Vacation Day 11

This was exciting. For Father's Day we planned a trip to head over to Kennedy Space Center. It has been 30 years since I was last there. The shuttle was still undergoing testing and would not launch for another two years at that point. We set off early that morning for KSC. It was about a 2 hour drive over there. I was a little surprised by all of the tolls we had. There were quite a few. $6 to get over that way. When we arrived we parked in the Wally Schirra section of the parking lot. They've named the sections after astronauts. Here's the real kicker. How much would you pay for two adults and two children to get into something like this? $50, $60, $75? Try $140!!! Ouch. I know the space program needs financial help, but wow. Getting in to the KSC is also like the security line at the airport. Metal detectors, bag searches, etc. In a post 9-11 age I guess that should be expected.

We started off on the bus tour, a 3 hour tour of some of the facilities across the center. We started at the Complex 39 observation gantry. It's a four story platform where you can see both pad 39A and 39B. The gantry is wired for sound, and for some reason, they were blasting the Wrath of Khan soundtrack. A little too dramatic. Although we didn't see a launch while on vacation, we did get to see the shuttle. Technically. We could see the tip of the external fuel tank several miles away.

We then saw the Saturn V complex. They walk you through a simulation of the Apollo 8 launch from here, including shaking glass in the windows. They have a Saturn V rocket on its side here. This is an amazing site to see. Just the size of this vehicle blows your mind.

We were then off to the International Space Station Facility. It was here that you could see actual components of the ISS being prepped and tested for future launches to the space station.

After that we were back at the main area where we ate ($$$$), hit the gift shop ($$$$$), and later got a drink for the ride back to mom & dad's ($$$$$$). all in all a great time and an awesome place to visit. I enjoyed my early Father's Day with my boys at the Kennedy Space Center. Ben & I will be talking about this particular trip to the KSC on a future episode of the CaptainsCast.