To view the Journal for JANUARY click on this link goto January Journals…or click on the “header at the top of this page, select “Journals” for the drop-down menu. If pictures appear to be missing, using your “refresh” button helps them reappear.
HAPPINESS is to have EVERYTHING
you NEED,
NOT the NEED to have EVERYTHING
This month’s Travel Plans:
7. Jan. 20th Willis, TX at Lake Conroe (TT) RVP x 12 nights. (190m)
8. Feb. 1st Seguin, TX -Overnight (156m)
9. Feb. 2nd Lakehills, TX at Medina Lake RVR (TT) x 13 nights (182m)
10. Feb. 15th Fort Stockton, TX overnight
11. Feb. 16th El Paso, TX – overnight
12. Feb. 17th Deming, NM overnight
13. Feb. 18th Benson, AZ at Valley Vista RVR(T3) x 13 nights
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1.28.19-Johnson Space Center-We awoke around 7am anxious for this day for visiting the Johnson Space Center. Carla is feeling a little better but still sneezing from time to time. After a light breakfast and proper clothing to counter the 37 degree weather we were on our way. Traveling through Houston was a whit-knuckle experience.
This group of fly-overs wasn’t even the biggest, felt bad we missed that shot. It had a series of 5 levels high. Below is the Houston skyline. Tragic n this shot was light, I never want to travel I-45 through the city again.
Yea, we made it. The drive here was definitely an “E” ticket experience. Carla, Abby and I were fortunate enough to experience a 747 carrying a Shuttle back to Kennedy many years ago. It was such a rare event that, many times, the 747 pilot would do his own creative flight plan before landing. Many times flying north and south along the coastline to be a little boastful.
This would be our first of several venues today, buying tickets and viewing the Space Center Museum. Below are a few shots of the inside of this venue.
I kind of liked this picture below, a roadmap to the galaxy. Then another shot of the complex.
Below this guy is explaining the technique of going to the bathroom, you know #2, in space. It involves the use of suction. I won’t go into details on this but will let you use your imagination. Below this same guy tried to get this volunteer to drink Space Station generated water. Must I go into detail as to where the Space Station gets this primary source of water. The volunteer did not oblige the host in trying this highly purified water. Did you really think he would?
Above is an animation showing a candle (on the left ) as it would glow on earth and the same candle, on the right and how it would glow on the space Station, in outer space. The question here is why! A tour of the complex by tram will be next.
Yes, we can thank Disney for creating “waiting stalls” even at JSC, but the line was short. These are long horn Texas steers grazing on the JSC property. I did not hear the entire story but I think they had to be permitted as part of the buy-out or lease deal on the property.
Some of the research buildings on the property, for got their particulars.
We’re in the last building shown above where they build stuff and the train on it. The big white drums are actually, I think, living modules for the astronauts. Below is unique. The “green” capsule, lower left corner is actually the Russian capsule that our astronauts come home in from the Space Station. Our government pays $2M for a ticket for this ride.
Pictures above and below are about the “Orion” capsule. This is the new phase of our space program. Almost feels like we’re going backwards, especially after experiencing the Shuttles. Very much like the Mercury capsules more window, but yet no bathrooms or exercise room.
Once again, these are “living quarters modules” that will some day go back to the moon or Mars.
Above at the top of the picture are the many awards students have won as they worked on actual space projects t this NASA center. Some of their achievements can be seen on the floor, mostly in the realm of robotics. Below, I know, nobody here looks very busy, I agree.
We’re off again to see what’s in the next building, the Saturn Rocket building. Below see the bikes. These are the original bikes dating from the beginnings of the Space Center. Schwinn comes in once a years and refurbishes them for the years to come.
On this plot of soil trees have been planted with placards in commemoration of those that have contributed greatly to the program. Below, I just liked the picture.
Some information on the Saturn Rocket. Your computer can enlarge the information.
The Saturn Rocket, the heaviest, biggest and most powerful rocket built. There’s so much information on this rocket I’ll let you Google it. One particular item, it’s 360 feet in length. Just a few pictures on this beast.
zzz
This is the actual rocket, not a mock-up. There are only three left; Cape Kennedy, Atlanta and here in Houston.
The Apollo Mission Astronauts:
Now off to the Shuttle:
Above: there was no sign that aid Do Not Touch The Space Rock, so I touched it. Below the sin read touch the rock from the moon, why not, so we did. It was in a heavily fortified case of glass and steel with an opening barely big enough for a hand to fit inside. No chance of taking this artifact.
Some pictures from the space Shuttle:
Now off to the 747 transport plane:
NASA owned and operated two of these 747’s. The plane above made nine of these piggy-back trips.
“Everything we were, we carry with us. Everything we will be, is calling to us, from the roads not travelled yet.” pjgrenier