NASA Houston visit

Entrance
Lobby

Retired rockets

Paul and Marsha in rocket engine

Duane and Louise on the moon

Astronaut Marsha

Moon rover mockup

Dwarfed by the Mercury rocket & engines

Astronaut Louise

Shuttle command center

Hello from NASA's Space Center Houston. We toured this complex today with friends Paul and Marsha Weaver. The Space Center is home to several displays including a film and artifact timeline gallery of the space programs (where we touched an actual moon rock), an update of current NASA programs, a display of the types of spacesuits used, an inside look of the (hopefully) future space station living module, a walk-through mockup space shuttle, a lots exhibits and hands on activities, and the usual gift shop, food court, and kids' stuff.

From the center guest board a tram for a tour of the Johnson Space Center. This occupies more than 16oo acres and employes more than 14000 people including contractors and civil servants. It is home to Mission Control Center where Space Shuttle missions are monitored and directed from seconds after launch to landing. Astronauts are trained here and the Space Shuttle program is managed. This Center houses more than 800 lbs of lunar rocks and soil. The tram makes two stops. The first is at one of the astronaut training centers. Guests walk an enclosed catwalk viewing several training moduals. The other stop is at a rocket display. Guests see "retired" rockets and engines up close in an outdoor display. Inside the building is a full sized module and all of the fuel cannisters. Guests walk along the assembly while an interpretor explaines the purpose of each stage of the rocket.

We spent the whole day enjoying all the Center had to offer, including some snacks, but excluding the Flight Simulator. Tired and hungry, we stopped for dinner at the Saltgrass Steakhouse, then headed for home. We really enjoyed touring with our new friends and hope to spend more time with them before we have to move on.

Basta por hoy!

Louise and Duane