Advertisement
Published: September 5th 2007
Edit Blog Post
Me with an Astronaught!!
Me with Al Worden , the Commander of the Apollo 15 mission to the Moon. Hey all.
Another update with pics for you!
I went to the Kennedy Space centre today where they actually launch rockets and, probes and man missions into space. Located at Cape Canaveral, it was a costly venture ($89) but pretty cool.
Had an early start, got up at 6:30am to get ready to be the pick up point at 7:30, well a bit before actually just to make sure. Turns out the guy was 20 mins late - my curse strikes again.
A van ride and pick ups later we transfer to a porper bus that takes on a scenic drive through florida to the centre. We stop first at the Hall of Fame that has a couple of simulators and exhibts. I went on the g-force simulator, you get about 4 G's on it spinning round while watching a screen in the cockpit that shows like your playing a jet plane. It was pretty cool, I wasn't bad with it, I enjoyed myself thouygh you do feel a bit woozy when you come out! They had a mars mission simulator to and a few exhibits. We had an hour there and then on to the proper
Memorial to those lost in the space race
Memorial to those that lost their lives int he pursuit of space exploration centre.
Got to the centre and under the tour guides advice did the tour out to the luanch observation and satelliae 5 centre first. The place is pretty big, they have to have buses to take you round. The whole site is like over 200 acres though only a small section is used for the space programme, they rest is a wildlife reserve which is home to 6000 alligators and various snakes, eagles and vultures etc.
Saw the launch site and took pic, then on to the the next part. It had the largest object man has ever launched into space as well as a show and other such things. I skipped the international space centre one coz they tour guide said there was nothing really there. Headed back to main part and went on the shuttle simulator. Its a real life simulator of a shuttle launch. I have to say how they bigged it up I expected it to be rougher then it was, it was quite mild to me, tho you do go upside donw or feel like it and when it does the jetson of the extra fuel and your "in space" that does feel
Apollo 14 capsule
Apollo 14 capsule (real one) weird.
Next I think was the IMAX theatre, you get 2 movies there, one narrated by Tom Hanks about the moon and one by Tom Cruise about the space station and living in space. I have never been to an IMAX before and I have to say it was pretty good. It really is 3 D but way better then them old 3D that you used to see. It was very cool and you do have the film going out in front you and stuff flies at you face and you get sound effects for when it 'hits' you. It would be interesting to see a proper film in IMAX to see what thats like.
Then had a crappy over priced meal and then onto meet and astronaught which I was just in time for. It was Al Worden he commanded the Apollo 15 mission, orbited the moon 75 times, did the first deep space - space walk as well. He gave a talk which was amusing, reckons he only got paid $39 dollars for the flight he took and his disappointment at the closure of the moon landing programme, also how astronaughts do their 'business' in space.
Real com from mission control
Real com station from Mission control (may be a bit dark, came got knocked so was at a dodgy setting - some others the same) I got a picture with him after and then did the rocket garden, I also ssaw a few other exhibts and memorials before it was home time.
The place is pretty cool, its surreal being in the place where they actually launch real space missions. Apprently the shuttle programme ends in 2010 and they are going back to capsules with more moon landings and mars missions planned.
What else besides my day at kenneady? Well last night I went out to Disney Downtown, which like the bar area of disney. Got here at 12, paid to go in all the clubs but only got to go in 2 coz they finished at like 1:40am. That sucked but had fun dancing to 70's music and a bit of rap before then. I have to say america has way too many rappers. They got people you haven't even heard of. Its ridiculous.
ON a general note, on the ride back form the space centre I saw a few wild alligators swimming in the waterways and a dolphin! I didn't get a shot of the dolphin tho a s it was swimming barely above the surface so would have been
Spirit of Space statue
Spirit of Space Statue hard to see on a pic. Florida does have that you know, alot of waterways right by the roads. I saw them flying in and I see them by the roads. They have alligators in them and those alligators get to public places, like they found some near hosptials, on roads, backyards and even the space centre has alligators and snakes near its buildings. Its very surreal.
I am not sure where I am heading next, I cna extend stay here til friday and get a flight to washington or go straight to nashville or somewhere by bus, its tricky. I could go to Washington 2moz by flight but there is no accom there. Its 9:50pm here and I still aint made a deiscion.
I guess by the next blog I will have lol.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.161s; Tpl: 0.022s; cc: 11; qc: 51; dbt: 0.0764s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Andy
non-member comment
Come on stevo, when are you going to hit us with the next update?