Johnson Space Center Houston

Above, yours truly at the Saturn 5 rocket. 

Our first full day in Houston was spent at the Johnson Space Center where mission control is located for manned space flight missions.

We met with our driver in downtown Houston and took their bus to the space center, which was about 13 miles from downtown Houston.

Above, Mitch Geriminsky and I at the Saturn 5 engine on display.

After arriving, we toured exhibits in the visitor center complex and signed up for the Astronaut Training Facility Tour. The tour was around an hour or so and different buildings and their functions were pointed out by the tour guide. 

It was interesting to see the facility for various missions including the Artemis program. 

Above, inside the astronaut training facility. A Soyuz mock-up is at left. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Following the tour, we were taken to the space park where a building housing one of three Saturn 5 rockets still in existence. The one we saw was from one of several moon missions that were cancelled in the 1970s. 

Above, an Apollo Lunar Module on display in the main visitor center. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After returning to the main visitor center, we did look at more exhibits, had coffee and a snack. We also did some shopping in the visitor center's shop. I also got a t-shirt for Greg Lucier for taking care of Sierra at home. 

Above, the main visitor center building. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I took many photographs with my Canon camera. I will post those when I return home in New Mexico. These are from my phone camera.

All in all, it was a fun, enjoyable and educational day. 

Return To The Moon: First Step Today

Above, Artemis I on the launch pad (39B) this morning. 

The U.S. Space Program is the only worthwhile government program we have. This has been my contention for years.

Am I a fan of the Space Program? You bet, ever since Project Mercury.

If all goes well, the first test flight of Artemus I will take place today. It is unmanned. Right now, there is an unplanned hold due to some rocket engine issues.

From Fox 35 Orlando:

For the first time in nearly 50 years, NASA is preparing for a historic first, launching a new powerful moon rocket, the Space Launch System, on its maiden voyage. 

The last time the space agency conducted a test flight of a moon rocket was the mighty Saturn V in 1967. Two years later, a Saturn V rocket would launch the Apollo 11 mission, sending astronauts to the moon. Now, NASA is preparing to launch the SLS and Orion spacecraft from Kennedy Space Center in Florida under the Artemis program, named for Apollo's twin sister in Greek mythology.  

NASA is targeting Aug. 29 for liftoff sending the Orion spacecraft on the Artemis-1 test flight, a 42-journey orbiting the moon and back. No astronauts will be on board the test flight. However, if it goes well, four astronauts will launch on Artemis-2, orbiting the moon before the Artemis-3 moon landing in 2025.

To see how the SLS compares to the Saturn 5, go here.

UPDATE: Today's launch has been scrubbed due to a faulty hydrogen bleed test that didn't get it to the right temperature. The next availability to launch is September 2.

Apollo Test Capsule

During my November 2016 trip to Metropolis, Illinois (the trip where I discovered New Mexico), I stopped at Meteor Crater, Arizona to see the crater and the visitor center.

Outside of the visitor center stands a "boilerplate" test Apollo capsule. I remember seeing either this or a similar one next to a big water tank at the Rockwell plant in Downey, California off Imperial Highway.

Above, the Apollo test capsule at Meteor Crater in Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This was during the time in the late-1960s before the 91 Freeway was built. In order to get to Disneyland from the South Bay area of Los Angeles County, one usually drove east on Imperial Highway to Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway). We would pass the Downey Rockwell plant along the way.

Apollo 1 Crew Remembered

Above, Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee.

While it does seem like 50 years ago, it also seems unreal at the same time as I still remember the news bulletins on television. My parents went to the bank and I stayed home to watch the news.

Tomorrow marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 1 launch pad fire that took the lives of astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee.

The anniversary was commemorated today by family members of the astronauts.

According to The Japan Times:

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA – Moonwalkers and dozens of others who took part in NASA’s Apollo program are paying tribute to the three astronauts killed in a fire 50 years ago. 

On the eve of the Apollo 1 anniversary, hundreds gathered at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center on Thursday to honor Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee. They died at the launchpad, inside their burning spacecraft, on Jan. 27, 1967.

There is also an exhibit on the Apollo 1 fire that is set to open tomorrow.

To read more, go here. 

Visit To Meteor Crater

Above, the crater. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After spending the first night at the Grand Canyon/Williams KOA, I headed off for the second leg of the trip.

While headed to Albuquerque, New Mexico, I stopped off at Meteor Crater near Winslow, Arizona. It is the world's best preserved meteor crater. It is said to have came in from the east 50,000 years ago to hit what is now the state of Arizona.

I was the first to arrive (the facility opened at 8:00). Besides the crater, the visitors center has a film about the meteor strike, a gift shop, a rock shop, a Subway restaurant and an Apollo test capsule (I have seen it before in the 1960s at North American Rockwell in Downey, California).

After spending about an hour and a half at Meteor Crater, I headed off for the drive to Albuquerque.

More photos:

Above, the visitor center. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the crater. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the largest metor fragment found. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Apollo test capsule. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, The Beast had the RV parking lot all to itself. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Maiden Launch of Orion This Morning

Above, the Orion spacecraft on the pad this morning at the John F. Kennedy Space Center.

NASA's next generation spacecraft, Orion, is set to launch at 7:05 a.m. ET today from Cape Canaveral, Florida for its maiden test flight.

The flight will be unmanned and will last about four and a half hours to test its systems. It has been reported that manned flights aboard Orion will take place in about seven years from now.

The launch can be seen on NASA Television by going here.

The Orion spacecraft has been described as looking like "an Apollo capsule on steroids."

UPDATE (12/4/14):

Due to technical problems with the rocket's hydrogen and oxygen drain valve doors, they will try again tomorrow.