Like many kids, I was enthralled with space exploration.  I remember going outside at night to watch Sputnik go overhead in 1957. I saved extra copies of the newspaper when was I a paper-boy the day John Glen went around the earth in a Mercury capsule in 1961.  And I actually helped design the mirror that the Apollo 11 left on the moon in 1969.

With all that background, there was no way I was going to miss seeing the Kennedy Space Center while driving through Florida.  Our expectations were rather low though, from theme parks in general, and from Universal Studios in particular.  As such, we rolled into KSC about 1:00, expecting to spend a couple hours and be on our way.

Our only disappointment was that we had not arranged more time.  When the 5:00 closing time rolled around, we had only been through a little more than half the display area, but had not been able to take the tour to see the first moon landing display (which probably has a replica of the mirror I worked on).  If you come, be prepared to spend a full day — at least if you enjoy space anywhere near as much as I do.

There were two IMAX 3D shows — one on Hubble and one on the Space Station.  Both were excellent, though the latter was a bit dated as it was filmed before the station was completed.  Both of us were amazed that the camera crew was able to get the rather cumbersome IMAX cameras into some of the tight spaces they were filming from.

The space shuttle Endeavor flew close by our house in September 2012, enroute to the Los Angeles museum.  Here, we were able to see the shuttle Atlantic up close and personal, as this is the new home for that retired ship.

Top was the shuttle Endeavor flying past our Berkeley house in 2012. Below is the shuttle Atlantis on display at the Kennedy Space Center.