U.S. Space & Rocket Center Huntsville, AL

Bob retired from Rocketdyn and worked with the Space Shuttle Program his whole career.  He had visited Huntsville several times for work.  He did not visit the museum but was at the Marshall Space Flight Center. So this was a new adventure for both of us.  This is the home of Space Camp.  As a teacher, I had heard of the Space Camp and knew of their program for teachers to come and participate in the camp to take back knowledge to their students about the Space Program. As we entered the museum we saw the Blackbird, which is a reconnaissance plane.  Otherwise known as the SR-71 it operated at high speeds and altitudes to allow it to outrace threats.

We stated with the Von Braun Exhibit.

We had heard his name and knew he was instrumental in the Space Industry, but learning of how they surrenders to the American troops during World War II.  How they made the choice to go with the Americans rather than the Russians was all new to me.

There was a video of a Disney program on when we were growing up.  It was called Man in Space.  This program originally aired on March 99, 1955.  The Disneyland episode (set in Tomorrowland), was narrated by Ward Kimball and also by such famed scientists as Dr. Willy Ley, Dr. Heinz Haber, Dr. Wernher Von Braun and Dick Tufeld of Lost in Space fame. It was amazing to watch Dr.Wernher Von Braun talk about his vision for space in 1955 and know what of his vision is reality today.

Von Braun and his fellow German scientists were granted citizenship in 1955.

We left the exhibit and walked out to the Rocket Park.

Apollo Courtyard & Donor Garden

Saturn V

Next we took a guided tour of the facilities.  The Mercury Procedures Simulator was designed to give Astronauts a feel for the Mercury capsule during flight.

Gemini Mission Simulator designed to train Gemini astronauts to rendezvous, dock and maneuver in space.

The main engine that was built by Rocketdyne, where Bob
worked.

 Evolution of the Space Suits.

Lunar Module

Lunar Vehicle

Apollo 16 Capsule

Apollo 16 with parachute

Moon Rock

After returning from space the astronauts were quarantined in an Airstream trailer for 21 days. After the third flight to the moon, they no longer quarantined the astronauts as they found out they did not bring back any germs or  disease.

Next blog on Space Camp.