Kennedy Space Center

Today we went to the Kennedy Space Center. Like most things worthwhile, it cost some money to visit. Parking was $10 and the entrance fee was $50/PP but that included a bus tour that we found worthwhile. Lunch is not included, but there are places to eat within the complex. We packed a light lunch and carried it in a backpack. Bring your own water when you visit. We had been in California when the Space Shuttle Columbia landed at Edwards AFB and that was amazing! For security reasons, we were away from the landing strip a bit but watching it land was something you'll never forget. Anyway, the Space Shuttle Atlantis is on display at the KSC and we were anxious to see it up close. We weren't disappointed at all. Those pictures will follow on the next page. After getting tickets, you're allowed to enter the grounds and wander at your leisure. They have a self guided tour available for $7 but ours didn't work, so we returned it. There is a bus tour that takes you away from the Visitor's Center and into the Space Center complex itself. The extra cost for this tour is a must. The following pictures would not be available without taking the bus tour.

Approaching the Visitor's Center.

Even though it appeared it may rain, we didn't let that stop our enthusiasm.

I sat outside with Jasmine while Debi negotiated the tickets with the sales clerk. They have many choices to choose from including one they don't talk about much. That's the senior after 3 ticket. We bought the regular ticket that included the bus trip.

Once inside the Space Facility you'll see the Vehicle Assembly Building. It is the largest single story building in the world. It is 526' tall, 716' long  and 518' wide with almost 130 million cubic feet of air space. 

It was built to allow vertical building of the Saturn V rockets and later, the Space Shuttles. Once built and mated, the entire assembly is taken from this building to the launch pad.

A massive transporter is used to  move the Shuttle/Rocket assembly to the launch pad from the VAB, shown above. It is the largest self-powered land vehicle in the world. It takes 30 engineers, drivers and technicians to move it. It has a maximum speed of only one mile per hour, making the trip from the VAB to launch pad in about 5 hours.

This far away shot and the closer one below are of Launch Pad 39 where the Space Shuttles were launched. There are actually two Launch facilities, 39A and 39B. 39B is currently undergoing modification for the anticipated space program scheduled in 2017. 39A is currently being used for the Falcon Heavy launches.

Here's a closer picture of Launch Pad 39A showing the launch tower and adjacent water tower. You'll notice the launch tower is elevated. Underneath the tower is a large pool. Just prior to launch, water is released from the water tower and floods the pool under the launch platform. This water acts as a shock absorber during a launch.

This is the actual Launch Control Center or "Firing Room".  It's from this location that all countdowns and launches originate.

Responsibility for the booster and spacecraft remains with the LCC until the booster has cleared the launch tower, when responsibility is handed over to the Mission Control Center in Houston.

The news rooms are more than three miles away for security and safety reasons.

On display, is the grandaddy of all rockets, The Saturn V. 

To date, the Saturn V is the only launch vehicle to transport human beings beyond low Earth orbit. Twenty four astronauts were launched to the Moon, three of them twice, in the four years spanning December 1968 through December 1972.

The rocket is displayed in parts in order to experience it's enormity. I've tried to display the pictures in order from the bottom to the top. The top portion contains the manned module.

The rocket is 363' tall and 33' in diameter at the base.  It has been used for 13 missions,  12 successfully. The only partial failure came in 1968 when portions of the rocket were damaged on launch of an unmanned orbiter. Those issues were remedied and subsequent launches were successful.

The final phase of the rocket contains the manned module positioned on it's nose.