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Written by Shirley T
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Monday, 07 December 2009 10:15 |
No visit to Space Center Houston is complete without touring Rocket Park. Located outdoor and accessible from indoor building of Space Center Houston, it can be reached by taking a short tram ride there.
When we were there last month on 4th Saturday of October, it happened to be organizing JSC Open House. Rocket Park was opened to public and at the same time, there was a festival going on evolving fair, exhibition, hot air balloon and flying-type of activities nearby the vicinity. Time was running short thus we did not peek much.
A 5-minute tram ride on paved road across flat grassland finally brought us to Tram Stop 1 where Saturn V is located. This venue is also the home for Little Joe II Test Rocket and Mercury Rocket. Both stands outdoor while Saturn V is sheltered inside a huge rectangular complex.
Perhaps not many are aware that Saturn V is on loan to Johnson Space Center from Smithsonian Institution National Air & Space Museum. It is one of three surviving vehicles built to launch American astronauts to the moon during Apollo program in 1960s and early 1970s. Previously, it was displayed at the entrance to NASA Johnson Space Center since 1977. However, the climate and pollution did cause extensive erosion of the rocket's metal and degradation of its material. Hence, effort was proceeded in 1999 and shelter was built to preserve Saturn V to survive in 21 century.
We were not aware about the JSC Open House on 24 October 2009 until we got down from tram at Rocket Park. Otherwise, we would have come earlier to learn from the engineers and astronauts themselves. We were lucky to catch some last minutes demonstration of spacesuits, tools and astro-material. Apparently, some buildings in Johnson Space Center were also open to public during the Open House.
For the astronomy or space enthusiasts, the exhibits in Saturn V complex elaborate extensively the significant events in each of the Apollo programs. To me, it was time to pick up some astronomy plus aeronautical history lesson. In fact, I was thrilled by the effort placed in each mission that brought mankind a step ahead in space exploration! It requires huge effort and team work from both the aeronautical engineers that design plus build the space vehicles and astronauts to maneuver or navigate them.
I am impressed!
Getting there?
1601 NASA Parkway
Houston, Texas 77058
Phone: (281) 244-2100
Operating Hours: 10am - 5pm weekdays & 10am - 6pm weekends
Tips: Go as early as the gate opens. Head for NASA Tram Tour the first thing you arrive there to avoid larger crowd turn out later.
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Texas Gulf Coast | Space Center Houston - NASA Tram Tour and Rocket Park
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