The #SpaceShuttle #Atlantis Attraction in #KennedySpaceCenter

The excitement of seeing the Space Shuttle Atlantis up-close is so unreal. The Atlantis is a space shuttle orbiter. It's first flight was in October of 1985 carrying a payload for the US Department of Defense. In July 8, 2011, Atlantis made it's final mission before it retired and made Florida it's final home at the Kennedy Space Center. It made 33 missions and was able to deploy 14 satellites.

The front façade of Atlantis attraction at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The view from the inside of Atlantis building.

The bus parking lot down below.

The Atlantis up-close.

The Atlantis building in Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

Watch out next week for more photos of the inside look of Atlantis.

Atlantis is my favorite attraction at the Kennedy Space Center.

This Spring break, you should visit the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It's about an hour drive from Orlando. I can assure you that you will be delighted to be here. I will be seeing you in Florida soon.

Ready For #Cruising

It's #RandomThoughts #Thursday in #BeyondPhotography so; I was checking my folder once again to pick a random photo that I love. I choose this picture which was taken in Bahamas. That's The Atlantis in Paradise Island on the background. When the Norwegian Cruise Ship dock in Nassau, hubby and I decided to roam inside the famous Atlantis World Class resort.

This place is truly awesome! If I am rich, I would love to spend my vacation every month ... right here. That's quiet expensive huh? I know and that's the reason I said "IF" ... Hubby and I are so ready to do another cruising so; I need to renew my passport. Gosh! It will be exciting. How about you? How many times did you do cruising?

Kennedy Space Center : VAB Tour Ends Feb 23, 2014

I know right? The Vehicle Assembly Building or VAB will close its doors to the public soon. Feb 23, 2014 is actually a date extended to give enough time for visitors to see up-close where vehicles were assembled for launch.

The Kennedy Space Center is having a “KSC Up-Close Vehicle Assembly Building Tour” and “KSC Up-Close Mega Tour” which will be offered to the public up to Feb 23. These tours are worth for the money because one will surely enjoy the behind-the-scenes and once-in-a-lifetime experience.

NASA is preparing the VAB for the new SLS launch systems for 2017. Isn’t the news awesome? That means, Titusville and all other areas in the Space Coast will be alive again. I mean, the businesses will soon back on its happy days once again. You should know that at present, there are so many establishments in Titusville went downhill in fact, many closed its doors to their clients and customers. When NASA's Space Shuttle Program ends in 2011, thousands of the employees lost their job. You know what that means right? Domino effect.

Anyway, did you know that the Vehicle Assembly Building is the largest single-story building in the world? Yep, they assemble the gigantic shuttle in this building that's why.

See the American flag on the building? That was the largest in the world when added in 1976. I took these photos when we were on tour. The driver/tour guide was explaining the length and how wide is that flag.

I have been here for so many times but, I can't find the pictures I took of the inside. It is time to take the tour once again before it ends. Oh my goodness, that will be in less than 2 weeks. I should buy my ticket this week. Pictures? I will be posting them here soon. Watch out for it. Thanks for stopping by.

At the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Okay, let us explore NASA's Kennedy Space Center today. I just open my folder and picked these photos. If you are a frequent visitor of this blog, you have known by now that we live just about 10 minutes away from #KSC. My husband and I can go there any day and anytime we want. For less than $60, Floridians will get to enjoy a pass which is good for 1 year. That's fabulous right?

These machines are great help to speed up on purchasing a ticket.
On a busy day though, these ticket machines ain't enough to accommodate the guests
but, there's no problem with that. There is a ticket counter across this area.

If you are in Orlando and visiting Disney World,
spare a day and visit Kennedy Space Center for an exciting Educational tour.

One of the amazing attractions here in Kennedy Space Center is the Atlantis.
OMG! It's my favorite especially the video showing and the grand entrance to the showroom.

At the front of Atlantis attraction in Kennedy Space Center. The $100 million home of the Atlantis.

This dancing fountain is located near the ticket center outside of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

A shot of the US flag with the Atlantis icon on the background.

The spacious parking lot. Each area is named after an Astronaut.

Outside of the Kennedy Space Center Complex.

The view heading to the entrance and ticket center of the Kennedy Space Center.

This is the entrance to the Kennedy Space Center.

One of the restaurants inside the Kennedy Space Center.

On this particular day, we were headed to the Atlantis attraction.

This year has been an exciting year for us. We get the chance to visit Kennedy Space Center more often because we have a yearly pass. We usually stayed an hour or two and come back the next time to check out other attractions. We were able to watch quiet a few rocket launch in the Space Coast. One time we did watch a rocket launch in KSC in the Apollo Saturn V Center area. I believe it is indeed the best viewing area for rocket launch of the Canaveral Air Station. That's all for now friends. Thank you so much for visiting my blog as always. Have a safe and Happy New Year!

The Skylab's 40th Anniversary Reunion at Kennedy Space Center

This is a heads up for all of you who loves to know what's going on down here in Space Coast. On July 27, 2013 at 11AM to 11:45 AM, big event will happen at the Astronaut Encounter in NASA's Kennedy Space Center here in Florida.

If you come visit #KSC on this date, you can be part of the event and witness it. It is included with General Admission so; be part of the Skylab 40th Anniversary Reunion at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. On this day, Fred Gregory who is a veteran NASA astronaut will moderate a discussion with 10 astronauts from the Skylab team.

The Skylab was the first and only American space station in orbit around the Earth in 1973 and 1974. I was two years old then but, even in my elementary years, the basic knowledge of Skylab is pretty much covered in our Science class.

Anyway, here are the list of Astronauts who will be gracing the discussion on the said event:

Karol “Bo” Bobko, Vance Brand, Jerry Carr, Bob Crippen, Owen Garriott, Ed Gibson, Jack Lousma, Bill Pogue, William Thornton, and Paul Weitz.

Skylab launched aboard the last of the Apollo-era Saturn V rockets on May 14, 1973. The Skylab’s mission was to study the sun and Earth as well as the effects of zero gravity on the human body on long-duration space flights and other scientific experiments.

Take note that this is a limited-seating event only which will be held at the Astronaut Encounter at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. I will see you there.

NASA's Space Shuttle Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center

If you are a frequent reader/visitor in my blogs, you probably seen the photo below for so many times. This is NASA Parkway and one of the routes that hubby and I like to take when we head home coming from Cocoa Beach. Further down the road is NASA's Kennedy Space Center and starting today, I will be posting photos around NASA's #KSC. See the white and orange thing rising in vertical position? That is the Replica Rocket Boosters, an awesome addition to the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit.

I took the photo below when we turn to Kennedy Space Center's Visitor Complex. The first building on the right is the $100 million home of the priceless and historic spacecraft, the Atlantis. It tells the incredible journey of NASA’s 30-year Space Shuttle Program.

We were driving towards the parking lot of Kennedy Space Center and I can't help but took few shots of the building. I have been here many times but, today is different. This is the first time that I saw the building without the tarp/covers on and work is completed. I was just excited to see the Atlantis for real.

We parked and walked to the entrance passing the Rocket Garden and IMAX theatre then, I saw this sight up close. Remember the first photo above? Inside, this is what it looks like. The massive structure is a beacon to guests. The Replica Rocket Boosters are indeed visible for miles. It would be an awesome dramatic if the shuttle orbiter mated to the stack right?  Anyway, as you can see, the gateway only features the awesome and gigantic twin white boosters and the orange external tank. The orbiter is inside.

Fast forward photos here and let's go up to the building. Check out the gigantic twin rocket boosters and the orange tank from inside the building. Pretty awesome right? Remember that these are only replica.

The rocket boosters are the gateway to the main entrance of the Atlantis building which is a dramatic and a clever idea! The guests looks so tiny.

The first awesome attraction inside the building is a film showing. It was interesting and it brings down memory lane how the Space Shuttle Program started. I suggest that you sit at the middle. If you are taking video, make sure that no one is standing in front of you.

After the film viewing, the next room is another film viewing but you will probably love it more than the first attraction. Guest will experience what's it like to see the shuttle lifts off up close. The whole room will be AWESOME! Then, you will meet the Space Shuttle Atlantis for REAL! It will be dramatic and please .... do not cry. (wink)

In this room, oh my goodness you and your children will enjoy the interactive exhibit! You will never notice the time! Relax and enjoy! Now, do not forget to take a souvenir photo on this spot. You can make it dramatic too. I have an apprentice photographer so; this is my best shot LOL.

Oh, another best shot ... LOL. My nervous photographer is not too thrilled to take my photos LOL. Good thing that I live nearby and I can come here anytime I want. I will get my iconic souvenir photo next time hahaha.

That's all for now and hope to see you again tomorrow. I got more photos of the Kennedy Space Center and more. Thanks for stopping by.

The Rocket Garden at #KSC

Kennedy Space Center has a new entrance now. As you go in, on the left side is the Rocket Garden, an outdoor display of historic rockets that truly put the Americans and satellites in space. In this attraction, you can walk around the base of the rockets. The rockets which are mounted upright are: Mercury-Redstone, Mercury-Atlas, and Titan II (launched the astronauts); Juno I, Juno II, Thor-Delta, and Atlas-Agena (launched satellites). The largest rocket is Saturn IB which is mounted on its side. This rocket launched Apollo Command/Service Modules into Earth orbit for Apollo, Skylab, and the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project.

The garden also has mock-ups of capsules from the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs which you can get in personally. This garden also has the walkway and white room that Apollo astronauts used to access their capsules from the launch tower. I will show some pictures next time. Attached to the white room is a Command Module trainer. Also, the F-1 rocket engine that powered the first stage of the Saturn V is also on display. This attraction is truly an amazing place to visit and you should check it out!

The Space Shuttle Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center

As promised, here is one photo that my husband took with me while visiting the ATLANTIS at the Kennedy Space Center here in Florida last July 4. Hubby and I agreed to just go to one attraction, the Atlantis which is the baby attraction of KSC, newly opened last June 29, 2013.

It was my birthday in 2011, when Atlantis had its final mission/launched. It was a symbolic event because it was the final mission of the American Space Shuttle Program. A sad day to most people in the Space Coast because it means losing their job as well.

The final launch of Atlantis was known as STS 135 and its mission was ISS-International Space Station logistics. The cargo on that launch are "Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module" and the "Lightweight Multi-Purpose Carrier" (LMC), delivered to the ISS. On this mission, STS-135 had 4 astronauts on board. They safely went back home on July 21,2011.

This baby has a total of 33 missions, 207 crew members, and deployed 14 satellites. The first flight of Atlantis was October 3 in 1985 and came back safely to Earth on the 7th.

You should come and visit the Kennedy Space Center, and see the Space Shuttle Atlantis on display. It is worth the money you are paying for, I can promise you that.

United Launch Alliance Atlas V 401 Rocket Launch

The first launch of NASA for 2013 is Atlas V 401 which had a succesful lift off last January 30 at 8:48 PM. Hubby and I were at our usual favorite location to watch it along US 1. NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-K (TDRS-K) lifted off aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 401 rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

This January, there is a scheduled upgrade of NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (Space Network). The United Launch Alliance Atlas V 401 will provide communications with NASA's fleet of Earth-orbiting science spacecraft and that includes the International Space Station and NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. TDRS spacecraft is needed to ensure that the communications network is able to provide critical services to user spacecraft in the next decade.

From where we live, Port Canaveral is just across the Indian River which is about 3 minutes from our place. We can see it clearly along the river banks. The place along the boat ramp from where we viewed the launch were crowded in fact, parking space were full.

We had a good spot to watch the launch. It was a thrilling and fascinating experience eventhough this is not the first time that I witness shuttle/space launch.

The next launch in Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida is scheduled on March 1. The mission is SpaceX CRS-2 Commercial Resupply Services flight via Falcon 9. The launch will take place in Space Launch Complex 40. SpaceX CRS-2 will be the second commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station by Space Exploration Technologies or SpaceX. Expect that I will take photos so you all can see. Thanks for always visiting my blog. I will see you next time.

Norwegian Sky Poolside

The 4-day cruising to Bahamas that we have last year was fun. If you visited all my blogs for the last few days, I posted some of the cool shots that I took. I was using my camera phone and the digital camera but, I was proud of my shots. All of these pictures was taken on the poolside of Norwegian Sky.The poolside is located on the 11th Deck and it has a good size pool and 5 jacuzzis. I was not able to use this pool because it's very crowded and people are drinking alcohol.Though it was not a perfect sunny day, people enjoy their tanning moment. Restaurants are open in free-style dining so; when you take this cruise ship, you will never get hungry.I love staying on this area where I took these pictures because I can see everybody down below.There are bahamian music and delicious food so; crusing is truly exciting and fun! A good time to relax and unwind!I made my tour on this deck and when hubby and I got tired, we go down to 5th deck to listen to a jazz music in one of the music lounges on the ship. I would love to recommend that you take Norwegian Sky Cruise Line next time.