Florida '13

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Prior to an early, surprise birthday celebration with Ken & Cathy (see, “Jamaica 2013”), we decided to spend a few days in Florida hitting a couple of tourist sites – Kennedy Space Center and Sea World Orlando. Below is a synopsis of our adventures.

Prior to going to The Kennedy Space Center (KSC) we went online and purchased an Annual Pass. We did so because, based on our review of the things that were offered by KSC, we didn’t think we could possibly see it in one day. And, boy, we were right! We spent three days enjoying ourselves and exploring everything offered at KSC.

Upon arrival at KSC, we went to Guest Services to obtain our Annual Pass. The process went very quickly and we also obtained a great deal of information about available optional tours, two of which we subsequently purchased: Cape Canaveral: Then & Now and a KSC Up-Close: The Vehicle Assembly Building – both excellent – as detailed below.

During the course of our visit we took advantage of every program included in the admission. On our first day, we participated in an informational talk given at the Rocket Garden. The individual provided a great deal of information about the various rockets on display. Ultimately, we learned that most docents or guides are former employees of NASA who return to continue to contribute to the program. Next, we went to the IMAX theatre and watched “Hubble 3-D”; it was excellent. Then, we proceeded over to the Astronaut Encounter Theater. First, a representative gave an update on current projects being undertaken at KSC. It was great to know that the space program continues on despite our astronauts having to hitch a ride on a Russian space vehicle to reach the International Space Station. Next, we stayed in the theatre and had the pleasure of hearing a presentation given by former astronaut, Gerry Carr. He shared some great stories with the audience. Gerry was scheduled to walk on the moon but the last few moon missions were cancelled (including his). He then went into the Skylab program and he spent many months in space in the Skylab Station (at one time, he and his fellow Skylab 4 teammates shared the world record for individual time in space: 2,017 hours 15 minutes 32 seconds). Gerry, in his 80's, is one of eight surviving astronauts from Skylab. Following his talk, he took questions from the audience and then was available for photographs. It was great to listen to and ultimately have a photo taken with an American hero.

After taking a quick break and some “R&R” time, we viewed the next IMAX movie, “Space Station 3-D.” It too was a great experience. To end our first day experience, we went to the “Launch Experience” – an exhibit that gives you the sensation of being in a shuttle that is being launched. Afterwards, it was time to call it a day as KSC closes at 5:00PM and it was about 4:30PM.

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	We made it!
	A wonderful quote from John F. Kennedy
	Lindy at the Rocket Garden
	A Gemini module atop a rocket
	Lindy in a Gemini capsule
	One of five engines on a Saturn V rocket
	Ed inside a Mercury capsule
	An Apollo capsule
	A cut-away into the Apollo capsule
	A mock-up of the Orion capsule due to be launched in 2017
	Gerry Carr, a TRUE American Hero
	A rendition of the International Space Station
	Information describing the Launch Simulator
	The seating configuration for the Launch Simulator

[ T O P ]

On our second day, we spent the morning exploring the Early Space Exploration Museum. The museum highlights the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs. It’s amazing what NASA was able to do in the 1950’s and 1960’s and the men who were willing to risk their lives to participate in these space exploration programs. One real highlight was the actual Mercury Launch Room totally intact just as it was when our first astronauts went into space.

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	Great quote from Dr. Robert Goddard, who is credited with building the world's first liquid-fueled rocket launched March 1926
	Quote from Wernher Von Braun, architect of the Saturn V launch vehicle that propelled the Apollo spacecraft to the moon
	The "Mercury 7" - Alan Shepard, Gus Grisson, John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, Wally Schirra, Gordon Cooper and Deke Slayton
	Actual Mercury Control Room
	Another view of the Mercury Control Room
	Lindy by the Mercury capsule
	Ed by the Apollo capsule
	Ed in the Apollo Land Rover
	A case highlighting the development of modern rockets
	The Skylab Astronauts
	The Soviet Soyus capsule
	Information regarding the Northrop T-38 Talon, a two-seat, twin-engine supersonic jet trainer
	The Northrop T-38 Talon

[ T O P ]

Afterwards, we went on the Cape Canaveral: Then & Now Tour. This tour actually takes you onto the Cape Canaveral Naval Air Station via bus. We visited launch sites and control buildings used during the beginning of the space program. Only one small tour is allowed out there each day. We began by taking an excellent tour of Block House 26 which is now a fabulous museum. It was from this room that the launch of America’s first satellite, the Explorer 1, was controlled. Again, it’s amazing what was accomplished during the early space program. It was also shocking how primitive the computers were that were in use at that time. They took up entire rooms and the power supplies were huge. Outside of the blockhouse we were able to see Launch Pads 17A & 17B. These were used for various rocket launches, including Delta rockets. Nearby the building was a collection of various missiles, including the Minuteman I, Pershing II and a Polaris.

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	Map of Cape Canaveral
	Interior of Block House 26
	This is Explorer 1, our first satellite in space, launched February 1, 1958
	Block House 26 served as a missile launching facility from 1957 - 1963
	Remember, these were high-tech computers in their day (NOTE: The nearby light fixture looks like a flying saucer!)
	Data storage units
	Look at the size of this power supply
	A Minuteman I Missile - A 52 foot Intercontinental Ballistic Missile with a range of over 5,000 miles
	The Hound Dog Missile - An air-launched missile for the B-52 bomber; the Hound Dog contained a nuclear warhead
	The Pershing II - A two-stage, surface-to-surface missile with a range of 1,125 miles
	A Polaris A-3 Missile - A submarine-launched ballistic missile which was successfully tested at Cape Canaveral in January 1960

[ T O P ]

We then drove a short distance to Blockhouses 5 & 6. The early astronauts really had guts to do what they did! It was from here that American’s first human spaceflight was controlled. From Pad 5, Alan Shepard was launched in a Mercury capsule atop a Redstone Rocket into a sub-orbital flight on May 5, 1961. The Blockhouse had been padlocked for decades and only recently reopened to the public. Everything was exactly the same as it was in 1961. Even the switch which launched the rocker was intact and we were allowed to push on it.

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	Block House 5/6 Complex The wall is a dedicated to Alan Shephard
	A view of the launch pad from the Block House
	Part of the Control Room where Von Braun and 107 other technicians were ready to shoot Shephard into space
	Control Room computers
	A computer designed to monitor Shepherd's body functions
	A hologram depicting a technician making calculations with slide-rule
	Looking through the Blockhouse window at a Redstone Rocket similar to the one used to shoot Alan Shepherd into space
	Again, massive computers
	Lindy at the original Firing Console; she's ready to send someone into space again

[ T O P ]

We then continued our bus tour passing by other launch sites used during the Gemini missions and then the Gemini program, both of which ultimately led to the Apollo program which landed a man on the moon with Apollo 11 mission. One reminder of the dangers of space travel was highlighted by a stop at Launch Pad 34, the site of the Apollo 1 fire which killed astronauts Lt. Colonel Virgil Grisham, Lt. Colonel Ed White and Lt. Commander Roger Chaffee.

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	A more modern style of Block House at Cape Canaveral
	Dr. Von Braun's office was in this building
	The Cape Canaveral Lighthouse - we were told it's the most photographed "rocket" because it's easy to see from the closest public launch viewing area
	Launch Pad 37 which is used for launching Deltas
	A plaque at Launch Complex 34 dedicated to the astronauts who died in Apollo 1
	The actual Complex 34 launch pad

[ T O P ]

From there, we left Cape Canaveral and returned to the KSC. We drove by the shuttle launch pads (39A and 39B) and the huge Vehicle Assembly Building (which we entered the following day). It was all amazing and enlightening! At the conclusion of the tour, we were dropped off at the Apollo/Saturn V Center. The Center is included in the normal admission to KSC as buses run directly to it. There you can walk underneath a complete Saturn V rocket which was used to launch our moon landings and learn even more about the Apollo program. It was awesome!! We also visited the actual Control Room (again totally intact) used for the moon launches and went through a simulated launch. Again, we didn’t leave the complex until almost closing time.

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	The HUGE Vehicle Assembly Building from our bus
	The actual Launch Control Center for the Apollo missions
	The Saturn 5 Engine Each of these five engines is 18 feet tall
	A side-view of the entire Saturn V rocket - it's HUGE - and you can walk underneath it to examine it from every angle

[ T O P ]

On our final day at KSC, we did a morning tour of the Vehicle Assembly Building. This is the first time since 1978 that guests visiting KSC can tour the inside of the Vehicle Assembly Building. The building was massive. We got to see firsthand where monstrous vehicles were assembled for launch; as well as where the future is unfolding for our continued missions into space. A new launch vehicle called the “heavy lifter” is being designed and a new space capsule called “Orion” is being built. The goal is to land on Mars in the 2020’s.

Once we got inside the VAB, we were met by a former NASA employee who had worked in the building. We entered along the edge of the Transfer Aisle. It is used to move elements of rockets among the building’s four High Bays. The tour guide told us about his experiences, and these were complemented by signage, regarding the work that went on behind the 456-foot-tall high bay doors. We got a close-up view of the VAB’s two 325-ton bridge cranes used to lift the shuttle orbiters and mate them to their external tank and solid rocket boosters with pinpoint accuracy. Signage also shows prospective operations that will take place within the VAB for NASA’s newest space exploration program, Space Launch System, or SLS. We also got to see the huge crawler transporter stored in the building up close.

After our tour, we drove out to view Launch Pads 39A & 39B which were used by the Shuttle program. En route we passed the crushed rock roads of the massive crawler transporters that transferred the assembled Shuttle rockets and Orbitor from the VAB to the launch pads. They also were previously used to transport Saturn V rockets to those same pads. Again, it was an amazing and interesting tour.

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	Inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) looking outside through two massive openings
	Looking up toward the top at the VAB with one of the many yellow cranes used to hoist items into place for assembly
	A close-up view of a crane capable of hoisting 325 tons (main unit) and 50 tons (auxiliary unit)
	A photo depiction of components being assembled
	One track of the huge crawler used to move assembled rockets/shuttles to launch pads; the gravel road shown later gives some size perspective
	A view of one of the cranes while being on an upper floor of the VAB
	The gantry to be used in connection with the ongoing project to reach Mars
	The old "mobile" platform which required the huge crawler to move it into position for launch
	The huge gravel tracks used by the "crawler" to move rockets/shuttles to their launch pads
	Launch Pad 39A used for Shuttle launches features both fixed and rotating structures
	Launch Pad 39B is currently being prepared for use by NASA's new space exploration vehicles
	A Memorial to the Apollo Program (1969 - 1975)
	A map showing the locations of Pads 39A and 39B
	A final view of the VAB

This tour too dropped us off at the Apollo/Saturn V Center. Again, we spent time there because there is so much to see. Then, it was time to leave KSC (for this trip) and make a visit to the nearby U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame which is included with your entry fee to KSC. The Hall of Fame has a variety of belongings, mementos and documentation regarding the brave individuals who served in the American space program.

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All and all, the Kennedy Space Center is a wonderful experience! Also, we learned that the Atlantis Space Shuttle is coming to KSC this year. Who knows, maybe we’ll get back again before our Annual Pass expires!

We spent one day at Sea World Orlando. We were able to see three shows which involved animals - the dolphin show; sea lions show; and Shamu. These were excellent but you had to arrive much earlier than the posted show time to get a good seat, especially if you didn't want to be in the "soak zone." There was also a nice interactive stingray exhibit. Otherwise, we found Sea World to be mostly shopping, restaurants and/or rides. We had hoped for more educational interactions and/or informational programs.

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	Flamingo "Greeters" on arrival into the park
	A colorful Pelican
	Three active stingrays
	The dolphin show begins
	This woman is straddling two dolphins
	Dolphin acrobatics
	A closer view of two dolphins in action
	The sea lion show
	A walrus joins the sea lion show
	A close-up view of the star
	Shamu

We were both glad that we took time for a one-day experience but Sea World is not on our “return visit” list.

	How a capsule fits on top of a Saturn V
	The Apollo 14 Lunar Landing Module
	Ed by the Apollo 14 "Kitty Hawk" Capsule
	The entry at the Astronaut Hall of Fame