With another day on our pass to the Kennedy Space Center and plenty left unseen on Sunday, we decided to head back over and see what we missed. We took the bus tour to the launch viewing site, which is as close as they allow us to get. We also saw exhibits on the Saturn V rocket and the International Space Station and we got to touch an actual moon rock.
FYI: The shuttle is actually all the components including the orbiter (which most people call the shuttle), and the external fuel tank and the sold rocket boosters.
A zoomed in view of Shuttle Atlantis on launchpad 39A. (You can see the external fuel tank (orange) and one of the solid rocket boosters top (white) while the orbiter itself is hidden by the Rotating Service Structure). We found out while we were there that Atlantis’ mission to service the Hubble Telescope in a couple of weeks has been postponed until probably February. So they’ll move Atlantis back to the VAB and move Endeavour from launchpad 39B to 39A for it’s mid November launch to the ISS (International Space Station).
Me touching a piece of moon rock.
This is the business end of the Saturn V rocket that took the Apollo missions to the moon.
The size of those engines is really impressive.
On the right is the crawler transport vehicle that transports the shuttle from the VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building) in the background, to the launchpad. On the left is a tour bus.
The crawler travels along at 1 MPH to either launchpad 39B (on left in distance) or 39A out of the picture to the right. It gets about 42 feet to the gallon of diesel fuel. The crawler track is 7 feet of compacted gravel.
This is the toilet on the International Space Station. Notice the handgrips to help keep you in position while you do your duty… or doody.
This is Astronaut Jon McBride with me and my wife. He is a very good speaker and was very interesting to listen to as he spoke about his career in the Navy and at NASA.
From his NASA bio: McBride was pilot of STS 41-G, which launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on October 5, 1984, aboard the Orbiter Challenger. This was the first crew of seven. During their eight day mission, crew members deployed the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite, conducted scientific observations of the earth with the OSTA-3 pallet and Large Format Camera, and demonstrated potential satellite refueling with an EVA and associated hydrazine transfer. Mission duration was 197 hours and concluded with a landing at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on October 13, 1984.
McBride was scheduled to fly next in March 1986, as the commander of STS 61-E crew. This flight was one of several deferred by NASA in the wake of the Challenger accident in January 1986.
You know, I still think the Space Program is one of our best and finest moments.
Thanks for sharing your trip with us.
Did you think about flinching the moon rock?
I am thinking about getting a crawler to take to school and back.
Is that a rocket in your pocket Jonco, or are you just happy to see us?
PlayaLinda beach (right near the launch pad) is one of the most beautiful unspoiled beaches in Florida, along with the nature preserve nearby! And are you aware that just past the last parking lot (there are 12 or so) is the clothing optional beach area? (At least it was 10 years ago)
Did you notice the patch of road that cuts across the crawlerway on the right side of the fork? How do they get the crawler across that without destroying the road? You think they go back and fix that road each time a shuttle is launched from that launch pad?! I’m very curious about this….