Events of Saturday, January 15, 2011

                Our night at the rest stop was less restful than we hoped. Sometime after midnight we heard the rumbling of a diesel engine nearby. Ben said he felt like his bed was vibrating, giving him a long massage. For the adults, the noise interrupted our sleep. Ah, well, at least we don’t have to get up early to go to work!

                Instead, we visited the “Space Coast” today. Our admission to the Kennedy Space Center included a “behind the scenes” tour of important NASA sites. We boarded a large bus, and the driver introduced us to the buildings and wildlife we saw. At one point, he called our attention to a large building down the road. The driver explained that, though it looked to be about a mile away, it was actually four miles distant. It was the gigantic Vehicle Assembly Building, 526 feet tall, a building so large that it creates its own weather (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_Assembly_Building ). In this building, NASA personnel prepare and connect the orbiter (e.g., Space Shuttle Discovery), the external fuel tank, and the solid rocket boosters. The bus ride provided constant education, sometimes from the driver and other times from onboard DVD clips. Our first stop was the “Observatory Gantry”, from which family members and VIPs view all launches. Next, we took a bus (again with narration and video programming) to the Apollo/Saturn V Center. The destination here served as a museum to the Apollo flights and featured plenty of artifacts, including the monstrous Saturn V, over 300 feet long. Then we returned to the Visitor Complex to watch a 3D IMAX film on the International Space Station. The film helped me to appreciate both the scientific and cultural value of this collaborative project.

                We returned to our RV for a quick lunch, to be ready for an interactive dramatic presentation called “Star Trek Live.” The general scenario is this: the host is a Star Fleet Commander, and he is greeting the audience as first year Star Fleet Academy cadets. An “emergency” interrupts his presentation, and we as Star Fleet cadets help him solve the problem. Since Pam and I are both Star Trek fans, we enjoyed this program more than the kids, who found it amusing but confusing. Next we enjoyed a simulation of a shuttle launch. About a dozen shuttle astronauts helped develop this simulation, and as we waited in line, we enjoyed watching video interviews of the astronauts and their shuttle experiences. Hearing about their experiences greatly heightened our anticipation. Specifically, the astronauts described in detail how the noise and vibrations increased in the seconds before liftoff. And then, as one said, “All hell breaks loose” and you realize that either you are dying or you are lifting off. If  this simulation did not come on the heels of our “Mission: SPACE” experience at Disney’s Epcot Center, I would have been much impressed. As it was, the ride was bumpy but not so thrilling. After this, we had a few minutes to peruse the gift shop before the center closed. 

                On our way to our campground, we stopped for about an hour at the International Astronaut Hall of Fame. Much smaller than the Kennedy Space Center, this museum had plenty of exhibits. One was called G-Force (reaching between 3 and 4 times the force of gravity), and since I was unimpressed by my earlier experience at the simulation, I decided to try out this one. The kids were in line before me, and upon exiting, they all warned me that it might be too much for me. Nonsense, I thought, I can handle G-forces, it’s that turning and twisting (like the teacup ride) that gets to me. I should have heeded their warnings. To reach 3-4 G’s, this ride turns and twists, simulating an F16 fighter. Let’s just say, I’m glad we’re done with the thrill rides for now.

                We had called ahead to reserve a spot at Sonrise Palms in the nearby city of Cocoa. We found it just after our projected arrival time of 7:30. After I left, the office closed. We enjoyed a special dinner of Costco quiche and green salad, followed by Costco cream puffs. How would we ever survive without Costco?