The Wandering Disciple

Artemis 1 sits on Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center. The first flight of the Artemis program was expected to launch Saturday afternoon but for the second attempt in a row, the launch was scrubbed due to technical issues with the rocket.  The Artemis program marks NASA's attempt to return to the moon and beyond. The SLS system is NASA's largest and most powerful rocket system and is anticipated to take astronauts deeper into space and potentially manned missions to Mars.  NOTE: I apologize for the heat haze in the photo,. Due to being an active launch zone, public access to the complex was limited and closest public viewing was over 10 miles away from the launch site and with temps over 95 degrees with hazy sunshine, the heat haze over the river was intense. However I still decided to take and post the photo due to historical significance.  Taken: September 3, 2022 (Titusville, FL)

A mock-up of a command module for an Apollo rocket sits in the Rocket Garden at the visitor's complex at Kennedy Space Center.  This small capsule had a big job. It was the nerve center of the Apollo rocket, taking astronauts to the moon.  This was also the crews return vehicle as they re-entered Earth and splashed down in the ocean at the conclusion of the missions.  (Photo: January 23, 2010)

Not just names on the wall, these are pioneers of the United States space program.  The inaugural class was inducted in 2001 and consisted of the members of the Mercury Seven crew.  Since then, each year new members are added to the US Astronaut Hall of Fame located on the property of the Kennedy Space Center.  (Photo: January 24, 2010)

Dominating the skyline of Visitor's Complex, the Space Shuttle Explorer gives visitors to Kennedy Space Center and up close look at the work horse of the space program.  Explorer was a full-scale mock-up of the space shuttle and was on display at Kennedy Space Center from 1993-2012 when it was replaced with Space Shuttle Atlantis once it was retired.  Explorer was transferred to the Johnson Space Center where it was renamed Independence and placed on-top of the modified Boeing 747 shuttle transporter.  Today it is the centerpiece of the Independence Plaza.  (Photo: January 23, 2010) 

A replica astronaut stands guard over the visitor’s complex at Kennedy Space Center. The visitor’s complex is the gateway to our nation’s space program, allowing visitors to get up close to the history of space flight from the early Apollo missions through the space shuttle program. (Photo: January 23, 2010)

The Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center dominates the skyline at the Cape Canaveral complex. At 526 feet tall, the Vehicle Assembly Building is the largest single story building in the world. Built in 1966, the building served as the final assembly point for the Saturn V rocket and the space shuttle. Here the space vehicle would be assembled vertically before departing on the journey to the launch complex aboard the crawler transporter. Click on the photo to view more photos from Kennedy Space Center . (Photo: January 23, 2010)

A van used to transport astronauts to the launch pad during the Apollo era sits on display at the Apollo/Saturn V Rocket Center at the Kennedy Space Center. The van transported the astronauts from the astronaut quarters to the launch complex prior to the mission. (Photo: January 23, 2010)

A replica firing room comes to life at Kennedy Space Center to simulate the launch of the towering Saturn V rocket. The computers come to life as launch control completes pre-flight check and gives the go-for-launch order to the crew. As the countdown strikes zero, the building shakes as the rocket powers off into space. The simulation brings to life the extreme detail and raw power of the Saturn V launch. Once the rocket launches, the doors open to the Saturn V Center where you can learn more about the rocket and the program. (Photo: January 23, 2010)

The Gemini 9-A capsule sits on display at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Gemini 9-A mission took place on June 3, 1966 and lasted three days. The two man crew of Thomas Stafford and Eugene Cernan orbited the earth 47 times before returning to earth on June 6, 1966. It became the first space flight to be completed using the back-up crew as the primary crew of Elliot See and Charles Bassett II were tragically killed when their plane crashed in St. Louis just four months prior to the mission.

Sitting on the launch pad at LC-39A on a hazy afternoon at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Space Shuttle Endeavour awaits its launch for STS-130 mission to the International Space Station. This was taken two week before Endeavour's second to final flight while onboard the "Discover KSC: Today and Tomorrow" tour. The space shuttle program is scheduled to come to an end following the STS-135 mission scheduled for July 2011. (Photo: January 23, 2010)

Titusville, Florida: When most people think of tourist attractions in Central Florida, they immediately think of Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and Sea World. But tucked away on the Atlantic Coast is one of the area’s premier sites, the Kennedy Space Center. The Visitor Complex at the center entertains over a million visitor’s a year wanting an inside look at our space program. Operated by Delaware North Companies, the visitor complex offers museum exhibits, bus tours and interactive experiences. In addition to the complex, they also operate the Astronaut Hall of Fame adjacent to the Space Center. The complex features many exhibits once you pass through the admission gates. At the visitor’s complex you can visit: • Astronaut Encounter; get the opportunity to meet an astronaut from past space missions. • Astronaut Memorial; dedicated in 1991 the reflective wall displays the names of the astronauts that lost their life during the space program. • Center for Space Education...

Titusville, Florida: We hit the road early Saturday morning at 4:30 am heading over to the East Coast of Florida to visit the Kennedy Space Center. This is my first visit to KSC since 1999 and my son’s first trip. He has been fascinated with the space shuttle and with only five remaining missions before retiring the shuttle, there couldn’t have been a better time. We coordinated the trip with the press office of Kennedy Space Center to ensure that a shuttle would be on the launch pad during the visit. We arrived at the Kennedy Space Center and checked our dogs into the kennel on property. KSC offers a free kennel service for guests visiting the center. We then proceeded to will call to pick up our passes and to purchase an add-on tour. We chose to take the Discover KSC tour, an up-close tour of the space center with a stop at the closest place possible to the launch pad along with other stops along the way. Our tour boarded at 10:20, so we spent some time touring the visitor’s ...

Titusville, Florida: Since the inception of the space program, Kennedy Space Center on the east coast of Florida has played an important part of the world’s exploration of space. From the Gemini, Mercury and Apollo missions of yesterday to the Space Shuttle missions of today, Kennedy Space Center has been the starting point for the country’s endeavors into the heavens. The 219 square mile facility and adjoining Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is the launch base for much of NASA’s operations. From here the complex provides launch and landing complexes, support and research operations for the US Space Program. The Cape Canaveral side of the property is where the unmanned rockets are launched. The base is operated by the United States Air Force 45th Space Wing. Many of the early milestones of space flight took place right here on the Cape. The first satellite, first astronaut and the first unmanned lunar landing were all launched from here. This was home to the Mercury and Gemini ...