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Kennedy Space Center

 

 

Today, we visited the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The visitor complex is very touristy, but they have preserved a lot of important space history. It was incredible to see the actual space shuttle Atlantis. Suddenly, there it was, hanging straight in front of us. We've seen it a hundred times in movies and in pictures, and now we saw it in real life. It was just like seeing Mona Lisa in the Louvre.

 

Space exploration is extremely important, and it was interesting to see in real life how they tried, failed and finally succeeded in their attempts to reach space. It's humbling to think about the engineering, resources and lives that has been put in to the space program. They made huge sacrifices for the good of all mankind.

Astronauts and engineers, we salute you!

 

In front of the NASA space complex.

 

The ISS. Norway is one of the conributors.

 

SpaceX does much of the US space stuff now. Friday they will launch a Falcon 9 rocket from the launch site to the right in the picture. It will bring fresh supplies to the International Space Station. Good speed!

 

The vehicle with which they transports the rockets from the VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building) to the launch site. It's huge! A photo won't justify it's massive size.

 

The famous Vehicle Assembly Building. This is where history is made. It's 160 meters tall, and is the largest one-story building in the world.

 

Kjell Arne in front of the boosters of a Saturn V rocket. Huge!

 

Kristine in front of a Saturn V rocket booster.

 

One of the Apollo space capsules used when returning to Earth.

 

Kjell Arne in front of a space shuttle booster rocket. The amount of energy required to lift this off the ground is mind-boggling!

 

Kristine in front of the actual space shuttle Atlantis.

 

The space shuttle Atlantis. Now retired and on display at the Kennedy Space Center.

 

Kjell Arne in front of the Atlantis.

 

At the rocket park.

 

The dimensions are huge, and the engineering is amazing.

 

The Atlantis is now retired and has it's own museum.

 

They made the ultimate sacrifice, so others could reach the stars.

 

The mirror memorial over NASA's fallen heroes.

 

 

Kristine with rockets in her eyes.

 

Seems like I've got the right stuff. Or at least the right hand size.

 

At the Titusville pier.

 

Titusville Space City.

 

Kristine in front of an old rocket engine on display.