Visit to the Kennedy Space Centre – Failure is not an option
If ever you are in Florida, the Kennedy Space Centre is well worth the visit! I published the shots of the Space Suits earlier in the week, so they are excluded from this selection of shots.
I have decided not to write about each individual photo, but as you can see I was intrigued with the rocket booster/engine thingies! 
We also listened to a lecture by a real astronaut, Ken Cameron, which was both informative and entertaining.
The desks are not a mock-up, they are the real desks and computers from the first mission. There were recordings playing and film of the event: it was really exciting.
Learning how the space station was built by all the countries involved working together was very interesting.
I had forgotten how many failed attempts there were when the USA tried to catch the USSR in the space race. Watching those explosions and crashes one after the other on screen as part of the tour was a reminder that man didn’t land on the moon without a lot of effort.
The sheer size of the full craft on display has to be seen to be believed. When one considers most of that housed fuel and nothing else, it is amazing. What could we achieve with a more efficient fuel?
I bought Mr O Jnr 1 a NASA t-shirt with “Failure is not an Option” across the front. I think this is a great motto! I hope the kids adopt it!
I flew home on a A380, a commercial aircraft that carries 450 passengers. Damn nice aircraft, I have to say. Great staff too! We hurl these tubes of metal into the sky on such a regular basis these days, I wonder how long it will be before we find a more efficient fuel and can reduce the time taken to travel half-way around the world. Whether getting to the Moon or Mars or simply trying to fly from the USA to Australia, it is all something our great-grandparents could only have envisaged in their dreams. OK – for the younger readers, maybe your great-great-grandparents. Your great-grandparents probably flew. Mine didn’t! 
I wonder when we will be visiting other planets on a regular basis.
Failure is not an Option.
Enjoy the photos! I’ve included a slideshow and a gallery so you can view which every way suits you! 
Click gallery images to make larger. Feel free to ask any questions in the comments and I will answer if I can. If you ever hit Florida, make time to visit the Centre but allow a full day, it will take you that long!
The vivid purple berries at the end have nothing to do with space travel, but they certainly stood out.
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- Rockets
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- Approaching the Kennedy Space Centre
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- Rocket tip
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- Space Station
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- Ken Cameron Introduction
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- Ken Cameron speaking
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- Atlantis
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- Main engine from below
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- Main Engine
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- Main Engine Details
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- Launching Pad
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- Launching Pad Information
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- Control Room
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- Boosters
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- Closeup
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- The business end
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- Section of spacecraft
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- Spacecraft on display
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- Space Capsule
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- Earth and Space station
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- Moon Rock
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- Vivid Purple
What a cool venture… maybe someday I’ll visit it. What made you decide to go visit it? Location? Interested? Just curious.
The boss thought is would be a good way to try and keep us awake to fight jet lag! He was right, it did keep us awake!
I was fortunate to squeeze in a 2-3 hour visit there while in the area on business back in the mid 1980s. Let me tell you that that wasn’t NEARLY enough time, and my travel partner had to practically drag me from the premises so we wouldn’t miss our meeting. Of all the places I wish I could revisit with plenty of time to enjoy the sights, the Kennedy Space Center is right at the top of my list!
Agree!!! We did all day. It was our “stay awake to beat the jet lag” strategy and so we really did use the time. Certainly need a full day. The tour buses are a great idea too, as they transported us from place to place. I am sure it has grown since the mid-80s, you would love it again!
I remember being there 12 years old, I remember it being pretty awesome
I would love to take the kids some time in the future. It was really awesome! Probably more so now than when you were 12 even, as a lot has happened since!
Oops, meant 12 years ago which would have made me 15 but not far away haha, I can’t even remember what it was like then apart from I knew I had a good time, I’ll no doubt go again. America has all the best crap lol!
They put crappy cheese on EVERYTHING!!! I am SO over cheese!
I watched on tv the recent transport of the space shuttle Endeavour through the streets of Los Angeles and was struck at how huge it was. It´s all fascinating! Thanks for the photos. I also flew on the A380 from Singapore to Paris in June this year and it was a great plane.
Very huge. Amazing how we have managing to develop such machinery, isn’t it? Always a Star Trek fan, I really enjoy space exploration. Indeed the “final frontier”!
Wow unbelievable, I find construction of buildings fascinating, goodness knows how they make things like this!
I found the engines just fascinating, which is odd for me, because usually I don’t care much for mechanical stuff, yet I took a swag of photos. All the wires and tubes and bits and pieces!
Seriously cool & I am very jealous you got there!
He he he – make it your next holiday! It is very cool. They are building the retirement home of the last shuttle now, it will be part of the display.
They have a simulated launch for visitors, but I couldn’t go on it as I had sprained my neck the week before and being in a strange land, I didn’t want to risk any complications!
Up for a vote in our household. I want to go to Florida…She Who Must Be Obeyed is checking out Stonehenge and Culloden…:-)
I can understand the fascination with Stonehenge, but having been to the space centre ( they spell it correctly too), I have to vote for it! Absolutely intriguing!