Kennedy Space Center Thrills

The experience a traveler can expect to have at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida continues to improve.

I had a chance to venture back a couple of weeks ago after a few years' absence.

It was thrilling to see the Atlantis on the shuttle launch platform, just a few days before the actual recent launch.

The bus tour I took, called the NASA Up Close Tour, took me to an observation hill about a half mile from the Atlantis.

Another tremendously intriguing experience now is seeing the actual work being done on the International Space Station.  From an elevated and enclosed public viewing area in a large warehouse-like building, you can gaze down at the actual workers assembling various parts of the projected space station. 

Another exhibit that wasn't there during my last visit is the Saturn V/Apollo display, showing the largest rocket ever made.  A lot of memorabilia in the exhibit refers to various moon walks, including a training vehicle for the moon rover efforts.

When you enter the space complex, there still is the famous Rocket Garden, where the entire rocket history of US space exploration is on display.

A sobering exhibit, of course, is the black granite slab with names etched on it honoring all those who have lost their lives in the space program, most notably from the two shuttles that failed.

If you find yourself headed to Orlando, spending a day at this space exploration site east and north from the city is highly recommended.