September 2023.
Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, Florida.

Since the early days of the space race, this old man has followed our country’s journeys into “the final frontier” to borrow a Star Trek quote. We finally found ourselves at the Kennedy Space Center, one attraction in Florida that I had long wanted to visit. The facility at Cape Canaveral is well known as the primary launch facility for the United States Space Program. The attraction does not use public funds to operate, and it is a day well spent learning about those heady days of the space race to the Moon.

We started our tour with an immersive exhibit celebrating the pioneers of space exploration. It features the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, interactive displays, and historical artifacts.

This display honors astronauts’ achievements and contributions to space exploration. The curved wall features numerous plaques with portraits, mission patches, and names, each celebrating the legacy of those who have shaped humanity’s journey beyond Earth. Visitors can explore the background and achievements of each astronaut.

Manned space flight in the United States started with the appointment of seven test pilots to become the first astronauts. The selection process was rigorous, focusing on candidates who were highly skilled test pilots with exceptional physical and mental endurance. NASA reviewed 110 potential candidates, narrowing the list through medical exams, psychological evaluations, and intense physical tests. The final seven astronauts—Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard, and Deke Slayton—were introduced to the public on April 9, 1959.

The Mercury space capsule was a compact spacecraft designed for NASA’s Project Mercury, the United States’ first human spaceflight program. The Mercury capsule accommodated only one astronaut. It featured a small porthole-style window providing limited outside visibility, reflecting its purpose for brief orbital flights. The Mercury capsule had a relatively small heat shield, specifically engineered to withstand the intense reentry conditions encountered during suborbital and orbital missions. Piloted by the Mercury Seven astronauts, these capsules played a pivotal role in demonstrating the feasibility of human spaceflight, paving the way for subsequent programs such as Gemini and Apollo.

This exhibit showcases the Mercury Mission Control Center, specifically highlighting the Friendship 7 mission in 1962. The control room was used to track and support astronaut John Glenn as he became the first American to orbit the Earth.

When we left the Heroes and Legends Building, we walked through the Rocket Garden. This park-like exhibit features many historic rockets used in early space exploration missions. Standing near these rockets allowed us to marvel at their size.

We next visited the Astronaut Training Experience (ATX) at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The exhibit offers a hands-on simulation that allows participants to train like astronauts preparing for deep-space missions. Using advanced technology, visitors engage in activities such as docking spacecraft, navigating Martian terrain, and experiencing the sensation of a spacewalk in a microgravity environment.

A shuttle bus takes visitors to the launch facilities and exhibits, including the Apollo and Saturn V Center, the giant Vehicle Assembly building, and launch viewing areas. The space program was not without its missteps and tragedies.

During a pre-launch test for NASA’s first manned Apollo mission, a tragic accident occurred on January 27, 1967. A fire broke out inside the command module, leading to the deaths of all three astronauts aboard: (left to right) Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Edward H. White II, and Roger B. Chaffee. The devastating incident prompted significant changes in NASA’s spacecraft design and safety protocols.

Apollo 13, launched on April 11, 1970, was intended to be the third lunar landing mission, but an oxygen tank explosion in the service module on April 13 forced NASA to abort the landing. The crew—Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise—faced life-threatening challenges as they lost power, heat, and water. Using the lunar module Aquarius as a temporary lifeboat, they executed a daring trajectory around the Moon before safely returning to Earth on April 17, 1970. The mission was dubbed a “successful failure” because, despite the crisis, NASA engineers and astronauts worked together to ensure the crew’s survival. Wikipedia has the story here if you haven’t already seen the 1995 Tom Hanks movie, Apollo 13.

The famous phrase “Houston, we have a problem” was first heard at the Apollo Mission Control Center in Houston. The phrase popularized in the Movie “Apollo 13,” is a slight misquote. During the Apollo 13 mission, astronaut Jack Swigert was the first to report the issue, saying, “Okay, Houston … we’ve had a problem here.” Shortly after, Jim Lovell repeated, “Houston, we’ve had a problem.” The Apollo Mission Control Center display is in the Apollo and Saturn V Center.

Given the number of photos and information in this post, you might surmise that I found the Kennedy Space Center a great way to spend the day. If so, you’d be correct! In fact, I posted several more photos, including the ones above, in 2K HD on my Flickr site here. For more information on the Kennedy Space Center, scheduled days and hours, and to purchase tickets online, check here.

John Steiner