I am by the cows butt....I am hard to see, but I promise I am there!
The first thing I decided to do was go on the 3 hour bus tour. The buses took us to three different buildings that were not near the actual visitors center. The first stop was at the observation deck.
The view of the launch pad from the observation deck. If you look close you can see the brown rocket. The Space Shuttle Discovery is supposed to launch on Feb. 27, so it is already on the launch pad ready to go!
Me with the launch pad in the background
Another view of the VAB. You can see the doors on the left...this is how they get the shuttle in and out.
There are only three space shuttles that get reused for each mission - The Endeavour, The Discovery, and The Atlantis.
After the Observation Deck, we went to the Apollo/Saturn V building. This building had a real Saturn V rocket (moon rocket) hanging from the roof. This rocket is the biggest rocket made, measuring 365 feet long. This area was also a great tribute to all the Astronauts that served on the Apollo missions.
This is the very bottom of the rocket. The boosters were huge!
A space suit!
The last stop was the International Space Station Center. This is where all of the pieces that are delivered up to the ISS are assembled and inspected. There were two finished pieces that are scheduled to go up in May. It was pretty interesting.
The piece covered in the back (with the Japanese Flag) is going up to the ISS in May.
This is how the Astronauts go potty...they have to strap their feet down so they don't float away!
A picture of a gator on the way back to the Visitor's Center. The Space Center is located on a Natural Wildlife Reserve, and we saw a good number of gators throughout the day.
Around 3pm I went back to the Visitor's Center. I went on the Shuttle Launch Experience "ride" and then walked through a replica of the Shuttle Explorer. Then I went to see a presentation by a real astronaut. His name was John Blaha. Blaha has spent 161 days in space on 5 different missions. He spent 4 months on the ISS and he discussed this trip with us. After his talk there was a photo op, so I jumped on it!
Astronaut John Blaha and I
The Space Shuttle Explorer replica
I went to see a 3-D Imax about how the ISS was put together and when I came out the sun was setting. I took this picture of the Rocket Garden, which turned out pretty cool!
Rocket Garden
Overall, it was a great day! I am really glad I decided to go by myself. I feel more educated!
Well, tomorrow (Thursday) we take off for Sydney. We arrive in Sydney on Saturday morning (Friday mid-morning in CO). We will be in Sydney for 5 days and then we travel to Singapore for 4 days. I will post as often as possible!
1 comment:
I'm so excited that you went to a museum on your own and enjoyed yourself. On our last few museum trips I more or less had to drag you along and listen to you whining the whole time!
The Space Center has changed dramatically since the last time we were there. The rocket garden is new, and so is the bus trip. You got closer to the assembly center and launch pad than we ever did, and I never met a real astronaut, just the guy who dressed up in a spacesuit that we took your picture with. I think you were 2 at the time. Awesome stuff! Keep sharing, much love, Mom.
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