We finally make it down to Cape Canaveral to visit the Kennedy Space Center.
It is about a 1.5 hour drive.
We cross over the Indian River
We make it!
Yes! Let's explore!
There were a gazillion school kids outside the gates so we decide to go on the bus tour over to the launch pads and the Appollo / Saturn V Center first thing.
That's the vehicle assembly building ahead on the left. Originally built to accommodate the vehicle assembly for the Apollo and
Saturn missions, the VAB underwent renovations to support the Space
Shuttle. 525 feet tall, 716 feet long, and 518 feet wide, the volume is almost 4 times that of the Empire State Building. It is so large it manufactures it's own weather. The American flag, used 6,000 gallons of paint. At 209 feet high and 110 feet wide, the stars are six feet
across, the stripes are nine feet wide, and the blue portion is
approximately the size of a regulation basketball court.
The six-million pound Crawler-Transporter moves space vehicles to the launch pad at a
mere one mile per hour, and a gas-guzzling 42 feet per gallon, the
Crawler can position the vehicle for launch with an accuracy of one
inch.
It travels along this route - the crawler straddles both sides of the grassy area.
Launch Pad 39A
We get dropped off at the Apollo / Saturn V Space Center
Secured to the ceiling is the Saturn V the largest rocket ever flown.
And it is huge!
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
The Service Module
and lastly, the Command Module. So it basically sits on 5 gas cans.
I tried to get the whole rocket in on one picture
Apollo 14 Crew Capsule
Space suits
Next stop the Atlantis Shuttle.
We got inside the building and there were hundreds of people and kids lined up the spiral staircase and the sound was deafening. I suggested we come back later. Outside, Gary asked one of the workers why it was so busy. Turns out it was the line for one of the Imax Movies and we got directions how to bypass all that and get to the Shuttle
Gary says "I got this!"
Last stop for the day - the Hall of Fame
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