This year, February 15th became someday.

Huntsville welcomed us with heavy rain, heavy early evening traffic, and road construction that confused us and nearly gave our car’s navigation system a nervous breakdown. It almost gave MG a stroke. We got all turned around and thought we’d never find our hotel. We hoped it wasn’t an omen of things to come.

First thing on the morning of the 15th, we went down for our hotel’s complementary breakfast. The normally yummy make-them-yourself waffles tasted sour and underdone. [It wasn’t my fault. I swear.] The breakfast lady tried her hand at making one and encountered the same unpleasant result. We ate oatmeal instead. We figured we’d make up for the disappointing breakfast by having a nice lunch at the USSRC.

When we pulled into the parking lot at the visitor center we noticed that the USSRC was way, way, way smaller than the Kennedy Space Center and appeared somewhat rundown. The buildings and cracked concrete pavement needed power washing desperately. They were blackened with mildew. [One of my allergies. O joy.] This did not bode well for the visit.

The Space Shuttle Park, which can be seen from the parking lot on arrival, features the Pathfinder Shuttle Stack, the only full shuttle stack in the world—orbiter, external fuel tank, and two solid rocket boosters, all assembled. Pathfinder, a non-flight test vehicle, was the first shuttle ever built, its design modified on future shuttles. It is a historic space program artifact and yet it sets out of doors subject to the ravages of the elements. What’s with that, NASA? That’s almost criminal. Almost, nothing; it is criminal. Dang seriously criminal. As Ricky Ricardo would say, “Lucy—that is, NASA—you got some ‘splainin’ to do.”

We entered the main visitor complex building through the gift shop. [It’s also the exit so they get you coming and going]. Our admission fee covered the museum artifacts and displays, interactive exhibits, and attractions. IMAX and 3-D movies and the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) bus tour were not included. IMAX and 3-D give MG motion sickness so we passed on those but opted for the bus tour. When we purchased our tickets, we were told that the Mars Grill [the only restaurant] was unable to offer hot food because of a “water problem.” Cold grab and go sandwiches only. No nice hot lunch to make up for the crummy breakfast. Bummer.

The main USSRC complex is part museum and part interactive exhibits. We saw a recreation of Werner Von Braun’s office, military personnel armor and equipment, armored vehicles, and other advanced weaponry, land and air craft.

In the ISS (International Space Station) Science on Orbit exhibit, we walked through a model of the United States’ ISS module and watched the elementary school field trip children climb the Mars Wall.

When we took our lunch break— the choices were sub sandwiches (ham and cheese or turkey and cheese) or wraps, chips and drinks. It wasn’t until we searched for condiments that we noticed there was a salad bar. Hold on there. They’d need water to prepare fresh produce. If there was a water problem, how did they manage that? Something didn’t add up. Maybe it was the bottom line. Perhaps there weren’t enough visitors to make it profitable to prepare hot food.

After lunch we walked outside to the Historic Rocket Park, featuring the rockets from America’s 1950s space race with the then USSR. Mercury astronaut John Glenn called the USSRC’s Rocket Park “the finest rocket collection in the world.” All the rockets are outdoors, suffering the whims of Mother Nature like Pathfinder. The park’s asphalt looks like it took a beating from Bigfoot. The erosion on the rockets is visible and heartbreaking to see for a NASA buff. Doggone it, NASA, you need to take better care of those national treasures!

We boarded the MSFC bus tour next. I couldn’t help comparing the old bus to one of the sleek modern buses at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The tour bus was in rather shabby condition. The seats were frayed in spots and handles were missing. Worse yet, the air conditioning didn’t work. Our driver and our tour guide both waived the rules and let us open all the windows.

The MSFC is located on the grounds of the Redstone Arsenal. It is the space program’s rocket engine static testing site, which means they fire the rocket engines to see if they work but they don’t get to go into space. They don’t get to go anywhere. The early space shuttles Pathfinder and Enterprise were static tested there. The Redstone Test Stand where NASA tested the Redstone rocket that put Mercury Astronaut Alan Sheppard into space was designated a National Historic Landmark. It is outdoors, unprotected, and turning to rust. Such a shame. [Before and after photos below.]

As part of the tour we also got to visit the ISS Payload Operations Integration Center, also located in the MSFC. One of the operatives came out of the operations room to explain the center’s functions and individual job descriptions for the payload team. She also answered the tour group’s many questions. Through the payload center’s glass barrier, we were able to see a large screen with a live feed of the Earth’s surface from an ISS camera. So cool.

In another area, we saw the equipment used on board the ISS that turns the astronauts’ sweat and urine into potable drinking water for the entire ISS crew. Eww. Just eww.

Following the bus tour, we visited the Davidson Center for Space Exploration. The USSRC’s Saturn V Moon Rocket (one of three Saturn V’s in existence) used to be displayed outdoors and unprotected as are the rockets in the Rocket Park. Fortunately, enough funds were obtained to restore the rocket and to build the Davidson Center that houses the Saturn V Hall and contains additional space program artifacts and exhibits. One interactive exhibit, The Force, lets visitors experience the sound and power of the first test firing of all five F-1 Saturn V engines that took place at the MSFC. You can feel the vibration in your bones.

The USSRC was a letdown in a way. I suppose I expected more after the KSC, but comparing them isn’t really fair. They’re two different animals. The USSRC is more of a museum/educational facility, whereas the KSC—while also educational—is more like a theme park.

We left the outdoor rides—Space Shot and G Force—to the squealing and screaming kids who were obviously having a blast on them, and decided to call it a day. After we left, it occurred to me that there would never be enough grant funding from the State of Alabama to restore the USSRC and its space artifacts to their original state and to put the Pathfinder Stack under cover like Atlantis at the KSC. It would be a sad state of affairs if all those historic artifacts from the space program remained uncared for and left outside to rust and decay.

Are you paying attention, NASA? I hope so. Otherwise, space program history buffs may need to create a U.S. Space & Rocket Center Go Fund Me campaign.

When NASA began turning science fiction into science fact, it was only natural for me to drool like Pavlov’s dog at the very mention of the space program. Astronauts, rockets, and capsules—oh, my! Projects Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo. To the moon, Alice! [Kramden, that is.] Not to mention the Space Shuttle, a reusable spacecraft. [We actually saw a shuttle launch one year. Impressive—and loud!] The International Space Station (ISS) is a modern-day miracle. Fifteen nations worked together to construct and operate it in low Earth orbit. How often do we see that many nations working together on a peaceful endeavor? That was the real miracle.

A few years ago, I signed up for email notice of when the ISS passes over my house so I can watch it fly by—no telescope needed to see the ISS in low Earth orbit.

[You can sign up too at http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station]

In early February, MG and I were in Florida visiting my Baby Sis and hubby. We accompanied them on a Cocoa Beach outing, and so we had the opportunity to visit the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for the fourth time. As far as I’m concerned, a visit to the KSC is akin to a little kid’s visit to Walt Disney World. Admission isn’t as pricy as Disney World, but it isn’t cheap either. That probably explains how the KSC Visitor Complex is entirely visitor-funded—that means without US tax dollars, praise the Lord.

The KSC is a first-class operation, and it never gets old for me. There is so much to see, do, and learn, and there is always something new and/or different whenever we visit. The exhibits and movies are presented in dramatic, state of the art fashion. The Rocket Garden in which the outdoor space artifacts are kept in pristine condition. Heroes & Legends, which includes The Astronaut Museum. The Astronaut Encounter Theater. [So far, MG and I have met Al Worden and Story Musgrave.] Journey to Mars. The Astronaut Memorial. IMAX Theaters. A bus tour of the entire working spaceflight center, plus special interest [extra charge] bus tours: The Explore Tour [launch pads, Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s rocket launch sites]; The Cape Canaveral Early Space Tour [Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, landmarks of the Mercury and Gemini launches]; and The Launch Control Center Tour [the firing rooms where engineers perform system checks prior to liftoff].

Plus there is the fabulous Apollo/Saturn V Center housing the Saturn V Moon Rocket. [One of three Saturn V’s in existence, and it is meganormous!!!] The Apollo missions and the Saturn V rocket are presented with spectacular videos, artifacts, exhibits, and the historical reverence they deserve.

And—and—and  [::drool:: ::pant, pant:: ::sigh::] the last Space Shuttle to fly, ending the STS program! The actual, authentic, amazing Space Shuttle Atlantis!!!!!

Space Shuttle Atlantis, in its own exhibit center, is the jewel in the KSC’s crown. Atlantis receives impressive, practically pyrotechnic rock star treatment during its video introduction to visitors. When the video ends, visitors get to walk under the risen screen and approach Atlantis itself—suspended in midair—tilted at an angle with its cargo bay doors open for viewing. Visitors all pay homage to Atlantis by falling all over themselves and each other jockeying for the best angle from which to shoot photos of the KSC superstar. In addition to Atlantis, there is a shuttle-launched Hubble Telescope exhibit, and The Shuttle Experience, which feels as close to being a passenger during a shuttle launch as is possible without actually lifting off. Exciting, and fun, fun, fun!

This time around, we signed up for a special interest bus tour that wasn’t available on our previous visits—the Launch Control Center (LCC). Our guide presented a brief history of the space program, as well as the early instrumentation and hardware from its beginnings up to that of its current programs. We got a close-up view of the VAB before entering the LCC. Then came the piece de resistance—the firing rooms inside the LCC. Firing Room Three was in use, in preparation for the next vehicle launch. We were allowed to peek into the room through the glass panes in the locked doors, but we couldn’t enter and couldn’t take photos. We did get to enter and tour the newest firing room, Firing Room Four, which will be the launch control for NASA’s new Space Launch System (SLS). I took a photo of Firing Room Four from the vantage point of the Launch Director’s console on the room’s top tier of desks.

Afterward, our bus took us past several launch pads and crawler vehicles that moved spacecraft from the VAB to the launch pads. Our LCC bus tour ended at the Apollo/Saturn V Center for our fourth awe-inspiring visit there.

The KSC grounds are well-groomed, neat and clean, and there are several large, strategically located restrooms. There are seven dining and snack choices available. We found the food service in the Orbit Cafe to be extremely good. [We had the huge pulled pork sandwiches and fries.] The fleet of bus tour vehicles are comfortable, air-conditioned, and well-maintained.

Our last stop was to the gift shop, of course. All in all, a pleasant and thoroughly enjoyable first-class outing that made us look forward to a fifth visit to the KSC.

Drop by next time for A Tale of Two Space Centers, Part II—our visit to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in The Rocket City, Huntsville, Alabama.