Countdown to Liftoff

Looking for things to do while delayed here in Central Florida, I came across several options-most with a hefty price tag. My mom sent a list of local things to check out, so I clicked through the list and checked them out. Because phones know everything that you've said or anything you're thinking, yesterday I looked at my phone and an article came up about 3 SpaceX launches over as many days, 2 of which would be from Cape Canaveral, Florida- which is only 55 miles from where we are staying.

Immediately I started researching how to get as close as possible to watch a launch. Our options were today or Sunday. When you purchase a general admission ticket to explore the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (KSCVC), there is a first-come-first-served free bus ride to the Apollo/Saturn V Center where there are bleachers, announcers, and a few viewing screens just under 4 miles from the launch pads. This bus only runs when the KSCVC is open, so the other launch wouldn't be an option for us to see so closely. Plus, we wanted to explore the whole complex with the kids- we'd been cooped up inside for too many days, trying to escape the heat. (Helpful hint: Undercover Tourist got us a discount of $37 on our tickets and can be used any day, up to 6 months after the date of purchase.) KSCVC opens at 9 am, so with a 73-minute drive, we planned to leave around 7 am, knowing we (okay, just the kids and I) typically run late, especially in the early morning hours.

Upon our arrival at the parking lot I was completely geeking out and super excited. We all gasped as a large passenger bus ran into and knocked the drop arm off the parking ticket booth! The attendant was just as shocked as we were. 

The bus under the ME in WELCOME is the one that knocked off the drop arm.

We pulled into a parking spot and I didn't realize until we were walking back to the truck at the end of our stay, just how close to the entrance we parked. 

This is the open area before entering the gates.

The line was snaking around and we tried to proceed directly to the gate, as our tickets indicated, but quickly found out that everyone in the line was in line for the gate, so we joined them in waiting for the gate to open. Those of you who've ever rope-dropped at Disney World are familiar with the excitement of being among the first people in a highly-anticipated attraction. I didn't think anything of being there at 9 when the gates opened, but to my surprise, the announcer came over the intercom and welcomed us, then asked us to join for the national anthem. Bonus! The kids removed their hats and everyone looked up to the flag before being admitted through the gate.

We walked under the EXPLORE, which is where the tickets were scanned, and into the Rocket Garden.

Through the gate, we joined the next line to get on the bus to the Apollo/Saturn V Space Center. I took the kids to the restroom while Ben held our place in line, which moved fairly quickly. There was a short informational video on TVs during the ride. 

We passed by the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), which is the building most people associate with Kennedy Space Center or NASA. The video on the bus said each stripe on the flag on the VAB, is as wide as one lane on a road! It also said it could hold 3.5 Empire State Buildings inside of it. That really paints the picture of how large this building is- both inside and out!

Once we were off the bus, we stood in a queue again, this time to enter the Apollo/Saturn V Space Center. There were a series of movies and simulations in different rooms, which reminded me of a Universal Studios attraction. I had to keep telling myself that all of this was real and utilized in many historical launches. After the last room, the doors opened to the rest of the center with various displays and one of the 3 remaining Saturn V rockets suspended on its side, running the length of the building. Fun fact: This is the second of the 3 that I've seen in person, thanks to Space Camp in Hunstville, Alabama! The third Saturn rocket is located at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

This was the actual command center during the Apollo rocket launches. The back windows rattled and changed colors to simulate what it looked like and sounded like during a launch.

We arrived at this location with more than 2 hours to go until launch, so the journey from bus to Saturn V helped us pass the time. There was plenty of time to read, take pictures, and explore the inside displays, attractions, and gift shop before finding a viewing location outside.

There are two launch sites here. The one on the left (39 B) is getting set up for NASA's Artemis I launch in August (or later). You can see the launch site 39 A, where Falcon 9 is sitting, almost directly under the single white cloud at the top of the image frame.

Ben snagged us a row of seats on the bleachers, where we sat for 30 minutes before the launch. The kids did amazing, despite being in the hot sun, getting super sweaty, and having literally nothing to do except sit there and wait. They kept busy by setting timers on their watches, looking at the rocket from across the water, watching for wildlife, listening to the announcer, and people-watching. Within the last minute before launch, we could see the liquid oxygen and condensing water vapor building under the rocket, followed by the ignition and flames. About 15 seconds after we saw it launch, the 10-second countdown began and everyone laughed because the rocket had very clearly already taken off! We watched it go high up and disappear- or so it seemed to our naked eyes. This rocket, the Falcon 9, was taking 53 satellites into orbit for Starlink internet. The booster landed in the Atlantic Ocean on a drone ship. Since we had already gone through the exhibits at this location, we walked to the bus and returned to the main KSCVC to get lunch and refill our water bottles.

Atlantis has its own building back on the main KSCVC. Again, there was a series of shows, and the end of this one was amazing. I won't spoil it for you, but it was definitely my favorite part of all of the exhibits. 

Moose and I did the launch simulator- Roo was too small and Bear generally doesn't like anything that moves, so Ben stayed behind with them. It was very bumpy, but a fun way to experience what a launch would be like. I thought of my mom's friend's son-in-law, Jack Fischer (a Centaurus High graduate and former Louisville, Colorado citizen), a lot through all of this!

Lego Build to Launch was something Moose wanted to stop and see, but when we got there, it looked just like his room does when we are home. There was a table full of random lego pieces and open stations for building. We told him we had to move along.

Gateway was a new building, according to the map. It wasn't until I started looking at other NASA things online when we got home that I found out that the building just opened on Wednesday of this week! Wow. I wish we hadn't been so hot and exhausted after spending 7 and a half hours exploring and learning. I would have loved to explore more there, but- like the kids- I was done and ready for ice cream.

Ben knew this company, Sierra Space, right away. He said it is stationed in Louisville, Colorado- our hometown. This is one of the exhibits in the Gateway building.

In a blog from last summer's adventures, I came across this line (from June 15th of last year!) and it made me giggle:  "I guess space camp was the closest I'll be to witnessing the real thing."

Who knew, it would be 367 days later and all 5 of us got to witness the real thing, as close as possible?!