Space Centers/Museums #2 - NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
Today we headed to NASA Johnson Space Center and Space Center Houston. This was one of the highlights we were anticipating since it holds so much space history like Kennedy Space Center.
The day was very overcast with lots of dark clouds to the north. We weren't sure how it would affect our day, but weren't going to let it stop us.
The first thing you see as you head into the parking lot is Independence, the full-scale, high fidelity replica of a space shuttle orbiter, piggyback on top of one of the two modified NASA Boeing 747 shuttle carrier aircrafts. Independence was previously at Kennedy Space Center, but known as Explorer. For those of you in Florida, it was the one at the Visitor Center where you walked up the wrap around gantry and then were able to view the inside. Independence traveled by barge from Cape Canaveral to Houston. They are currently in the process of building the exhibit so the public will be allowed to view inside as well. It is just an awesome sight to turn in and see such a familiar sight, especially to Floridians.
As soon as we arrived inside, we got in line for the tram tour. They told us they were combining the red and blue tours so we would get to see everything in one tour. We waited about 1/2 hour before boarding and then the tram took off.
This flag was taken to the moon on Apollo 11 (first moon landing) and 17 (last moon landing) as the backup flag. The plaque is the second of two made, the first one being on the lunar landing module on the moon.
There are over 40 mission patch plaques hanging on the wall in the Historic Mission Control Room. They represent all of the missions that were accomplished while being controlled from this room.
On the opposite wall, there are 2 plaques for missions that were not accomplished but would have been controlled from this room - Apollo 1 and STS-51 Challenger.
There is also a plaque and mirror from Apollo 13's crew thanking the scientists and engineers for their dedication and hard work in helping to bring them safely back to Earth.
There was also a painting in the viewing room of the Historic Mission Control Room of Gemini and Apollo Astronaut Edward White, II. He was the first American to conduct a spacewalk during his Gemini 4 mission. He spent approximately 22 minutes in free space only attached to the capsule by an 8 foot tether. Unlike today's astronauts who receive hours and hours of training, White received very little training prior to his spacewalk. Although he was born and raised in Texas, his parents retired and lived in St. Petersburg, FL.
Another display in the Mission Control Building was a collection of Apollo Mission watches. These were really cool!
As we exited the Mission Control Building, we were informed by our tram guide that we would have to return to the Visitor Center due to lightning warnings within 5 miles of JSC. We were very disappointed because that meant we could not see the Astronaut Training Facilities which was suppose to be our next stop. However, safety comes first.
We spent the rest of the day viewing the movies and exhibits at the Visitor Center. Our favorites exhibits included the display of moon rock laboratories, Curiosity, Spirit and Opportunity rovers displays, and Apollo display items including the carbon monoxide scrubber created for Apollo 13 and the Apollo 17 capsule.
We thoroughly enjoyed the new movie called Journey to Space. We learned so much about the plans to go to Mars, such as there will be no need for airlocks because the spacesuits will hook into the land rovers and remain on the outside. Astronauts will enter and exit through their spacesuits. Another interesting fact is NASA is working on an inflatable habitat for the astronauts to live in during their lengthy travel to Mars. It will be inflated once Orion reaches space. Although the Orion first human mission is not scheduled until 2030, there are already new astronauts working training even though they may never step foot on Mars.
We really enjoyed our visit to Johnson and even remembered to get our NASA passports stamped. We visited Rocket Park before we left and compared how Johnson Space Center displayed their Saturn V rocket to our familiar Kennedy Space Center display. KSC is suspended high in the air so you can walk under it while JSC is in transport mode on wheels...quite different perspectives. In either position, it is still massive.
On the way home, we stopped to get gas at Buc-ee's. Les and Arlene had told us to check out the inside for a very unique shopping experience. We have to say we haven't quite seen anything like it.
After we got back to Les and Arlene's house, we met Laura and the kids at another one of their favorite barbecue restaurants. The food was delicious and the decor unique...antique clutter! The kids were not ready to say goodbye, but knew we were leaving in the morning. Hopefully, we will get to see them when they come to Orlando in June.
