While waiting in line for the tram tour at the the Houston Space Center we remembered we knew a rocket scientist. After a text and phone call we met her at the astronaut training center and the rocket park.
Leah filled us in on details that the tour guide didn’t provide. We saw mock ups of space station sections, future space capsules and rovers. They were testing robots that looked more like C3PO but could work outside of a ship like R2D2.
When we stopped to see the full size Saturn V rocket, she filled us in on how the engines are cooled and why baffles were added to improve flow.
Our friend had an appointment so we were on our own in the museum. We wondered when they would be flying this shuttle.
Seeing NASA’s shuttle and the 747 ferry plane was impressive. However Mr Ram needed to track down an employee inside the museum since no one was stationed in the plane or shuttle.
Philip explained that the shuttle was a mock up, not an actual shuttle. It was surprising how little space the crew of 7 had. He also pointed out some other interesting artifacts like the air filter typical of ones on Apollo 13.
We also saw recovered Mercury, Gemini and Apollo capsules. Philip noted that the Mercury capsules was so small astronauts felt they wore it.
The new Orion capsule is more spacious, having 79 cu ft of space per person, about the same amount we have in Sparty not including our “bridge”.
Having spent a few rainy days inside our van I can imagine Mars astronauts taking a walk outside for some extra “space.”