Space Bound

The Space Centre was one place I really wanted to go while we were in Houston, more so because for once we wouldn't be dragging kids along and having to explain everything to them.  On reflection the older ones would really have enjoy it, and the ability to read certainly helps in a place like this!

Anyway, I found it all fascinating, though can't remember 90% of what I read now.  Guess you'll just have to visit yourself to understand more of these pictures!  Give yourselves at least 4-5 hours though...

Space Shuttle Independence mock-up

Apollo 17 Command Module

Touching an actual rock from the moon

SkyLab Training Module

How to shower in zero gravity

The Eagle (I think)

As part of the visit you can go on two tram tours inside and around the actual Nasa 'campus'.  Our tour went inside Mission Control - on top of which flies a flag whenever an American is in space.  Apparently it's been flying non-stop for the last fourteen years.

This mission control room was the actual room used during the Space Shuttle missions, and will be used again for the Orion missions when they launch next month.  While we were there we saw a live feed of the astronauts in the International Space Station, who were handing over command as three of them were due to fly home the following day.

The tour also took us round the 'rocket park' whose biggest attraction is the Saturn V Rocket.  This was the most powerful rocket ever built and operated and is design played a major role in successfully transporting and landing American astronauts on the mood during the Apollo missions.  Over 36 stories tall, this Saturn V is one of only three left in existence.

It was massive.  Enough said.

I still don't really 'get' the whole space thing and desire to go deeper and deeper, but when you start seeing the list of things that NASA have developed that us normal punters use, you definitely start appreciating their efforts a bit more!