A Boyhood Dream Fulfilled: Space-Geek Tour of the USA

[Human]

Having yet another dinner at Cracker Barrell didn't even bother me. And it was very easy to resist the temptation to have dessert. After a day like today, I did not feel any need for comfort food!

 

[snabbu]

Wow @Human I like others feel your emotion, what an epic trip. It is only January and the report isn't even complete yet but I'm calling TR of the year.

 

[n7of9]

What a fantastic trip report, thank you! I've never met another person in real life who's been to KSC, which I always refer to as "BEST DAY EVER!".

My VR experience when I was there was a 'walk' on Mars. We were in a room that was calibrated to the headset so as we moved around it was like walking on Mars. Even squatting to look at a rock on the ground was recognised by the device, it was great.

Is the Atlantis Shuttle Launch Experience 'ride' no longer there, or did I miss you taking about it? It's a ride that emulates take-off to separation, it too was amazing.

As you spoke about the Atlantis talk and the wall falling away where you realise you're standing 10m away from the actual shuttle gave me goosebumps..as I said, BEST DAY EVER!

 

[VPS]

I'm not even that interested in space stuff but loving the TR and your enthusiasm

 

[Gladstone Tim]

That is just so cool, and I am so jealous. I am now going to start planning a similar trip, although I'll also have to plan which exotic location I will have to leave MrsK in while I head off on my own.

The bonus for you is, you will be able to keep telling your family and students forever, "... did I tell you about the time I was at a real rocket launch...".

I think we need an AFF trip for interested members and an alternative for the disinterested partners/spouses

 

[Human]

Is the Atlantis Shuttle Launch Experience 'ride' no longer there, or did I miss you taking about it? It's a ride that emulates take-off to separation, it too was amazing.

Oops! Yes, it's still there, I took it, and I agree that it's amazing. It fell through the cracks in my report because (a) it was closed in the morning and I came back and did it later in the day, after my bus tour, (b) you can't take photos once the ride starts, and (c) I was quite weary by the time I wrote Tuesday's posts! Sorry about that.

 

[Human]

Today is moving day. I gave myself a much-needed sleep-in and awoke just in time to grab some of the buffet breakfast before it closed. I also had a look at what will be awaiting me later today:


After breakfast I did some packing and then I attempted a walk. I say “attempted” because I was ultimately thwarted by the lack of footpaths and pedestrian crossings.




I had the option of trying to run across this freeway, but due to the fact that I possess a brain I decided against it.


I’m staying in what could be called a “budget hotel precinct”.




I also started listening to the soundtracks of a couple of Broadway shows that I might be able to catch in NYC. Protip: to get the most out of a musical, listen to its soundtrack at least three times before seeing the show.

Finally, I cancelled one of my trips home. I've had two options booked and I’ve been procrastinating over which one to take. The one I decided to cancel was Qatar Qsuites JFK-DOH-MEL. Time will tell if I made the right choice!

 

[Human]

Reflections on my time in Florida:

• I really have no superlatives to describe my time here. I’ll let my posts speak for themselves. Every time – every time – I reflect on these last two days, I tear up.
• This is the only leg of my trip which has been entirely dedicated to space-related stuff. I haven’t visited any of the surrounding area, haven’t gone to the beach, haven’t spent any time in Orlando. All I’ve done was Kennedy Space Center. Regrets? Zero!
• NASA is on a roll. The palpable excitement that I felt in Houston over the future of NASA and space travel is even more noticeable here. There’s excitement over Orion, over the Artemis programme, over the James Webb Space Telescope, over future exploration of the outer planets and Europa, over a future mission to Mars which is in the advanced stages of planning.
• The other side of that coin is the genuine relief amongst space people that NASA is getting out of the Low Earth Orbit stuff which they feel has been holding NASA back. There’s genuine excitement and relief that SpaceX has taken up the gauntlet of LEO transport to the ISS, and relief that not only SpaceX but other companies that are a little behind, such as Boeing and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, will be handling LEO matters in the future. The feeling is that NASA can now focus on what NASA does best: returning to the Moon and deep space exploration.

Apart from that, I have no words. It's time to head off to Washington, DC!

 

[Human]

AA1170 MCO-DCA First Class. 27,600 Qantas points plus A$5.60.

“American Airrlarnes… Have the prrtiest playynes…”

Come From Away is one of my favourite musicals, and that line kept playing through my head as I walked into the terminal and saw that the American Airlines “Priority” check-in was right in front of me.



After checking in my bag, which has gained 6 kilograms in souvenirs since I arrived in Houston, I walked to the security area. There was no “Priority” security lane for me to make a rookie error at, so I joined Standard Security safe in the knowledge that I was in the right place. It took about 15 minutes to get through.




My flight was scheduled to depart from Gate 58. I followed the signs to find myself at a train stop; it was about a 1-minute wait to Gates 30-58.


The view from the train:



I found the Admirals Club but, like the United Club in Houston, I was not let in. I was informed that access was dependent on Qantas status (I have none) rather than class of travel. Once again this was not a huge surprise, so I walked to the end of the terminal, found gate 58, sat down, and for the second time in 2 days I checked in to my Washington DC accommodation (more on this later).

I had not had lunch, but I was also not sure how much I would be fed on the flight. So I had a light snack.






The view from the gate:



Boarding is about to commence!

 

[Lynda2475]

I am enjoying this TR, I loved my visit to the KSC in Jul 99 especailly as there was a heap of 30Th anniversary moon landing exhibits. There was supposed to be a day Shuttle launch during my visit too, but it was also delayed and replaced with an awesome night launch the following day which was awesome to watch.

WRT supermarkets, unlike in Australia where majority of Westfields will include a Coles and/or Woolies (plus maybe an Aldi or an IGA), aside from the grocery section at Target you will generally never see an supermarket in the big shopping malls.

The huge supermarkets (much bigger than ours) like Trader Joes, Sprouts, United etc tend to be buried out in the burbs in stand alone lots or strip shops that one needs a car to get to.

In the CBD of big cities like NYC or Chicago you will tend to mostly see smaller independent markets, wholefoods or convenience type stores.

I also started listening to the soundtracks of a couple of Broadway shows that I might be able to catch in NYC. Protip: to get the most out of a musical, listen to its soundtrack at least three times before seeing the show.

I have to strongly disagree with this tip. I go into all first time shows blind. A well crafted play or musical will tell you everything you need to know to follow the story. I love the surprise of not knowing exactly what or how something is going to happen.

There is ime nothing like the joy of seeing a great show for the first time when everything is new to you without spoilers.

If its great I will then listen the the soundtrack again multiple times afterwards and maybe watch the show again watching keenly to pick up different things.

Listening repeatedly to sound track you notice the more subtle lines and some easter eggs which you may miss on first viewing but its also partly out of context of the live action (visuals) and missing the joining dialgue which is not sung (plus soundtracks don't include all of the songs famously Wicked OBC leaves out Wicked Witch of the East).

My pick of the current Broadway season (which is heavy with long time runners and revivals) would be Hamilton, Little Shop of Horrors, Hades Town, Cabaret (saw this version in London) and Wicked. Ive not heard enough about the Gypsy revival. The one new show I really want to see is Redwood, Idina is still in the current run.