NASA Launch with Thomas and family

NASA Launch with Thomas and Family 

Valentines Day

Wednesday February 14, 2024

This is the first time all of us going to the Kennedy Space center, so special that we could all go together. We wanted to leave at 9:00 a.m., of course we didn't pull out about 10:15 a.m.. it was a good hour drive.

So nice just spending that time talking together in the car.

When Jim and I bought our tickets, you can buy another day for only $5 each. We look forward to coming back together again, but we will miss Thomas and family.

 We spend a wonderful day together exploring this huge complex. We spent a lot of time waiting for the ladies to get their Starbucks fix this morning. 

So many things to explore. We had a guided tour

 in the Rocket Garden

 just inside the entrance. 

Then we did some ride simulations, one to the Moon, another one was to simulate what a launch feels like in a space shuttle. They were really cool.

There's also a bus that takes you around to the Saturn launch pad, and museum. You have to get on way before 2:30 in the afternoon. And there's so much going on here we didn't make it.

This picture explains how huge the International Space Station really is. Jim and I are fascinated with it, we've seen more sightings that we can count. Thomas is very fascinated with space, but he said he never saw one. Which is shocking since he is always up so early in the morning for work.

Way after 1:00 we were starving, so it took a lot of time waiting for food. They do have a lot of options. I hated the fact that I couldn't pack food and bring it in. I will have to figure that out for next time. 

After we ate we explored some more. We did get to meet an astronaut. He did a hour-long talk on what his career has been so far and different launches he's been on. He showed the light pollution as seen from space, Florida 

and then Italy.

 Was very interesting.

This is the actual space shuttle Atlantis that was in space.

Thomas knew a lot of details of space travel, that we never realized he was into it. I find it fascinating too, but he actually knew details.

Pictures just don't do it justice 

Hidden Power, above is a Rocket engine.

Seeing our universe with new eyes the Hubble fundamentally altered our view of the Universe and our place within it.

From high above the atmosphere, Hubble opened our eyes to the mystery and beauty of parts of our Universe we have never seen before.

This picture is worth in larging.

We spent a lot of time in the gift shop. So many things to look at. I really wanted the t-shirt that says I need my space, with a big NASA logo on it. Then they had a way you could simulate yourself as an astronaut where they put your face in it. 

Here's what Jim and I looked like.

Then we got to look at the Mars Rover.

And a simulation of what Moon looks like. 

This this is Mars 

That was truly fascinating. This picture was really cool, later it looked like Thomas was playing one of his video games.

They close at 5:00, which seemed early to us. But there was a launch today at 5:30. 

So they suggested you walk out slowly they weren't going to kick you out of the parking lot. We got to see a launch which was fascinating. 

When you heard the sonic boom

 and saw the rocket boosters laying back down again. 

A bird on the left, photo bombing my picture.

On the way home there was a beautiful sunset. 

Once we got back to the RV. It was quite late with the drive and heavy traffic. I made us all quesadillas. And then we all went home and crashed for the night.