NASA-Kennedy Space Center
Ranked #5,503 in Travel & Places, #157,140 overall
Don't Forget about KSC!
If you're planning a Florida vacation, then don't miss seeing where history was made starting in 1958. As America mothballs its space program and no longer looks to the future, KSC will be here to remind of us of what we have accomplished.
Nasa Spin-Offs
Well, here's a collection of some of the things created for mankind by the space program. Many of these things that have saved lives, all are things people all over the planet use every day.
Microwave ovens, velcro, smoke detectors, TV satellite dish, ear thermometer, cordless tools, semiconductors, microchips, air quality monitors, virtual reality, advanced keyboards, laser Surveying, Aircraft controls, Lightweight Compact Disc, scratch-resistant eyeglass lenses, water purification, portable solid-state coolers/warmers, athletic shoes, dustbuster, home security systems, flat panel televisions, high-density batteries, trash compactors, food packaging and freeze-dried technology, sports bras, hair styling appliances, fogless ski goggles, composite golf clubs, hang gliders, art preservation, quartz crystal timing equipment, weather forecasting, environmental control sensors, wind monitors, hydroponics, fire resistant materials, radiation insulation, whale identification method, noise abatement, pollution measuring devices, pollution control devices, smokestack monitor, radioactive leak detector, earthquake prediction system, sewage treatment, energy saving air conditioning, air purification, digital imaging breast biopsy system, breast cancer detection, laser angioplasty, ultrasound skin-damage assessment, human tissue stimulator, programmable heart pacemaker, ocular screening, automated urinalysis, medical gas analyzer, voice-controlled wheelchair, Arteriosclerosis detection, ultrasound scanners, automatic insulin pump, portable x-ray device, invisible braces, dental arch wire, palate surgery technology, clean room apparel, implantable heart aid, MRI, bone analyzer, cataract surgery tools, magnetic liquids, welding sensor system, micro lasers, magnetic bearings, plasma-sprayed engine coating, interactive multi-media training, high-pressure water stripping, advanced welding torch, gasoline vapor recovery, self-locking fasteners, machine tool software, laser wire stripper, lubricant coating process, wireless communications, engine coatings, engine design, personal radiation detectors, remotely-operated robot, personal alarm system, emergency rescue cutters, lighter-weight firefighter's air tanks, lightning detectors, self-righting life rafts, storm warning services (Doppler radar), firefighters' radios, lead poison detection, fire detector, flame detector, corrosion protection coating, protective clothing, and robotic hands, studless winter tires, high-temperature composite materials, laminar airflow air purification, lightweight composite materials, improved aircraft engines, environmental-friendly lubricants, flywheel Energy Storage system, aircraft design, safer bridges, emission testing, airline wheelchairs, electric car, auto design, methane-powered vehicles, wind shear prediction, and aircraft design analysis
It Came from Outer Space: Everyday Products and Ideas from the Space Program
Amazon Price: $59.41 (as of 06/03/2012)
Current weather conditions in Orlando, FL (32899)
Local Pollen Reports
77°F (Feels like 79°F)
Last update: 6/3/12 11:53 PM EDT
Humidity: 69%Visibility: 10.0 mi
Dew Point: 66°F
UV Index: 0 (Lawn and Garden Weather)
Barometer: 30.01in falling
Moon: Rush Hour Traffic
Wind: 6mph From: Airport Conditions
Are you wearing gold? Then you are touching the universe. Gold is made in the heart of a supernova or in neutron star collisions, the most powerful explosions in the universe.
Growing Up With NASA
Space and the Florida Cracker
Florida Cracker- someone born and raised in Florida
Before 9/11, the bus tour at NASA used to be a whole lot better.
How much better?
Well that's how close you used to be able to get to the shuttle back in 1996. Today, there's a stop a few miles from the shuttle. Bring your telephoto lens and hope it's a clear day.
The crawler-transporter. This sucker is what the shuttle rides on from the VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building) to the launch pad. They were originally used to transport the Saturn IB and Saturn V rockets during the Apollo, Skylab and Apollo-Soyuz programs.
Sometimes you get to see it behind the VAB as the bus goes past.
From the open people-sized doorway of the VAB you could feel the wind and occasionally the rain. Yes, rain. The building is so freakin' big that it has it's own weather inside.
The VAB is 526 feet (160.3 m) tall, 716 feet (218.2 m) long and 518 feet (157.9 m) wide. It covers 8 acres (3 ha), and encloses 129,428,000 cubic feet (3,665,000 m3) of space.
Now days you get to see it out the window as the bus takes you past it or off in the distance as you drive to KSC or Merrit Island. On the bright side, there are no longer armed guards patrolling every bus stop and at the entrance of the park, but you do have to go through a metal detector and remove all the metal from your body.
2004 and the big Saturn V rocket
Notice the STS-95 mission patch on his shirt? That's John Glenn's second trip to space!
2007
I wasn't quick enough on this one, but this is milliseconds after our little Cracker shook John Glenn's hand. Notice the boy is wearing the shuttle mission patch from Glenn's 2nd historic flight into space and the totally hero-worshiping grin from ear to ear?
2011
And here he is today!
Still wearing Vans, long baggy shorts (lots of pockets), black shirts, and totally thinks that John Glenn is THE MAN!
Looking through a telescope is traveling in time. Even the light from our star is 8 minutes old by the time you see it.
Encounter with Tiber
Amazon Price: $97.34 (as of 06/03/2012)
Have you read this book? OMG, it's fabulous! Science fiction by a real live astronaut!
Astronaut Links
- Interview: Apollo astronaut Al Worden
- Col. Al Worden, an Engineer and Apollo 15 CMP, talk about the back side of the moon, the universe, and everything.
Sci-Fi Summer
June 11 - September 5, 2011
NASA adds a little Star Trek to the place!
So after you visit the Rocket Garden, be sure to see some of the sci-fi displays and the new Star Trek show.
"Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!"
Squeeee! Lost in Space!
did you always wonder what it said close up?
Blast From the Past
The Mercury Seven
Classic Astronaut Memorabilia at Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center has decades of memories!
It's Good to be an Astronaut!
Vanguard
Saturn V Center
Make time to take the bus tour (included with the price of admission) out to the Saturn V Center!
Have you ever wondered about those little ball shaped gizmos on all the old timey rockets?
Yeah, helium tanks. For fuel tank pressurization! Nifty.
Depending on the time of day/year, it's either going to be dead empty and pleasant or packed and not so much fun. If you don't like it here, there's another (almost always jam-packed ) restaurant back at the main entrance by the gift shop.
pizza, pizza
Back to the Beginning
After your bus brings you back, go do the Shuttle Launch Experience
Experience Lift-Off at NASA
If you haven't seen a gator YET, go look in that body of water near the shuttle area. Ain't he a cute little fella? That mean old turtle gave him a bonk on the nose then swam off.
Dots!
Get your Dippin' Dots (ice cream)!
Banana Split flavor
Alien Crunch flavor
Don't Miss...
What did NASA have then that it doesn't have now?
Resolution.
The Case for Mars: The Plan to Settle the Red Planet and Why We Must
Amazon Price: $2.51 (as of 06/03/2012)
Visit Kennedy Space Center
Keep the Dream Alive
NASA In the News
- Rancor clouds final shuttle mission
- Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, and someone never known to be a rabble-rouser, recently co-wrote with fellow Apollo astronauts Jim Lovell and Gene Cernan an op-ed column in USA Today declaring that the space policy of the Obama administration is in "substantial disarray."
- Congress Puts NASA and JWST on the Chopping Block
- The House just released its Appropriations bill that covers science funding for NASA and the cuts are nothing short of savage. The galling part is that the House is requiring that all funding for the James Webb Space Telescope, Hubble's successor, be cut entirely. In other words, they are canceling the JWST program.
- NASA's Stillsuit: Atlantis Crew to Test Pee-Recycling Bag
- NASA's recycler will use a sugary solution injected into a semi-permeable inner bag, which is nested inside an outer bag. Dirty fluid that's pumped into the outer bag will slowly pass through the inner bag and into the sugary solution, leaving behind its contaminants. On Earth, the double-sack system makes about a liter of sports drink-like fluid in four to six hours.
- NASA to help ATK build new rocket
- WASHINGTON - NASA and Alliant Techsystems of Minnesota agreed Tuesday to share data as ATK attempts to build a rocket that could launch astronauts as early as 2015.
America's Last Astronauts
STS-135 crew, the last space shuttle
- Chris Ferguson, Commander
- Doug Hurley, Pilot
- Rex Walheim, Mission Specialist
- Sandy Magnus, Mission Specialist
Need More Space?
Hurry! Go To NASA!
Because NASA has no space ships, you may now tour the INSIDE of the Vehicle Assembly Building! This hasn't been done in 37 years and they may stop at any time!
What People Are Saying...
Enjoy my Photography?
My photos can be purchased at my Zazzle store. If you're a model in the Central Florida area, my Model Mayhem number is 1640818. If you're not a model but want to look like one in your next portrait, drop me a line.
More Florida Adventures
Ground Control to Major Tom...
What are YOU saying?
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debnet
Nov 2, 2011 @ 1:51 pm | delete
- Now why didn't I bless this one before? Well, I'll soon remedy that! Blessed!!
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maximross
Oct 31, 2011 @ 11:56 pm | delete
- The KSC is a great place to visit, 4 times there for me already!
Great punch video by Buzz!
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Geniusabi
Jul 18, 2011 @ 6:16 pm | delete
- never went to it. Hope might go in future. thanks for sharing.
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debnet
Jul 18, 2011 @ 8:49 am | delete
- I had a fantastic day at the Kennedy Space Centre about three years ago. I'm not particuarly into space stuff but we had the chance to see the STS -21 shuttle launch from Titusville and then spent the next day at KSC. I wouldn't miss it for the world. I'm coming back to Florida at the end of next week but unfortunately we'll be nearer Miami and I don't think we'll get back to KSC... would be cool if we did though :)
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nancycarol
Jul 9, 2011 @ 1:29 pm | delete
- I think it's sad that we have decided to eliminate the shuttle program. Riding along with Russia is not my idea of being active in space. We have lots of money to throw away on useless studies on the mating habits of dragonflies or such, but nothing for our space program! So wrong! Thanks for sharing this piece of American history.
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VickiSims
Jul 8, 2011 @ 10:30 pm | delete
- I would love to visit the Kennedy Space Center - great lens!
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JoshK47
Jun 28, 2011 @ 1:14 pm | delete
- I need to take a trip out there again - the times I've gone, though, seeing the Saturn V for the first time brought tears to my eyes. It's just so amazing, especially consider all that went into making it.
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mbgphoto Jun 28, 2011 @ 8:24 am | delete
- Very interesting lens...like how you changed the intro info into that first box...Blessed by a SquidAngel
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Cinnamonbite
Jun 28, 2011 @ 8:53 am | delete
- A little sleep makes a huge difference, LOL
Thanks for visiting TWICE!
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- Looks like you had a great visit. Thanks for sharing.
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by Cinnamonbite
This is my camera. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
I'm an award winning fine art/nature photographer in Florida and I hate talking about...
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