Bahamas 2015 Day 2

Sunday September 27: Kennedy Space Center

We had taken advantage of one of the hotel’s packages that bundled 2 discounted adult ticket to KSC into the room rate. Upon arrival the previous night we had purchased two more discounted tickets – one adult for the 15-year old son, and one child ticket for the 10-year old. (I think KSC caps “child” at 12 years old – maybe even as low as 11.) The hotel also gave us a large map of KSC that included a lot of good pointers for “must see” locations for those visiting only 1 day. Knowing that it would be best to arrive as close to the 9AM opening as possible, we went down to eat breakfast about 815AM.

Carlson is in the same family as Radisson. I’m normally either a Hilton or a Marriott user and it appears that the Carlson brand is very much like Hampton Inn (Hilton) or Spring Hill Suites (Marriott). This means that breakfast consists of the typical cold/hot cereal, yogurt, fruit, pastries/toast and make-it-yourself waffles every day, along with a rotating hot dish. This particular hotel had no made-to-order options. We had a scrambled egg with sausage option on Sunday, and biscuits and gravy with breaded chicken patty on Monday. As is expected from these small buffets, the best that can be said is that you can fill your stomach to start the day. 

With breakfast completed we made the 20 minute drive out to KSC and started our day. It was obvious from the minute we stepped outside that avoiding Universal Studios was a GREAT decision given the 90+% humidity piled on top of an already hot day. Outside felt sweltering, so we were really pleased we were going to be able to spend more time inside than outside. It also turns out that late September is one of the least busy times at KSC. When we arrived at about 910AM there were only about 20-30 cars in the parking lot ahead of us, and the entire day we saw only a small handful of people – making for a GREAT, low-stress way to enjoy the exhibits.
Outside the main gates at KSC.  This is in the area where you buy your tickets.
We started by walking around the outdoor Rocket Garden, where about 7-8 different models are featured, along with mock-ups of Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo capsules that provide quick photo opportunities. Again, given that less than 20 people were wandering around at the same time as us it was easy for the boys to get into the capsules without having to wait or getting elbowed aside. 


The outdoor Rocket Garden.  Most of these are examples of pre-manned spaceflight rockets, used for either satellite launches and/or missile launchers.  IIRC, the largest rocket laying down in the background was the same model that was used to launch Alan Shepard on the first US manned mission.



A, D and R in a scale mockup of the Apollo Command Service Module.  While still early in the morning, temperatures were already in the high 80s at this point!
From there we toured the exhibit on the early days of space flight, mostly killing time until the first IMAX showing at 10AM. The show was about manned space exploration, including a look ahead at the proposed Mars missions. One thing KSC does really well is put together multimedia presentations designed to inspire you with the beauty of space and the nobility of exploration. The IMAX show was excellent and should not be missed. (We didn’t see the other show, which was about the Hubble Space Telescope – I think.)
E, A, and R ready for the 3D IMAX movie presentation.  
Leaving the IMAX we made our way over to the tour bus area and hopped onto the bus that takes you past the huge Vehicle Assembly Building, 

The Vehicle Assembly Building.
through the launch pad area 

One of several launch pads.  Each pad was configured differently from others.  For example, the Apollo launches required a difference configuration than the Space Shuttle launches.  I don't recall what the pad in the picture was used for, although I want to say it was for shuttle launches.


One of the giant crawler vehicles that would deliver an assembled spacecraft from the Vehicle Assembly Building the to appropriate launch pad.
...and eventually makes its way to the Apollo Space Center. This particular bus trip is included in admission. There are also 2-3 special bus trips that are available at additional fee, but for the first-time visitor the included trip seems like more than enough. We spent about 90 minutes at the Apollo exhibit, which includes two multi-media shows as you enter, plus at least one optional show once you get inside. The main hall is dominated by a Saturn V rocket suspended from the ceiling that is truly awe-inspiring. (I was 5 years old when Apollo 11 landed on the moon and remember watching on TV, so seeing this up close was particularly inspiring to me).
The engines of the Saturn V rocket.  You enter the main exhibit hall of the Apollo Space Center down at the end of part of the building and basically work your way forward, towards the nose of the Saturn V.

At many location throughout KSC volunteer docents are available to answer questions. All of them appear to have been affiliated with the space program in one way or another at during their careers, so one of the best questions to ask each of them is “what was your role?” – their own experiences make for some great stories!

After returning on the bus to the main KSC complex we made our way over to the Shuttle Atlantis exhibit. 

The booster rockets and external fuel tank of a space shuttle.  To appreciate the size, note A standing underneath a portion of the left rocket booster.

As we made our way up the internal ramps that would eventually lead us into the exhibit we again felt so lucky to be here on a slow day. We were certain that during busy summer months those long ramps would be packed with people, but today we got to the top of the ramp and were the first people in line waiting for the next multimedia presentation to get started. If any of you happen to have experienced the Harry Potter Studios tour in the UK you’ll remember that the “big reveal” at the end of the short film was the Hogwarts Great Hall set. In similar fashion, the end of the film at KSC leads you into the main hall where Atlantis is dramatically displayed. Again, an awe-inspiring sight.
Our first view of Atlantis.

The docent stationed here had a really interesting (and unexpected) story to share.  She was standing next to a cart that included some sample thermal tiles and a book of photos, so I thought perhaps she was somehow associated with something on the cart.  However, in response to my question "what was your relationship to the program" she responded with "I was a seamstress".  Hmm, OK.  So did she have something to do with the astronaut space suits?  Nope.  At this point she took us around to the back of the shuttle and pointed out some really large metal mesh rings that surrounded each of the three engines.  These rings were sewn together with stainless steel thread and had to be repaired after every mission. So our seamstress was actually an integral player in the engine system.  Fascinating!


The mesh rings around each engine are the light-colored rings seen here.  The docent we spoke with was a seamstress involved in the sewing of these rings.

 Before we knew it, we’d been at KSC for 6 hours and were starting to feel the fatigue of our early morning combined with the high temps, so we headed back to the car and made the trip back to the hotel to rest up, make use of the pool, and get ready for dinner.

Knowing that there was no Giovanni’s on Enchantment we opted for Italian food for dinner this night. Based on TripAdvisor ratings we decided to try Papa Vito’s, which was less than two miles from the hotel. It turns out that the hotel’s room service menu is, in fact, Papa Vito’s menu. When we had arrived the prior evening we had noticed a delivery vehicle sporting their sign outside the lobby. 

Arriving at the restaurant we lucked into one of the few parking spaces at the front of the restaurant. I’m assuming there was more parking in the rear of the building, but we didn’t notice any obvious signage indicating additional parking. Therefore, we were happy that someone backed out of a space just as we arrived. The place was packed when we arrived as it appears to be a pretty popular local spot. Dinner was average Italian food – nothing to write home about, but nothing to run away from, either.

After dinner we drove another half-mile or so away from the hotel where a Publix supermarket was located. Here we picked up two bottles of wine and a few forgotten items from home (sunscreen, toothpaste) before finally heading back to the hotel for our final night on land.

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