Kennedy Space Center

April 20th - Wednesday - 85 degrees w/ breeze

Kennedy Space Center which is located east of Orlando, is where Lou and I spent our day. We arrived at 9:00 AM with Estee, as they have a free kennel that they provide for there guests, which we found to be a huge asset. We deposited her in her private huge cage, complete with her blanket, water dish and food, and we were free to come and walk her whenever we desired.

We were off on one of the 44 air-conditioned busses that moved us around on the 140,00 acres of NASA’s home. Our first stop was the NASA launch facilities, where we got to see Cape Canaveral, then and now, the launch site of the early space triumphs of Mercury and Gemini, paving the way of America’s journey to the moon. Then we saw the modern day Cape Canaveral rocket program where NASA sends probes and robotic explorers throughout the universe.

Then we were on to see the giant structures that make up the world’s largest launch facilities. We got an upclose look at the coastal launch pad that will unleash the power to put send up the shuttle on the 29th. In fact, it is already in place. Which really impressed me. You can see the building that houses all of this in the pictures. It is the building with the huge flag on the side and the huge NASA insignia on it.. The end of the building opens up and the shuttle comes out and moves down that huge run way to the launching pad. The run way is dug down seven feet and filled with cement and then had gravel on the top of it. Really amazing. I also have pictures of the launching pad that I took from an observation tower.

I also am posting a pictures that shows the building that houses the the Vehicles Assembly Building and the run way and the launching pad, but it is sorta hard to make it all out unless you know what you are looking at. The area is massage and ever so interesting.

Once back from the bus tour we were free to travel throughout the complex and we choose the Apollo/Saturn V Center and in this complex we were able to be apart of an actual launch. We were sitting in the control room of the launch of the Apollo 11, we heard and saw every command given and felt the lift off, right down to the windows rattling. Very impressive. We had all seen the control centers on television; however, to see it first hand is something different. We also saw The Saturn V, which was I think the first American Lunar Transportation. Along with the moon buggy.

In this building we were able to see all stages of the rocket and what part left at different stages, and I have pictures off all of that, rather I will post all of that or not, I don’t know.

We did take advantage of all of the shows and lectures that were offered. One that was offered was a 3-D movie that was done by the Astronauts in space, showing us what they can see from space and that was amazing.

Another lecture that was very interesting as a very informal lecture that was given by a former astronaut, Gregory, that told about him becoming an astronaut and his experiences being in space. He had some very humorous stories to tell, a side that we don’t usually hear, as to what happens when they spill soda, how they use the toilet, being strapped in, and he showed some personal slides that he had taken. This went on for an hour then he answered questions.

We continued on with our sights until nearly 6:00 PM when we finally picked up Estee and headed for home. All in all it was a very enjoyable day and one that I will remember for a long time. I learned a lot of things that have come out of the space program that we enjoy in our day to day life that I did not realize were a benefit of the space program, ie, many of our current medications, ridges on our roads to keep them from being slippery, just a few of the things.