Johnson Space Center and RV Show (Houston, Texas)

On Monday, we finally ventured out on a sightseeing excursion to the Johnson Space Center.  We arrived after our hour drive just as the gates were opening for visitors.  We were able to jump on the first Tram Tour after going through security checkpoint. 

Mike, Joanne, and Susan waiting for Tram to start.

The Johnson Space Center occupies more than 1,600 acres and employs more than 14,000 people including contractors and civil servants.  The first stop on the very chilly ride (we did not really come prepared for an open vehicle ride with temps hovering around 50) was the Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center.  For those of us who remember the entire history of space flight, the viewing of Mission Control brought back memories of watching the mission control activity on TV.

 Our second stop was at the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility which, I believe, is/was used as a training facility for the assembly of the International Space Station. 

I think the most interesting fact about the Tram Tour was the explanation given for the cessation of the Shuttle program.  The program in the later years was intended to be used primarily for the construction of the International Space Station with the shuttle transporting parts during the construction.  I always thought that the shuttle would be used to transport crew members to and from the Space Station.  That was not its purpose and it would be like taking a big Mac truck to your job each day.  The final stop of the outdoor tour was the Saturn V Complex at Rocket Park.  Inside the building is a full-size model of the Saturn V rocket which sent the astronauts into space for the trips to the moon.


Joanne, Mike, and Susan outside the Saturn V Complex



Joanne, Mike, and Pat in front of one section of Saturn V Rocket

 



Banners representing each of Apollo Flights.

View of entire length of Saturn V Rocket.

After returning to the visitor’s center and eating a very expensive lunch (we were a captive audience with a choice of eating lunch for $20 or going hungry), we visited several of the attractions.  The first presentation was “Living in Space” which had a mockup of the living quarters on the International Space Station.  The narrator showed us how one sleeps, eats, and other daily aspects of living in a weightless environment.  Another demonstration was the current NASA mission to Mars with a laboratory called Curiosity Rover.  This mission was launched in November 2011 with touchdown scheduled on Mars in early August 2012.  The rover will assess whether Mars ever was, or is still today, an environment able to support microbial life.  If you think NASA is idle, visit http://www.nasa.gov/missions/index.html for a description of past, current and future missions.

The final attraction we visited was Starship Gallery Museum which contains artifacts from the years of space exploration.  “This incredible collection includes: an original model of the Goddard Rocket; the actual Mercury Atlas 9 "Faith 7" capsule flown by Gordon Cooper; the Gemini V Spacecraft piloted by Pete Conrad and Gordon Cooper; a Lunar Roving Vehicle Trainer, the Apollo 17 Command Module, the giant Skylab Trainer, and the Apollo-Soyuz Trainer.” (http://space.about.com/cs/nasa/p/jscvisit.htm)

Lunar Roving Vehicle Trainer



Lunar Lander Trainer



Susan in Shuttle cockpit

Yesterday (Thursday), we decided to drive to the Reliant Center for the Houston RV Show.  The center is in the complex with the Astrodome and the new Reliant stadium for the Texans.  Because we are staying north of Houston and the Reliant complex is south of downtown, we drove straight through the downtown area.  I must say that the roads in and around Houston are fairly easy to maneuver and we made it there and back without getting lost (OnStar helps, too!). 

Downtown Houston



Minute Maid Stadium-Home of Houston Astros Baseball Team



Reliant Stadium-Home of Houston Texans NFL Team

Astrodome-Not currently in use.

The RV show was kind of small as RV shows go with only dealers represented.  We did attend a seminar on converting RV Refrigerator (absorption type) to a regular residential refrigerator.  More and more RVs are being equipped with residential refrigerators.  The traditional RV refrigerator has a fire hazard because it uses heat to cool (as I understand it) plus the refrigerator never really stays as cold as a residential model.  I think we will probably look into converting our fridge at some point in the future.

Today has been another rainy day so our next sightseeing excursion will probably be early next week.  Pat’s brother and wife are still next door to us and we are enjoying their company.

EASY LIVING!!