make the cool stuff that goes into space in here.

The massive flag painted on the building is so cool. Each stripe is 8' wide. They painted a few of them on the concrete where we were allowed to walk to see a comparison....wow.

 Looking to the future.......Space Travel is alive and well.

The facts about the VAB were very interesting.

This vehicle used to sit on ready during every launch in case something happened and someone needed to go get the astronauts. It was even running .....they use something much faster now.

This is the door in the back where they would get it

Our tour did not take you to the launch pads, but we got within photo range. Next tour, I'll go to the launch pads.

This was Launch Pad B, in the middle of the picture and in the middle of the lightening and weather detectors.

And Launch Pad A

Some very interesting info on the Apollo Program

 This HUGE vehicle is called The Crawler because it moves so slowly. It's used to move the shuttles, rockets or anything we're shooting into space from the VAB to the launch pad. And if you think you get bad gas mileage...you should try this!!!

We past the runway where some of the spave craft lands. It's MUCH longer than for normal aircraft because space craft does not fly, it glides and is going very fast when it re-enters the Earth's atmosphere.

Next on our tour was a mock up of the actual command room where Mission Control sat when Apollo went up. The equipment, the countdown boards and the rom even shook when it took off, it was very real, and well done. 

Our last and final stop was at the Apollo Building. We first saw a short film about Apollo then we walked into the hanger where it's kept...WOW, that thing was huge. When you walked you were at the back of it....

The inside of the Van...

Apollo was a great program but it did have it's losses.

This building was huge and was packed with all things Apollo, you just couldn't take it all in. 

This size comparison is really interesting...

 Even all the news/media memorabilia was terrific...

As you walked through the building they had each piece marked that would seperate....the the #2 in this picture?  2nd piece of the space-craft to seperate.

We wondered how these 2 pieces ever even fit together, but I suppose they did.

See the #3.....

The last piece and what they would stay in...

The actual Apollo 14 Capsule....

Actual buggy used on the moon to transport equipment

Next on our list was an astornaut encounter........it was fascinating to hear him talk about his time in space...

Practicing.......

This was breakfast on launch morning.....and you hope you don't see it later.

Then we went to see the Atlantis Building...this was an age of change. The scientist were challenged with making a space shuttle that could be re-used and could land like an airplane.

But first an astronaut posed with me.....

This is the Shuttle that the astronaut we'd just heard speak had flown...

 It was just suspended in the air and opened up so you could see inside....

This showed they stayed connected to the Shuttle while outside it in space.

These are actual satelites....

 Space suits have come a long way since the beginning.....

 Atlantis facts....it flew 126 million miles before it was done.....wow....

Eating is VERY different in space....

If you didn't chew with your mouth closed before going into space, you would once once you got there!!!! 

This is a personal sleeping quarter....you just float down into it and climb in your sleeping bag. Thanks to technology you have a laptop to do email and keep up with family.  

And don't even think about skipping your work-out....

And everybody's question....how do they go potty....they have to aim, really well, or it.....floats!!

You gotta hit the hole...just right!!!

 The Space Age as it progressed...........

Air Stream got in on the deal....they provided the the new Astronaut transportation to the launch pad.

The rocket farm lit up at night........

It was a gorgeous tree...Denny and Reba were ahead of me, it was a bit cool now with the sun down.

One last shot as we left.........

This had been a wonderful day, we all truly enjoyed ourselves. I think we'll come back one day and do the things we just did have time for. The have two 3D movies and we only saw 1 and I want to walk out on a launch pad....just once.

It was time for some dinner and bed. The next day Reba and I did a little Downtown Disney shopping then we drove back home to Sarasota. On Saturday nite we watched the boat parade but for some reason it was very small this year...not many boats. Our guess is that he wind made several decide to drop out. It was cool and windy, but we had hot chocolate and we had fun. We got home and hit the bed, the next morning we had to make a 6a flight to Atlanta.....the holidays are busy in ATL!!!