NASA is definitely OPEN for business in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The development of the new
Orion capsule and
Space Launch System as well as active programs for
commercial transport of astronauts to low earth orbit mean that KSC is a hub of activity.
Yesterday the
NASA Social group toured the facilities and received updates from NASA leaders on all the changes and developments. We continue today with the rollover of Space Shuttle Atlantis into it's beautiful new home at Kennedy Space Center. I hope you enjoy a few highlights from yesterday.
Please be sure to follow me on twitter
@rusewcrazy and
instagram @rusewcrazy for more updates throughout the day.
Also, for some really cool 360 degree views please see my
Occipital 360 Panorama page - http://occipital.com/user/89d3-662758/aimee-gravelle Lots of photos below, I apologize they aren't in any great order. Please holler at me if you have ANY questions either about my experience or what is happening at NASA. I will be more than happy to try to get those answered for you.
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| John McBride and Bob Crippen. NASA astronauts. They were outside the NASA admin building while we were waiting for our hard hat tours of Atlantis' new home. |
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| Joe Oppold leading my group on the new home for Atlantis, currently under construction now with a target opening of July 4, 2013. |
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| Mr. Oppold explaining the exterior finish of the structure. |
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| This is looking inside the building where Atlantis will be rolled in on November 2nd. It will be tilted at a 43.21 degree angle as if in flight. Once secure inside, a wall will be built to fully enclose the space shuttle. |
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| The exterior of the main facade. The "swoosh" will be covered with a copper material which will change color depending on the time of day. It is designed to mimic the color of Atlantis as it goes through reentry into the atmosphere of the Earth. |
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| A sample of the copper material to be used on the facade "swoosh". The upper portion of the facade will have tiles representing those found on the shuttle. |
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| Jason Townsend of NASA leading roll call on the bus. Bueller, Bueller. |
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| The NASA news center. It's a lot smaller than it seems on TV. |
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| Launch pad (either 39-A or B, I will verify). Remains in shuttle configuration. NASA working with partners who may share this space for commercial use. |
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| Bob Crippen. |
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| A piece of space-flown material received in our swag bag. Pays to be a NASA Social participant! |
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| The VAB - Vehicle Assembly Building. Holy Grail for space geeks. |
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| Jules Schneider of Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin built a facility onsite to facilitate the construction of the Orion Capsule. |
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| The famous countdown clock, located outside the Press center. |
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| Angela Brewer, flow manager for the Atlantis program. Everyone at NASA is committed and friendly and she's a perfect example. She got a little emotional discussing the loyalty of the NASA staff let go at the end of the shuttle program. |
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| ME on the hard hat tour. Yay! :) |
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| Yes, yes it is. One of my favorite actors was filming near the launch pad. LUKE WILSON. |
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| Press Room. |
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| Where visitors will enter to see Atlantis. |
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| There she is, Space Shuttle Atlantis. One of the last photos that will be taken of her inside the VAB as tomorrow she moves out into her forever home. |
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Aww check it out, I made a real wedding cake! And this was for a real live bride who is neither insane or completely lacking in taste. Lucky for her, I've taken just enough Wilton classes that the cake came out fairly successfully. It was white coconut cake with a lime curd filling. I baked cake layers for two weeks before I finally came up with a recipe that I liked. Luckily I have two refrigerators in my home.