Conference 7.286::space

From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Date: 20 Dec 90 00:36:30 GMT
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA

          Patricia E. Phillips                               Dec. 19, 1990
          407/867-2468

          KSC. Release No. 199-90

          SPACEPORT USA OPENS FULL-SIZE SPACE SHUTTLE MODEL TO VISITORS

               Visitors to Spaceport USA will have a special  treat  begin-
          ning Thursday,  Dec. 20, when Kennedy Space Center's visitor cen-
          ter opens a full-scale Space  Shuttle  replica  for  walk-through
          tours.

               Named  the "Ambassador," the 122-foot long model is the next
          best thing to climbing in a  real  Space  Shuttle,  according  to
          visitor center officials.  The full-scale replica,  made of steel
          and fiberglass,  will offer visitors an  astronaut's  view  of  a
          Space Shuttle flight deck, crew quarters, and cargo bay.

               A   video  display  of  Space  Shuttle  operations  will  be
          presented at the exhibit.  Guests  will have  an  opportunity  to
          take photographs by the 56-foot-high Ambassador.  The distinctive
          black and white coloring , which duplicates the tiles used on ac-
          tual  Space  Shuttles,  will make a striking background for those
          special family photos.  After sundown,  special lighting will il-
          luminate the Ambassador and its dramatic 78-feet wing span.

               During the Christmas season, Spaceport USA will primarily be
          open from 9 a.m.  to  6 p.m. daily, except on Christmas day, when
          the complex is closed.   However,  opening and closing hours will
          be extended over the holidays to accommodate visitors.

               The Ambassador was  built by an Apopka,  Fla. firm for Irvin
          and Kenneth Feld Productions of Vienna, VA.  The replica  will be
          on  display  for  four  months  through  an agreement between its
          owners and TW Recreational Services Inc.  TWRS is under  contract
          to NASA to operate Spaceport USA.

      Went round it last week, while on a week's holiday in Orlando.
    Very interesting. The cockpit looks very like a rather cramped
    airliner flightdeck, banks of switches and instruments everywhere.
    The crew compartment looks very cramped for 7 people; until you
    have a look at the amount of space provided for 3 in the Gemini
    capsule nearby! The cargo bay is impressively large.
      If you get there early, go to 'Ambassador' first to avoid the
    queue that builds up later. But don't miss 'The Dream is Alive'
    in the IMAX theatre. You have to buy tickets for this, again make
    sure you arrive in good time because it does sell out. This is shown
    on a 5 storey high screen, lots of pix of inside and outside the
    shuttle, including repairing 'Solar Max'. Crisp and clear pictures,
    very high quality. You can buy a video of it, I didn't bother as I
    felt that it would be a disappointment after seeing it on the big
    screen. About the only thing missing was zero G!
      The screen is curved, so allegedly the view is the same
    from everywhere, but I would still have preferred to have been in
    the centre. Everyone enters from the left side, and they make you
    move right across before sitting down, so don't rush in as soon
    as the doors open, and try to pick a row that is already starting
    to fill up. Best tiers to be on are 2 or 3, get in the queue for
    the theatre about 20 mins before the start of the performance or
    you're likely to find yourself stuck right at the back or front.
      
    Ken (Winnersh, UK)

    Yes Ken, your IMAX-Tips are totally correct.
    I visited KSC in November last year.
    This IMAX performance is *very* impressing. I have never seen such a
    high resolution before. I stepped out and was 'filled up with space'.
    Also the where-to-sit and how-to-get-there tips are absolutely OK.
    Everyone who can... visit KSC !
    
    	Detlef (Germany)
    

re Note 676.2 by 42110::RICKETTS:

>     have a look at the amount of space provided for 3 in the Gemini
>     capsule nearby! 

        The Gemini would be very cramped for three -- as the name
        might imply!

        Bob

"Ambassador" is still at KSC.  I went through it last week (Friday, 12/13/91).
Man, is that a beautiful sight!  Just as you drive into the parking lot near the
visitor's center there's "Ambassador."  Wow!  The tour is very quick (it's
amazing how small the shuttle really is ... TV makes it seem *so* much bigger).
Anyway, definitely worth a walk-through.  I probably should have asked how much
longer it's supposed to be there, but I didn't.  Maybe the next person who
visits can remember to ask?

Other items of interest:  the red & blue bus tours were combined when we went
(2:15 hours)!  Still only $6.00, however.  The bus tours were full, but there
were not many people at the spaceport at this time of year, so I guess that's
why they merged the tours.  So, we got to take a spin through the Cape Canaveral
Air Force station (they showed us the launch sites for the Mercury & Gemini
series including "where it all started").  Also the Titan and Centaur launch
towers.  Pretty neat tour, although you pass through much of the "void" of the
air station (lots of trees, fields, and brush and nothing else to look at).
Another interesting point at the air station was the bunkers that were used as
the control centers for missle launches.  Some of these bunkers now hold the
remains of the Challenger orbiter recovered from the Atlantic.  From here it's
on to launch complex 39.  It was a beautiful day, so both pads were quite a
sight, especially from the ocean-side bus stop which is just about in between
both pads.  We also stopped at the VAB and saw the Saturn V lying on its side.
Boy, that is one serious vehicle.  I didn't pay much attention when I was there
back in '86, but this time I noticed that just the *first stage* of the Saturn V
(fueled) weighs 1.75X the shuttle & stack at lift-off (7.8 vs. 4.5 million
lbs.)!  It's a wonder that thing ever got off the ground!

The IMAX theater was showing "The Dream Is Alive" continuously all day ($2.75)
and "The Blue Planet" at only 2 times (I think the times were 11:00a and 4:45p).
We didn't stay long enough to catch the late show of "The Blue Planet."  :-(

The Astronaut Memorial was blocked off.  According to a spaceport employee they
discovered some cracks in the marble and repairs were under way.  You could
still walk around it (there's a walk path) and take pictures.  You just couldn't
walk right up to it.  However, even from the walkway you could read the names.
My guess is that it's more impressive at close range.

...Roger...

P.S.  Oh yeah, a bit of friendly advice ... *don't feed the birds*!  I was the
recipient of a surprise while buying my bus tour and IMAX tickets ... I felt a
*thwap!* on my hand while leaning on the counter, I look over and there's this
rather disgusting splatter on my hand ... I look up and there's this large crow
(I swear he had a smile on his face) perched on the roof cross-beams.  The
window attendant looked somewhat embarrassed and gave me a paper towel to wipe
off my hand.  She then directed me to the nearest rest room!  I thought the
whole thing was quite humorous, but I figured I'd warn you anyway!  :-)