Friday 1st March: Rocket Launch

There seems to be about one rocket launch a month from the Kennedy Space Complex. The one scheduled today at 10:10am is an unmanned Falcon 9 supply rocket. It is destined for the International Space Station which orbits at 370 km (230 miles) above the Earth. The capsule in the nose of the rocket contains the supplies, and when these have been unloaded (Big Macs, popcorn, Cokes etc.?) the nose cone will then return to Earth having been loaded with completed experiments and samples from the space station. And empty cans and packets.

We watched the launch from the Kennedy Space Centre Visitor Center and were patched in to launch control. We’ve all heard it before, but it’s more exciting because you’re actually there: “Three minutes and counting.” Then, “… 3…2…1…zero. We have liftoff!”

 

A confession to make here- this isn’t one of my photos. From where we watched we couldn’t quite see the launchpad itself, and also my camera recorded only the extreme brightness of the rocket motor, and nothing else. This had all the drama of a photo of a 60 watt light bulb.

The Visitor Center has numerous exhibits, for example the rocket garden. Each rocket has an information plaque detailing its contribution to the space story.

Space travel isn’t for the claustrophobic. This Gemini nose cone sat on top of the rocket and contained two astronauts, side by side. They stayed in this cramped space for up to 2 weeks, in their seats the whole time. The Gemini project ran as part of the Apollo moon landing programme, to test the capsule’s capabilities, and also man’s durability, in space. It’s about 12 feet long (4 metres).

We also attended a talk given by a real astronaut. He had piloted the Space Shuttle in 1984, being previously a test pilot as many astronauts were. We learned some fascinating insights into personal aspects of space travel and weightlessness, as well as the broad brush of the overall Shuttle Programme.

You say you won’t fall for that gimmicky photo-shoot- but here we are with astronaut Jon McBride. Actually, one of his aides used our camera and there wasn’t a charge.

The two separate days we spent at the Kennedy Space Complex were truly eye-opening. The whole experience was well organised and presented, and excellent value for money. Of course, there’s a lot of hype and flag waving, but the Americans have achievements to be proud of.

You pick up the mood and even the schmaltzy JFK fountain gives you a warm-hearted feeling as you leave, though you can’t be sure whether Jack is looking with visionary eyes at the heavens or imagining another sort of star!