Space Coast

We spent the day at the Kennedy Space Center, and it was worth every penny of the outragous admission price. (Travel tip: Don’t buy $5 hot dogs!  Get your hand stamped and eat PB&J in the parking lot!)  All told, took the tour of the rocket garden, saw IMAX movies about the moon and the space station, learned about unmanned exploration in the robot scout tour, got a NASA briefing on recent and future missions, and heard an ACTUAL astronaut (Wendy Lawrence) talk about her experiences.  And that was just at the visitor’s center!  Buses took us to see the final pieces of the International Space Station being prepared for shuttle delivery in February.  Another next bus stop was an observation gantry, where we looked out at the sprawling campus, including both shuttle launch pads and the three mile path that connects them both to the Vehicle Assembly Building.  The third stop, the Apollo / Saturn V center, was mind blowing.  A complete Saturn V rocket, 380 feet long, is contained in this building, where we also got to touch a moon rock.  Yes, a moon rock. 

Best part?  We can go back tomorrow because we got our tickets signed and stamped on the way out!