Kennedy Space Center Full Tour of Visitor Center and VAB

[Codz]

I know I've made a few blog entries about the trip, but this is the main reason for it all. A tour of KSC VC and the VAB! Endeavour is in the VAB for likely the last time in her natural environment and ready for up close viewing in her finished state as she waits for the SCA to carry her to California. Atlantis is in one of the OPFs though of course. Not to mention an Atlas V in the VIB over near LC-41. So anyway, are there any requests for pictures? Any specific areas or attractions at KSC? I'd be willing to try to get them and upload them later.

 

[Ark]

Just strap a GoPro to your head and turn it on when the tour starts.

 

[Codz]

:rofl:

 

[Star Voyager]

Could you take a picture of N969NA for me? She holds a very special place in my heart.

 

[RisingFury]

Just strap a GoPro to your head and turn it on when the tour starts.

FlyCamOne.

GoPro is big, bulky, heavy and has an extreme fish eye lens.

 

[Codz]

Could you take a picture of N969NA for me? She holds a very special place in my heart.

Absolutely. I'll try to upload any photos in a few days at my computer and on to here.

---------- Post added at 09:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:44 AM ----------

So, we got back from KSC, and it was amazing. We saw Endeavour in all her glory sitting complete in the VAB. Actually, because she has her tailcone on for transport, they had to park her about 15 feet closer to the gate, and we got to see her at pretty much arms reach! I got plenty of pictures of her and a couple walk around videos. Right outside the VAB they also had the completed SLS mobile launch tower and MLP. Once we exited the VAB, they drove us out to LC-39A on the astrovan road, next to the MLP path. After we got finished with LC-39A, we drove past the very bare LC-39B, and the famous launch viewing stands and countdown clock. Next up, they dropped us off at the Saturn V building, where they had a simulated Apollo 8 launch with the original control consoles. I'd already seen the Saturn V during a previous visit during STS-114, but it was still amazing to see it again. We also saw a fitting video done with Neil Armstrong in it, talking about why we must explore. All in all, an amazing day. Seeing Endeavour in her natural environment before she heads out to California was probably the best part.

Also, Star Voyager, I had to hunt it down a bit, but I got a couple images of N969NA for you.

 

[Star Voyager]

Thank you so much! I hope you had a great time! Did you ride the SLE?

 

[Codz]

Yeah, awesome little ride/simulation. We also saw Atlantis's new building being built nearby. Looks like a nice addition to KSC.

 

[ADSWNJ]

Snap - I was there in the VAB 2 weeks ago!

So, we got back from KSC, and it was amazing. We saw Endeavour in all her glory sitting complete in the VAB.

Hey Codz - snap !! I was at the KSC Visitor Center 2 weeks ago, and did the same VAB tour complete with Endeavour in the high bay on the right side.

What struck me was the sheer vision and foresight of the NASA engineers building that VAB back in the 1960's in next to no time at all, all the time designing and building the vehicles and the entire infrastructure for Apollo.

The view inside the VAB is simply astonishing. You are looking at a 50-story chasm of a Transfer Aisle down the middle of the VAB, with high bays on all four corners for stacking multiple Saturns at once. The crane and lifting gantry on the roof are gigantic. I never realized that the components for both Saturn and for Shuttle were hoisted piece by piece and transferred through a "service hatch" into the high bay for mating. The tour guy said on our tour that the service hatch never contemplated winged craft like the STS, so the engineers had to figure out a way to transfer it in on a 45 degree diagonal, and even then, the clearance was just 6 inches.

The new Atlantis experience center in coning on quickly, and should be opening around July 4th timeframe next year. They are promising something pretty special to mark the successful retirement of the Shuttle!

 

[Codz]

Okay, here are a few highlight images. More incoming later.

The highlight of the whole trip, Endeavour. A magnificent machine.

The Apollo 14 command module Kitty Hawk.

Here's your T-38 image, Star Voyager.

Here is the Atlas V RBSP on the pad from a moving vehicle.:lol:

 

[Star Voyager]

Beautiful! Thank you so much!

 

[Codz]

No problem at all. I'm glad you asked me to look for it, I would have missed it otherwise.

 

[Codz]

I just dug up a few more photos from the trip, so I fgured I'd go ahead and show you guys.

Family picture of early NASA LV's in the rocket garden.

The Saturn IB in the rocket garden.

LC-39A.

The new SLS mobile launch tower.