Day Three - Kennedy Space Center
When I took this picture, I was 1 mile away from the launch pad. We were told
by the tour guide that the noise the shuttle creates at launch is so loud that
we would be killed by the sound alone if we were at this distance from the launch.
Even closer to the launch pad.
This is the Vehicle Assembly Building where the shuttle is put together and
was also used to assemble the Saturn V rockets for the Apollo missions.
Just to give you an idea of how big this building is, each star on the
flag is 6 feet from tip to tip. This building is the world's largest building
in terms of volume.
In this picture, you can see the two smaller buildings to the right. Housed
in these buildings are the shuttles Endeavor and Atlantis.
This is one of the many rockets on display at the Rocket Garden.
This picture is of the engines of the Saturn V rocket, the most powerful rocket
ever built. It was the Saturn V that was used for the Apollo missions that went
to the moon. Below are several pictures of the Saturn V.
This is the actual space suit worn by Jim Lovell from the Apollo 13 mission.
The lunar lander.
This is not a real lunar rover, but rather it is a trainer version. The
real lunar rover didn't have rubber wheels with air because they would
burst in the vacuum of space.
What a lunar rover wheel looks like.
This picture is not an actual space shuttle. This is a replica.
Here is a replica of the Solid Rocket Boosters connected to the External Tank.
Walt Cunningham, a member of the Apollo 7 crew was there to answer questions
from the audience. I did get to shake his hand, but was unable to get a picture
with him.
This is the entrance to the US Astronaut Hall of Fame.
This is the actual Command Module from the Apollo 14 space craft.
I really enjoyed my time at the Kennedy Space Center. I highly recommend
it for a trip. If you go, make sure you see the IMAX movies. "Space
Station 3D" was absolutely amazing. This was defiantly worth the
1350+ miles (one way) trip.
Day Four