The Final Frontier

When I previously visited the Kennedy Space Center, it was the late 1980s and the Space Shuttle program was still active.  I've wanted to make a return visit for a while, so when we found ourselves with some extra time today, we stopped.  The visitor's center is completely different than I remember, and as is the bus tour.  I remember the Saturn V rocket as being on display outdoors, near the Vehicle Assembly building.  Now, the tour just drives past the VAB, but it gets *much* closer to launch pads 39A and 39B, which are now both under construction for future use.  Pad 39A is leased to SpaceX, and is being prepared to launch their new Falcon Heavy rocket here.  Pad 39B is being redesigned to launch NASA's next generation rocket, the SLS, which is intended to return manned spacecraft to the moon and then push further out, eventually to Mars.  It was quite exciting to see the future of the US manned space program in progress.  The Saturn V rocket is now impressively housed in a new facility that highlights the Apollo program.

When we returned to the visitor's center, we checked out the Atlantis exhibit, highlighting the space shuttle exhibit and organized around the shuttle Atlantis, which is displayed as if in orbit, suspended from the ceiling, with the cargo bay doors open, and tilted so that you can see inside the cargo hold on one side and inspect the bottom on the other. There is also a shuttle launch simulator, which provides a realistic approximation of what it feels like to ride the shuttle through a launch sequence into space...it is a real kick in the pants!

There was much more to do here...IMAX movies, a whole pavillion devoted to current and future missions to Mars, opportunities to meet astronauts, and more.  We didn't have time to see everything, but it is all well very well done, and for a space junkie like me, a completely satisfying place to visit.