NASA - also known as photo overload

While on vacation, we also went to the Johnson Space Center. We spent half a day there, and if I could do it again, I would've gone for 2 full days...there is so much to see!



This is one of the main rooms. It is huge!

For one exhibit, we went into a room where you watched the shuttle launch, complete with smoke in the room at lift off. It was neat! Then we were lead to a room where a presentation was given on what NASA is currently doing and expects to do in the future.



I was impressed with the boys, they were so into it that they sat still for the whole thing (anyone who knows Charlie and Chance, knows they don't sit still for long!).



We also saw a George Lucas exhibit. I never got to figure out the connection between him and NASA, but it was cool anyway. ;)



The boys got to do a lot of hands-on stuff, like here they're at Mission Control, watching and talking to the kids upstairs in the space station and shuttle.



Then they had mirrors to show what they'd weigh on different planets.



Chuck would be obese on Neptune. ;)



For the sake of not overwhelming this post with pictures, here's the set.

So we also went over and toured the mission control that was in commission for 31 years. There's a new one which we couldn't tour (security), but it was cool to see the old one. I sat in the same chair which the Queen of England had sat in, that was fun. They didn't have computers in the first mission control, just terminals. They had those metal containers that went thru a tube to other areas (like you see at the bank) for paperwork. They said someone pulled a prank and put a mouse in one and sent it to mission control once. So someone in mission control sent back a snake, ha!! Anyways, as we were entering the area we had to turn cell phones off because the signals could interfere with mission control's communications with the space station. There was a lot of security, they checked our bags (like the airport) before we could tour, etc. They even have F-16's that fly over to protect the airspace anytime a mission is in process (like now).

At the end of our tour we saw a huge rocket that was used with the first Apollo space mission. It completed the first successful moon mission. But on the way to the rocket, Chance fell asleep so I got to enjoy holding my middle child for awhile.



Bubba and Charlie in front of the rocket:



A sideview. This thing was HUGE:



Then we goofed off a bit on the way back.







And once again, Bubba got a family pic (minus Chandler who stayed back at Granny's). Thanks Bubba!!



Whew, so much more to blog about...more to come. :)