Houston (Johnson) Space Center

Five years ago we visited the Houston area and didn't take the time to visit the Houston Space Center.  Big mistake! This time we set a day aside to tour this national treasure and we were so glad we did.  Actually the HSC was only about 10 miles from our camp so getting there was no big deal.

OMG ...50 years of space travel?  My how time flies.

They open around 10:00am but we were a little lazy getting around and arrived about noon.  A couple of tickets with a discount coupon from the local visitors center costs us about $32 dollars.  You step inside the main building and are flooded with dramatic displays of all kinds of space vehicles hanging from the 50 foot ceiling and all around the circumference.  If you have a burning desire to jump into a flight simulator ...  they have them.  Fly the shuttle or try to land the moon lander.  Not for those who suffer motion sickness, but I think most all managed to keep their lunch down even though you get tossed about quite a bit.  Need to ask a question about space travel ... no problem.  NASA people are everywhere and there is not many questions they can't answer.  I wanted to know where the men's room was and I received expert instructions BTW.  Speaking of the Shuttle ...

Parking is apparently a problem here.

This is the Shuttle pilot's seat.  Do you see where they plug in their Ipods?

Since they have a large variety of displays, it is important that you schedule your time on what you want to see.  A tour of whole facility is part of the ticket price so we got in line for the next tram trip out.  We jumped on board the covered tram accompanied with about 50 other tourist.

These were our 'tram buddies''.  Great kids ... and pretty too!

As we wandered around the various buildings they all looked pretty sterile.  Few windows in the building and only a number identifying them.  Security appears to be very tight  No walking off with a moon rock sample.  But as we drove around the guide would explain what was going on inside the various buildings.  Astronaut isolation facility (after space travel they might need to be de-bugged I guess) ... moon rock storage building, space vehicle development and huge training buildings.  The tram stopped at the space station training center and we moved up to a viewing area high above the space that contained full sized mock ups of all our major space station modules.  You cannot understand or appreciate the size of these vehicles until you see them up close.

You're only seeing about half of the building in this shot.

Space Station training module Zarya.  A Russian module they built and sent to the ISS.

Module mock ups for future Orion Project to Mars?

It's absolutely amazing to me how we can blast these size objects off the face of the earth.  Then when you get them positioned in orbit, a couple of guys with wrenches and power tools can assemble this high tech city some 300 plus feet long ... all while in the vacuum of space.  If you've read any of my previous blog posts you know that I'm really hooked on this stuff.

We left the big training building and was taken to a long building that had an image of the old Saturn V launch vehicle.  This was pre-shuttle technology but once we walked into the building there was a real Saturn V rocket laying horizontal on a large mobile platform.  It's the second time I'd seen a Saturn V with the first time at Cape Kennedy in 1968.  We got within 200ft of the rocket as it was on the launch pad and it was quite a sight.  Security won't let you anywhere near the rockets now but it was a kinder, gentler time.  Anyway, walking into this building and being so close to this monster you can touch is pretty neat.

This is one big rocket.

First Stage Booster.  This baby will dry your hair in no time!

Second Stage Booster

Third Stage Booster

After the tram tour we enjoyed various films and demonstrations that rounded out our day here.  The Space Center has something for adults and kids alike so make it a stop the next time you're in Houston.

Mars Lunar Lander Demo.  This gal was really knew her stuff!

Mock up of Lunar Lander

Latest arrival to the Space Center.  It should be ready for viewing inside soon.

This was a real thrill for me and I even think Sharon enjoyed herself as well.  Would I do it again?  You bet!  The exhibits change now and again and they even offer (for a price) lunch with one of the astronauts!

With yet another item checked off the old 'bucket list' we'll move on tomorrow to Kinder Louisiana and try our luck at the Caushatta Casino.

Still livin' the dream here in earth space.

Phil