US Space and Rocket Center

Before heading home from Huntsville, I wanted to get to see the US Space and Rocket Center. I didn't do any of the shows or participate in any Space Camp activities, but I did tour through the museum. It was amazing! Through middle school I really wanted to be an astronaut and I idolized Sally Ride. Somewhere along the line (possibly because of my dislike for math/physics) the astronaut dream passed, but seeing the museum sparked my curiosity again.

One of the museum buildings was a gigantic airplane hanger, housing the Saturn V. I don't think the pictures do an adequate job portraying the size. I did a little wikipedia search and it said, "The Saturn V (popularly known as the Moon Rocket) was a multistage liquid-fuel expendable rocket used by NASA's Apollo and Skylab programs from 1967 until 1973. In total NASA launched thirteen Saturn V rockets with no loss of payload. It remains the largest and most powerful launch vehicle ever brought to operational status from a height, weight and payload standpoint. "





















In addition to the Saturn V, the museum had all sorts of rockets, including a model of a rocket contraption proposed by Jules Verne and an exhibit that was a replica of the living and research quarters for space crews to conduct experiments. I was in awe.



The end of the museum had a gift shop with everything from personalized mugs to key chains to JUMPSUITS! It took a tremendous amount of self control not to purchase my 2009 Halloween costume right there and spend the summer months anticipating the reenactment of Armageddon scenes come October 31st.