NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida

Would you like to see the real Space Shuttle Atlantis up close? Or experience what's it like to be on a shuttle launch? How about an experience of having lunch with an Astronaut? There is more to these attractions if you visit NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

Express Ticket Area

When we sold our house in Cocoa, Florida last May, I was so sad knowing that I will be missing this place for good. We live about 10 minutes away from KSC and we have an annual pass therefore, when we live here, I go any day I want.

This express ticket area is convenient and the machine is easy to use.

Ticket Area

It's in the afternoon but, the line is long.

Ticket Area

Entrance to Kennedy Space Center

The Express Ticket Area is on the left if you do not like to wait in line.

NASA's Kennedy Space Center Entrance

Parking lot for Tour Buses and RV's

More Guests on this day.

Parking lot sign marks with numbers and names of Scientist and Astronauts.

Parking lot is full.

This is an old Ticket prices.

Presently, the Annual Pass has two choices:

Explorer Annual Pass - $139.36 for adults and 109.36 for child

Atlantis Annual Pass - $89.00 for adults and $71.00 for child

The Daily Admission and L:unch with an Astronaut - $79.99-Adult and $55.99-Child

The Daily Admission and Up-Close Explore Tour - $75.00-Adult and $59.00-Child

Other admission ticket price, please visit the Kennedy Space Center website.

If you travel to Florida often, you should get the Annual Pass because it is worth it. You will enjoy the visit for the whole year.

Short Road Trip Along NASA Parkway

After the mass last Sunday, hubby decided to take the route home towards NASA Parkway which is also known as NASA Causeway. This NASA Parkway begins on the mainland when Columbia Boulevard crosses U.S. Route 1 in Titusville.This is actually just around our neighborhood but, we love to take this route to have a glimpse of the dolphins along the Indian River Lagoon and wild gators along the wet area of NASA/Kennedy Space Center property.

The NASA Parkway West crosses the Indian River Lagoon. A bascule bridge which you see above permits boats on the Intercoastal Waterway to pass through the causeway. Right now, there is a construction so; only one bridge is working both ways for the motorists.

We just passed by the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. I was hoping to see the big gator sunbathing in the right side of the ditch or small canal. I saw a big gator for the first time but, that was a week ago and I did not bring my camera. I took a picture using my blackberry but, the zoom is limited so; I did not get a good shot. The gator is not there anymore.

We took the route along Space Commerce Way  which is also known as Government Road. One time, we saw tourists stopping by to take pictures of wild small gators on the small canal. Big ones? We saw one time and that was it. But, sure they are just here around and they are protected. The photo above is the Indian River Lagoon and there's a boat , they are fishing in there.

When you visit the Kennedy Space Center, you will pass NASA Parkway for sure and see the beautiful view along this area. This is really nice at sunset. You will get a full view and it is gorgeous at sunset with reflections on the waters of Indian River Lagoon.

I really don't know the name of this tiny island. If you look closely, you will see a boat and there were people swimming in that area. I don't know if it is safe though. Gators can come up to this area you know. So far, I don't hear any incident yet.

I took a zoom and now, see the boat?

Here's another boat on the other side of the river.

From the look, I think this is a small fishing boat. It looks like the fishing boat in Biloxi, Mississippi ^_^ . Anyway, from the bridge, the Parkway passes the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex but, the general public is not permitted beyond the area. The NASA security gate permits access to authorized tour buses only. If you wanna visit Kennedy Space Center then, you can go further on this road via the Kennedy Space Center tour bus.

Aside from the bus tour, also allowed are the Kennedy Space Center staff and supply vehicles.The photo above is the Hall of Fame, part of the attractions of the Kennedy Space Center. If you want to take a picture with this as the background, you can do so because this is just along the road. Located right after the draw bridge if you are heading towards US 1.

Thanks for stopping by.

Between Samsung Camera and Canon Rebel DSLR

I was reading comments of my blog today and one blogger commented in my post regarding the TICO Warbird AIRSHOW. I was showing photos taken from my handy HD WB150F Samsung Camera and he commented that I should buy a new camera to get a good shot. I was amused by his comment and at the same time remember that I had a DSLR camera that my husband gave me last Christmas which up to now ( three months had passed) still in the box. It was such an ironic huh? :-)

I am too lazy to play with my new toy. My enthusiasm just vanished into thin air right after I got it. I realized that it is bulky to carry when I go out to take a nice shot. Unlike having my blackberry phone or Samsung camera, I can just point and shoot but with the DSLR, I need to adjust or set up the right feature to use especially that the airshow fly so fast and just zooming like a wind. Right now between my Samsung camera and Canon Rebel DSLR, I am comfortable using the first item. I hate to mention that whenever I go, I also bring my iPad to take photos for my Instagram updates. Oh well, I will just encourage myself to start using my DSLR and get used to it. Good shot? It will be soon ... I hope.  

Angry Birds Space Encounter in Kennedy Space Center

I know that my nieces and nephews adore Angry Birds and the game is popular in this generation that is why; I bought my Angry Birds t-shirt (trendy mood) and visited the KSC on the opening day of the Angry Birds Space Encounter. I wished that they are here with me. Anyway, I was looking forward to see what's inside this attraction in the Kennedy Space Center so; I invited hubby that we should check it out.

March 22, 2013 marks the opening of the Angry Birds Space Encounter, an added attraction in Kennedy Space Center in Titusville Florida. It has seven interactive exhibits and all of the computer games are fully occupied by children and teenagers.

I really can see the thrill and excitement of the children's faces while they are playing the puzzle on the screen as well as playing the eggsteriod slingshot.

There is a mirror maze called Danger Zone and the children are very much excited so; I think the Angry Birds attraction is really fun and a big hit for the kids.

They also have Red Planet Lazer Challenge and game zone area.

This is really a fun attraction and though I wanted to explore more, the place is jampacked. I will just come back next time to take photos of the other exhibits. So; if you plan to visit Disney and Universal Studios, come and visit Kennedy Space Center as well. It is only an hour drive away. See you soon.

Sunday Morning Ride Along the Indian River Lagoon

Happy Sunday y'all! How's your day today? Do you have plans? For whatever it is, make sure that you spend your day with your family.

 

We attended an early morning mass at Merritt Island today. On our way home, hubby decided to follow the NASA Causeway route. We have a nice foggy Sunday morning ride and we enjoyed the view of Indian River Lagoon. (check photo above). I was hoping to see a dolphin but, got no luck for today. It is very gloomy today and the water is rough.

There is small island out there and up to now, I don't know if it has a name. This place is beautiful especially at sunset but, I don't see anybody stop by the side of the road. Maybe it is not allowed. Anyway, thank you for checking on me today. Please come back next time and see my other posts and photos. Enjoy your day!

Rocket Garden at Kennedy Space Center

If you are in Florida, you should visit Kennedy Space Center before heading home. I guarantee that you will enjoy it. The Rocket Garden is one of my favorite attractions to visit. If you come early, a whole day is all you need to check out every attractions of KSC.

The rockets in the Rocket Garden are: Mercury-Redstone, Thor, Mercury-Atlas, Gemini-Titan II, and Saturn IB. The rocket garden is located in the Visitor Complex area. This is an outdoor display of the historic rockets that put Americans and satellites in space.

Just an added trivia, Juno II launched the first American probe to escape Earth's gravity and fly past the Moon.

While Thor-Delta was one of the most reliable and frequently-used launch vehicles.

If you are here in the Rocket Garden, you will also see the capsules from the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs. You will be amazed to experience of walking on the walkway and be in the white room that Apollo astronauts used to access their capsules from the launch tower of LC-39A.

I will suggest that you should avail the free guided tour in the garden to get the story behind those rockets.

See the rocket below? That is saturn IB and as you can see it, it is mounted on its side.

That's my husband and we just came from the Apollo Command Module or the White Room.

Here's a closer look of the base of the rockets.

The Christmas tree in the Rocket Garden taken on the 3rd of January.

I hope you like the pictures above. Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to check out Kennedy Space Center soon.

Short Road Trip: Indian River in Brevard

If you visit the Sunshine State, exploring the places are endless. One city has so much to offer. From sugar sandy beaches, spectacular display of sunset and sunrise, perfect animal habitat, and so many wonderful scenic spot awaits for those who wanted to explore Florida. Of course, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Kennedy Space Center, Key West, and South Beach are among the major tourist destinations. If you are into nature trip and wanted to enjoy the beach in winter time, try driving down the scenic route in US 1.

We live in Brevard County and I tell you, there is so much to see here. For this day, we tried to have a short drive down the river banks of Indian River. We were on that bridge along 1-A / 528 (see above photo) countless times and we decided to explore the area along the riverside.

These are private docks owned by the property owners along the side of the road. Houses here are humongous and the property value is topnotch. Some of the homeowners are friendly; waving at us as we passed by. We saw group of men on their bicycles in complete gear and accessories; couples doing dog walking; and most of all, the neighborhood is peaceful. Houses are built in different style and their front yard are well-manicured.

I imagine myself having to wake up in the morning and with the view as gorgeous as this; life must be worth living for. Oh, did I tell you that this view is perfect on a clear day but, when hurricane season comes, I doubt (wink)!

Next time, I will show you the pictures of the enormous houses and I am sure you will be amazed as I am. FYI, this area is nearby the Kennedy Space Center (NASA) maybe about 20 minutes' drive and Cocoa Beach as well as Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal is about the same distance.

Traffic is heaven here meaning, no bumper to bumper and most of the year, the weather is super gorgeous. I love living in Brevard! Come by this area and see these places yourselves. See you next time and thanks for stopping by Mwahh!

Visiting the Apollo/Saturn V Center

This was taken last week when hubby and I visited NASA's Kennedy Space Center. I bought the Commander's Annual Pass to get a year-round access to KSC. From the Visitor Complex, we rode the bus for a guided tour to the Observation Gantry then, to the Apollo / Saturn V Complex which these photos were taken.

The Apollo program was designed to land humans on the Moon and bring them safely back to Earth where six of the missions namely: Apollos 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17 achieved this goal. The first manned mission to the moon is the Apollo 11. You probably heard the famous line "The Eagle Has Landed"? It was spoken by Neil Armstrong, the "Man Who Walks on the Moon". The crew of Apollo 11: Commander Neil A. Armstrong, Command Module pilot Michael Collins and Lunar Module pilot Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr.Did you know that the eventual success of the Apollo program is a tribute to Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee? These three fine astronauts whose tragic loss was not in vain when the Apollo Program finally landed on the moon.The six missions that landed on the Moon returned with so much scientific data and brought 400 kilograms of lunar samples. Scientific data experiments such as soil mechanics, meteoroids, seismic, heat flow, lunar ranging and magnetic fields as well as solar wind experiment.

When you are in Central Florida, you should visit NASA's Kennedy Space Center and check out the Apollo/Saturn V Center.

Apollo/Saturn V Center

This is the rocket garden located at the Visitor Complex in Kennedy Space Center (NASA) in Florida. This is a nice garden of historic rockets that tells the story of man's quest for the stars. I bought an annual pass at Kennedy Space Center hoping to be in the Lunar Theater when they honor Neil Armstrong, the great American space hero.

My husband and I went inside the complex at quarter to 1 and I knew right then, we will not make it to the ceremony. But anyway, we just take the bus tour (my second time) passing by the Vehicle Assembly Building and stop at Observation Gantry. Hubby and I decided not to go up the observation building anymore and proceed to the next stop which is the Apollo Saturn V Center.The picture below is the Apollo/Saturn V Center which is a huge facility that display the gigantic real Saturn V Rocket of the famous Apollo program. This facility was built as a tribute to the Apollo Astronauts and the machines that able to lift them to their destination and brought them back home safely.The ceremony honoring Neil Armstrong lasted for few minutes only so; when we arrived, it was finished. We head to the Moon Rock Cafe' for lunch before we tour the facility. Our day ended at the IMAX theater where we watched the Space Station 3D movie.

We lived 15 minutes away from Kennedy Space Center so; we will be coming back here more often.

Shuttle Atlantis Launch

This is the Rocket Garden inside Kennedy Space Center/NASA in Florida. This place is gorgeous and when I was there, all I could think of was my students back in the Philippines. How I wish I could bring them here for a Science Excursion. We live only less than an hour away from here so, I can go here anytime I want and the ticket, I can get it at an affordable price. July 8 was my birthday and it was the Atlantis lift off to International Space Station to deliver supplies and logistics. The feeling of sadness can be felt in in this area too because it would mean, no project, no more workers. In fact, after this mission hundreds of the workers inside Kennedy Space Center lost their job already.The whole major roads heading to NASA looked like this. In fact, this is a good spot to see the launch and we are lucky to get here before everyone else does. We traveled at 5Am and we brought two laptops to keep track of what's going on at NASA and of course, I can still blog.It was believed that this final launch had more than a million visitors. Though it was cloudy and stormy, the launched was on schedule. Everybody participated the countdown and the lift off was spectacular! Everybody was so excited and the kids can't contain themselves..This photo was taken by NASA/Fletcher Hildreth inside Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It is impossible to get a close caption like this without a high tech camera. This is the lift off and the final mission of Space Shuttle Mission that is why, we wanted to witness.Oh yeah, I was there with my husband and more than a million other visitors.Here we are having a good time in the windy area of Port Canaveral. We are in the Banana River area just further across the launched pad.This is my favorite picture of all. Humans are too small for this gigantic rocket,right? This place is huge and spacious enough to feature on display the real Saturn V rocket of the Apollo program. The Apollo/Saturn V Center is built to tribute to the Apollo astronauts and the machines that got them on the moon and brought them home safely. In this area, you will find the lunar vehicle too. Now, I am thinking to go back and take some new pictures.This is my entry for Travel Tuesday. Thanks for stopping by at Florida everyone:-)