Father's Day Freebie

Day 47 - June 21st

Space Centers/Museums #8 - U.S. Space & Rocket Center
Today was Father's Day and we were going to spend it at U.S Space & Rocket Center, hoping to be able to get a tour to Marshall Space Flight Center as well. Upon arrival, we entered into an enormous space shop. Robin was ready to shop, but knew we needed to save that for last. We went to buy our tickets and saw the sign saying fathers were free. That was a special treat! We were informed that we could also have a free membership for one of us. First, we said we lived in Florida and wouldn't be able to use it. Then the lady at the desk explained it would give us reciprocal visiting to some other museums, two of which were MOSI and Great Explorations. We took the application to turn it in on our way out. However, before we left the desk, we got our NASA Passports stamped and got signed up for the 10:30 am tour of Marshall Space Flight Center. The bus tour was usually only once per day, but they were trying to do a morning and afternoon tour to see if they had enough interest.  

It wasn't long before our tour was leaving so we looked around close to the entrance until it was time to board the bus. Once on the bus, we had to show our photo ids since we would be traveling into a secured area. The tour guide gave us some background history as we traveled to the security gate. We were lucky, because the guard only talked to the driver. Sometimes, the guard comes on board the bus and checks everyone's ids, before allowing the bus to enter. Our stop was quick and easy. 

We drove by the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Administration Building. It had 2 big engines on display outside.

We went to many different areas while learning about the history of Marshall Space Flight Center. Some of the highlights we learned:

• Marshall Space Flight Center covers 38,000 acres, making it the largest NASA center. 
• It was first called Redstone Arsenal before becoming officially named Marshall Flight Center in 1959.
• In 1945, Wernher von Braun and his team of scientists and engineers came from Germany and began to develop the U.S. Space Program. They worked from Redstone Arsenal, and then Marshall.
• Its first mission was to develop the Saturn launch vehicles for the Apollo moon program followed by multiple design, production, and support of the Space Shuttles, International Space Station(ISS), and many other programs.
• The Huntsville Operations Support Center is also housed at Marshall. It supports ISS launch, payload and experiment activities at Kennedy Space Center. It also monitors rocket launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station when a Marshall Center payload is on board.

The first stop was at the International Space Station Payload Center, or Huntsville Operations Support Center. We chose the day to visit the building when they had the electricity off - no air, no lights, and no elevator. We had to climb 3 flights of stairs to get to the control room, or Payload Operations Integration Center. They must have been on backup power or receiving electricity from another source. Since it was Sunday, it was quiet with limited staff. We were able to watch the orbital path of the ISS. The tour guide was hoping for some communication with the ISS but it didn't occur during our visit.

We made a stop at the Historic Redstone Test Stand, where the engines were tested. We were able to get out and take photos. We also saw the block house where the people went for safety during the test.

Next, we drove by the Propulsion and Structural Test Facility. Every important rocket developed by the Redstone Arsenal, and later, the Marshall Space Flight Center has been tested at this facility.

Across the parking lot was the Saturn V Dynamic Test Stand. It was used to test ground launch vibration of the Saturn V vehicle and Apollo spacecraft in 1966-67. Apollo 11 was the first spacecraft to pass this final step before it set off on its historic moon landing mission. Skylab Space Station (1972-73) and Space Shuttle vehicle (1978-79) also used this stand for their ground vibration testing.

We also went to the Environmental Control and Life Support System building,where we learned a little about how they clean liquids, including urine, to drinking water. We learned the difference in appearance of modules and nodes on the ISS. On the way out, Robin spied a photo on the wall of one of her favorite astronauts, Leland Melvin.

The tour guide also shared how Wernher von Braun defied orders when he wanted to build a neutral buoyancy pool. He was told there was no need for it. However, he secretly proceeded with his plans to create an environment which could simulate the lack of gravity for astronauts to use to train for missions. Once it was completed, NASA couldn't say anything to him to stop production since it was already built. Astronauts began to train in it. Later, an even larger Natural Buoyancy Lab was built at Johnson Space Center for the sole purpose of providing a simulated weightless environment. We passed by the building that housed the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator, but we were not able to stop. This is a photo of Wernher von Braun testing out the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator.

Upon later research, we found that we had actually seen some National Historic Landmarks. We learned that the Redstone Testing Stand, the Propulsion and Structural Test Facility, the Saturn V Dynamic Test Stand, the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator, and the Saturn V Launch Vehicle that we would see next, were all National Historic Landmarks, recognized by the National Park Service's National Registry of Historic Places.

We got back to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, being dropped off at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration which housed a Saturn V rocket. Although we have a Saturn V rocket at Kennedy Space Center and had seen another one at Johnson Space Center, we went to see how Marshall had displayed theirs. Like the other 2 space centers, while all rocket stages are authentic, they were mixed and matched so they didn't belong to just 1 Saturn V rocket. Marshall's display was very much like Kennedy's, suspended from the ceiling in a horizontal position. 

The display area around the Saturn V rocket were areas of history. One side had timeline display areas with some interactive areas. 

At the far end was a replica of a lunar excursion module (LEM) as well as a lunar rover vehicle. Robin thought the tires on the rover were really neat up close. 

Also on this end was a display of Apollo 16 mission - actual capsule, parachute, and recovery basket. 

On the other long side across from the timeline displays were Skylab displays and the Apollo 12 - Mobile Quarantine Facility, where the astronauts spent isolation time after returning from their moon flights. One story we learned about the Apollo 12 - Mobile Quarantine Facility was it was considered surplus when the Apollo program ended. It was given to the Center for Disease Control to transport scientists who were exposed to dangerous viruses overseas. It disappeared for quite a few years and no one knew its whereabouts. In 2007, a supervisor from the Alabama Department of Conservation and a space enthusiast discovered an old Airstream trailer at a fish hatchery. He figured it was not a normal trailer and contacted the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. They confirmed it was the Apollo 12 - Mobile Quarantine Facility and began its restoration. A trail of paperwork that was also found showed it had gone from the Center for Disease Control to the U.S. Geological Survey in the early 1990s. It was used as a research station for the U.S. Geological Survey fish hatchery in Marion. In 1998, the fish hatchery and all of its equipment was transferred to the Alabama Department of Conservation where it was rediscovered. Now it is back on display at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

There was a scaled module of the new Space Launch System in this area as well.

Dean's back was really hurting him and it was obvious by his face. We decided to cut our visit short and let him go back and rest. We exited by way of the Mars Grill to see if we wanted to eat there. Dean will say that Robin would not let him eat there, but the truth was, nothing sounded wonderful to pay the high prices. We chose to go to Jason's Deli by our hotel instead since we were planning to leave anyway.

Back at the hotel, we laid down and took a 3.5 hour nap. It was great! We had really been pushing and it was a much needed rest.

When we woke up, we debated what we wanted for dinner. Dean really didn't want to go to a sit down restaurant because his back was still bothering him. After driving up and down the road, we decided to pick up soup and salad from Red Lobster. We took it back to the room and ate there. 

The rest of the evening was quiet. We were very thankful since the previous night had been so stressful with all of the noise. Robin asked the front desk about the commotion that had occurred and the front desk said they had several people inform them. Apparently, the guests involved had other people visit who were not welcomed. For tonight, the rest was quiet, peaceful, and definitely welcomed.