Florida Trip Day 3 - Kennedy Space Center

This is what Ricky was looking forward to most. I was also excited to see it but I don't think the boys had much of an idea as to what to expect. We started the day bright and early so that we could be there when it opened. There was so much to do and see and it really did take us the full day. We started with a bus tour around the property to see a couple of the launch pads before heading to see the Apollo rocket. It was on that ride that we also saw our first alligator of the trip. We also learned about the privately funded Space X program along with so many facts about the rockets and procedures in our governments programs. I was initially worried about how much the boys would enjoy it, or what they would get out of it, but there was so much to do and see that we kept busy the entire day and they really did learn a lot.

As long as I can remember, we always had astronauts going to space. My boys will only know a life where going to the moon or Mars is a reality. When you sit and really think about what NASA and the country went through to get an astronaut into space, it's absolutely remarkable. It was very touching to sit and hear accounts, or see reenactments, of the tough times in the space program when things didn't go according to plan and lives were lost. It was such a breakthrough when it finally worked and it opened up a world of realistic opportunities for the generations to come. One of my most memorable points in the day was watching a short film about everything that went into making the Atlantis - the struggles, pride, preparation, success, failures and then at the very end they show you the actual Atlantis shuttle through the movie screen. It was break taking. I would highly recommend anyone going to the Space Center and hope that we have an opportunity to go back one day.

 "For the eyes of the world now look into space, to the moon and to the planets beyond, and we have vowed that we shall not see it governed by a hostile flag of conquest, but by a banner of freedom and peace." John F. Kennedy

 United Nations

 Launch Pad

 The building on the left is the control center and the building on the right is where they make the rockets and then they open the large gray doors for the rockets to be rolled out through. 

 Lincoln on the bus tour. 

 These rock tracks is the path the rocket would take from the building location to the launch pad.

 Space X

 This is the transporter and if I'm not mistaken, a mobil launch pad. 

 This is the building that to me is the face of NASA. 

 This is a view of how the control center looked in it's original state. 

 This is an Apollo. 

 The boys checked out all the gear, tools, suites, etc. that an astronaut would have. 

 Inside the capsule of the rocket. 

 The Atlantis. This one took 13 mission trips to space. 

Logan chose to buy the Atlantis rocket as his souvenir and he was s thrilled to show it in the picture along side the giant picture of it on the wall.  

 This is one of the Mars rovers.