Kennedy Space Center

[JulesMaximus]

On Veteran's Day I went with my Mom, her husband, my wife and our son to Kennedy Space Center. We got there in the early afternoon so we only saw the Apollo/Saturn V exhibit and the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit but I was really impressed by both of those. It is inspiring, educational and extremely interesting. I would go here over Disney World any day of the week. We didn't go to Disney-my son has been to Disneyland here in CA so I didn't see the point and he didn't really want to do that anyway.

Sorry, no pics. My son took some and I downloaded them but they are kind of grainy. I'll post some later this evening if you want though.

We were in Florida for a few days to visit my Mom so I didn't pack any camera gear or plan to do a bunch of touristy stuff but I wanted to do at least one thing while there. She lives about an hour south of Kennedy Space Center so this made the most sense and it did not disappoint.

If you get a chance to go there I highly recommend it.

 

[Blackjack200]

I saw a shuttle launch once and it was just amazing. I'll never forget it.

 

[Printer Bandit]

is the space center a ghost town now?

 

[The Boston Dangler]

oh man, i'd love to go to kennedy space center. i could spend weeks there.

 

[IronWing]

... we only saw the Apollo/Saturn V exhibit and the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit...

Oddly enough, when I visited the Kennedy Space Center in 1976 I saw the Apollo/Saturn V exhibit and the Space Shuttle Enterprise was in the vehicle assembly building being assembled. Not much has changed.

 

[KK]

I just went about three weeks ago, it was pretty cool. We did the mega tour there, and got to go out to the launch pads and into the Vehicle Assembly Building which was pretty awesome. One thing I wished was more time to do couple of the movies. By the time the tour was over we had time to go to the atlantis exhibit and that was about it and we got there about 9:30

 

[JMWarren]

Funny, we were there the same day.

I'd have to agree with you on it beating Disney any day. Certainly a do not miss if you're in the area.

On the road in is a small, warplane museum. It may be more common in the USA (we're from Canada) but it was pretty cool to be able to get so close and in good variety of aircraft.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Funny, we were there the same day.

I'd have to agree with you on it beating Disney any day. Certainly a do not miss if you're in the area.

On the road in is a small, warplane museum. It may be more common in the USA (we're from Canada) but it was pretty cool to be able to get so close and in good variety of aircraft.

Did you get attacked by mosquitoes on the way out? I have bites on my legs and arms...

 

[Xstatic1]

Like KK, I did the Mega Tour (3.5 hours long) at Kenendy Space Center and it was super cool. :awe:

You didn't miss much by skipping Walt Disney World (BTW, Animal Kingdom > Epcot > Hollywood Studios > Magic Kingdom), but Islands of Adventure (right next to Universal Studios) is something I would've wholeheartedly recommended.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Like KK, I did the Mega Tour (3.5 hours long) at Kenendy Space Center and it was super cool. :awe:

You didn't miss much by skipping Walt Disney World (BTW, Animal Kingdom > Epcot > Hollywood Studios > Magic Kingdom), but Islands of Adventure (right next to Universal Studios) is something I would've wholeheartedly recommended.

Maybe next time we visit my Mom. The trip was mostly about seeing her and her getting to spend time with her grandson and that we accomplished in a big way. It was a really good visit... but too short. I haven't seen my Mom in probably 2 years at least. Plus she had breast cancer this year along with a double mastectomy... :'(

 

[BUTCH1]

I saw a shuttle launch once and it was just amazing. I'll never forget it.

Second launch I got invited by a co-worker who's Dad had base privileges, we were like 3 miles away, it's just indescribable how much the ground shakes and how loud it is, hurling something that big into orbit takes quite a bit of thrust, I'll never forget it..

 

[EagleKeeper]

I saw a shuttle launch once and it was just amazing. I'll never forget it.

Night launches were amazing

 

[7window]

I saw the shuttle launch, the shuttle blowing up and shuttle piggy back. I want to see the shuttle atlantis up close though. I saw sally ride jogging at KSC.
Did you really see the real shuttle? I just saw the simulator. The apollo saturn is cool.

 

[chihlidog]

I'd love to see a shuttle launch...but sadly that'll never happen now Too young to have seen Apollo, but man, have we as a species ever done anything quite as awesome? Seriously mindblowing.

 

[moks78]

Nice place to be. I was there last May 2012 and they were still constructing the KSC Visitor Complex to accommodate the Space Shuttle Atlantis.

I was 2 days late when the Space x Falcon 9 rocket had a successful launch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQNJG8MPcIc

It would be awesome if I can come back here and watch some real rocket launch.

 

[Franz316]

It's a great place to visit. It really invigorates the engineer in us all. For whatever reason, space travel is really captivating.

 

[pcgeek11]

Night launches were amazing

I 'm in North Charleston, SC and I have watched the Shuttle night launches from here at work, and I'm about a 5.5 hour drive from the cape. It is truly amazing that you can see it that clear from here.

 

[natto fire]

Never been, but a frequent visitor to my grandma's place in Cortez, FL, which is a pretty cool fishing village on the intracoastal waterway. It's Gulf coast contemporary, Anna Maria Island, has largely resisted resort buildups and remains pretty relaxed compared to it's southern Longboat Key/Sarasota neighbors.

Here's hoping the science-shunning creationists all die off or become such a minority that they are laughed out of any serious discussion/meeting. I think we have a ways to go with some top notch indoctrinating they threw along the way.

 

[Viperoni]

I was there in Jan of this year, highly recommended too!

 

[JulesMaximus]

I saw the shuttle launch, the shuttle blowing up and shuttle piggy back. I want to see the shuttle atlantis up close though. I saw sally ride jogging at KSC.
Did you really see the real shuttle? I just saw the simulator. The apollo saturn is cool.

Yes, it is the actual Space Shuttle Atlantis on display. Before NASA retired the Space Shuttle fleet they had a mockup of the shuttle as an exhibit at Kennedy Space Center but now they have an entire exhibit devoted to the shuttle and the Atlantis is at the center of it. This ship flew 33 missions into space including one mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.


Actual fuel tank and rocket boosters.

 

[JulesMaximus]

By the way, the people in America's wang are very friendly and nice. :thumbsup:

 

[7window]

Yes, it is the actual Space Shuttle Atlantis on display. Before NASA retired the Space Shuttle fleet they had a mockup of the shuttle as an exhibit at Kennedy Space Center but now they have an entire exhibit devoted to the shuttle and the Atlantis is at the center of it. This ship flew 33 missions into space including one mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.


Actual fuel tank and rocket boosters.

Thanks for the pic. Stupid ? here, I know I see the barrier but are you allowed inside the atlantis? KSC is just amazing place for kids to follow their dream.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Thanks for the pic. Stupid ? here, I know I see the barrier but are you allowed inside the atlantis? KSC is just amazing place for kids to follow their dream.

No, you cannot go in the vehicle but there are many interactive exhibits that are pretty cool.

 

[moks78]

With permission fm JulesMaximus...
Here are some pics I took last year at the the KSC Apollo/Saturn V Center.


Entrance to the building...a video about the History of the Apollo Space Program
was shown to the people inside.



Next,we were ushered in to the Launch Control Mockup.

 

[moks78]

Main Exhibition Hall showing a fully restored Saturn V launch vehicle.