We stayed at the Fairfield Suites in Titusville. It is in a perfect location, just off I-95 and within 10 miles of the space center. It is part of the Marriott chain and the accommodations were very comfortable, except that there was no kitchenette. Sieg and I decided to go to the Holiday Inn next door for a quick dinner. We had become aware of the Florida law that you can't leave a dog in a car, so we were concerned about leaving him in the room. The hotel receptionist offered to keep Minnow with her in the lobby while we were out! He got to roam the office area, etc. (They also agreed to store his frozen chicken since the fridge in our room didn't have a freezer compartment.)
On Monday morning, we had an early breakfast in the hotel so we could leave by 8:30 a.m. to get to the Kennedy Space Center, get Minnow checked in and pick up our tickets. Pat Kramer had told me that the Space Center has a kennel--it is complimentary, has large cages, etc. You have to provide food and water, a blanket, etc. and that worked out beautifully (not sure Minnow would agree, but...). Below are the kennel and two signature buildings.
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| Kennedy Space Center Kennel |
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| Launch Control Center |
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| Visitors' Entrance to the Kennedy Space Center |
We were so lucky with the weather--it was sunny and in the 70s. The first area we toured was called the "Rocket Garden" and they had rockets, space capsules, etc. on display in an outdoor area.
We then went to what was one of the highlights of our visit--the Atlantis Exhibit. You start by walking up a circular ramp to the top of the building, and then are seated in an outer area before a screen where you see an introduction to the history of the space shuttles. Then a door opens and you are shepherded in to a circular room where you stand as a film about the shuttle Atlantis surrounds you. At the end of the movie, they project the words "Welcome home, Atlantis" and the whole front of the room opens up to the actual shuttle, hanging there right before your eyes. It was AMAZING!!! All around the shuttle are interactive displays, etc. and they continue as you make your way down (again on a circular ramp) to the main floor of the building.
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| The shuttle launching system |
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| Welcome Home, Atlantis!! |
We had to miss some of the displays because we wanted to catch the IMAX
movie about the International Space Station, in 3D no less. You felt like things were
coming at you, touching you, etc. Again, AMAZING!! We loved it as
well.
We had a quick (rather average) lunch in the Orbit Cafe and then went to meet our tour bus for the afternoon. We had chosen to do the guided tour of the launch control center, a tour that apparently will be discontinued in the near future. We got into the building, saw the commemorative plaques for each space mission, and then took the elevator up to the Firing Rooms (which are in the process of being renovated). Security was very tight in the building!
After the Launch Control Center, the bus took us out to view a launch pad (LC 39B, I think). That facility is going to be used in the future by a private company. On the way, we drove along side the Crawler Transport Path where they transport rockets from the Vessel Assembly Building to the launch site.
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| Crawler Transport Path |
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| Launch Pad 39B |
The final stop on the tour was the Apollo/Saturn V Center. However, we realized that it had been a long day for Minnow, so we decided to "rescue" him from the kennel and save this part of the visit for the next time, along with the Shuttle Launch Experience. And there will be a next time, for sure. While we have thoroughly enjoyed our whole trip south, this was really the highlight, and we will return!!
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