Kennedy Space Center

The Kennedy Space Center is located on the eastern shores of Florida, next to Cape Canaveral and is about one hour drive from Orlando. Cape Canaveral is where they launched the Mercury and Gemini space missions but for the Apollo missions NASA built a new spaceport, the Kennedy Space Center. Since then NASA has launched all Apollo and Space Shuttle missions from there and plays hosts to millions of visitors a year.

We headed out to KSC a couple of days after the shuttle launch so the area was still buzzing from that and the fact that the shuttle was in orbit on a mission. We did the NASA up-close bus tour that took us close to the launch platforms. There are two platforms that are currently used to launch the Space Shuttle from where we stood, they just looked like a giant mess of steel and pipes. I'm sure there was method to the madness.

After the bus tour around the complex (where we saw the assembly building, launch control building, shuttle hangers and landing strip) we were dropped off at the Saturn V display. Here a Saturn V rocket is on display, along with equipment used during the actual moon missions or at least during their training. Seeing Carol's face when she saw the size of the Saturn V was simply priceless.

Back at the main visitor center they have recently built a space shuttle launch simulator. Using comments and suggestions from the actual shuttle astronauts they have developed the simulator to replicate the launch and give all people a chance to experience what those lucky few get to go through.

It was a very informative and interesting day. It's hard to fathom the shear size and scale of the operation there. Nothing is small and it's very impressive to be able to see where they launched man to the moon. As an example the roof area of the assembly building is approximately 8 acres. Imagine trying to mow that.

This walk way, used during the Apollo missions took the astronauts from the elevator to their tiny tin can on top of a rocket.	Space Shuttle sitting on the launch pad (taken by a friend a couple of days earlier)			You'd get a great view of the launch from here but it would be very loud	Launch control for all shuttle and Apollo launchers. Mission control is in Houston, Texas
The assembly building. Used for both Apollo and shuttle programs. Each strip on the US flag is as wide as a traffic lane on the road	The engines of the 1st stage of the Saturn V rocket		Gives you an idea of how big these things really are
A replica space shuttle at the main visitors center	Finding our star sign - Gemini	The giant walker they use to transport the assemblied space shuttle from the assembly building to the launch pad. It travels at less than 1 mph	The small red circle on the lower right is a normal size house door - big building isn't it!!!!