I am plotting a different course for this blog post. Aidan and Maggie (two of the heroes from my Middle Grade/Young Adult novels The Gemstone Chronicles) came to visit for spring break. So, instead of hanging around our house, we loaded up Nana’s car and headed to Huntsville Alabama for a visit to The US Space and Rocket Center. What a cool place!!
What an amazing place. There are rockets, space shuttles, lunar modules, a moon buggy, moon rocks, and lots of history. From Werner Von Braun to the latest in rocket and space technology, you can find it all here! But, there are lots of interactive things for all ages to do. We started our fun exploring black holes. Below Maggie and Aidan are creating virtual black holes!
After creating a few black holes, Aidan and Maggie decided to go play some interstellar games that demonstrated the effect of black hole gravity on space weapons. They had to figure out the correct angle to fire the weapons to destroy objects. It took them a couple of attempts, but they mastered it!
Tiring of protecting the Earth from space dangers, we moved on to equipment used for space walks. The suit was a tad bit large for Maggie, but Aidan fit it pretty well!
We took a short lunch break and had robotically prepared ice cream for dessert. When we finished, we stopped to pose in space suits!
We headed over to the Saturn Rocket display but Maggie took a detour to ride a ride.
After Maggie’s ride, Aidan and I decided to find out about the effects of G-forces on people. Sorry, no pictures here since we had to leave the camera outside, but suffice it to say that pulling Gs is definitely not for weak stomachs!!
We then went to the Saturn Rocket building. What an amazing building this was! The main attraction is a full sized Saturn rocket laid horizontally so that you can see the stages. Surrounding the rocket, though were command modules, moon buggies, moon rocks, decontamination units, and many more exhibits detailing the trips to the moon. Here is Aidan ready to blast off!
And this is the Apollo 16 Command Module. I know it isn’t the full module, but how cool to see something that has been to the moon!
The moon buggy was, I think, my favorite exhibit. I thought the “tires” were really cool. The “tires” are made of wire, not rubber, so that was a very innovative solution to a problem of no atmosphere!!
Of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t show Nana (also a hero in The Gemstone Chronicles) getting her science on!
I know I didn’t do justice to the US Space and Rocket Center, but maybe I gave you just enough to pack up and make a visit for yourself. You could always enroll in Space Camp!!
Have you visited the US Space and Rocket Center or other NASA facility? Leave me a comment and let me know!!
This is great. Wish I had been with you. Lavon and I went years ago, but can’t remember much about it. I could not believe the size of one of the first space capsules! So tiny; don’t know if I would have the courage to strap myself in that and be hurled out into space. Brave men.
I wish y’all had been with us. We had a ball!
So glad you and your family enjoyed your recent visit! Thanks for sharing your experience with us and we hope you will join us at Space Camp one day!
We did have a great time. Our only disappointment was that the Moon Shot wasn’t operational that day. Other than that, it was a great day!!