Docents in the Davidson Center for Space Exploration at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama
As a kid I was a real space geek, and followed everything about the space program that I could get my hands on. As part of our recent trip to Alabama and beyond, Kathy & I spent a day at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville and took the bus tour. It was a fascinating experience and brought back a lot of memories.
Space Shuttle replica “Pathfinder” on display at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, AlabamaSaturn V rocket replica on display at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, AlabamaSaturn V rocket replica on display at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama
It would be possible to just tour the exhibits at the museum, but it was really special to take the narrated tour of the Marshall Space Flight Center grounds, with visits to several operating facilities. We visited a the Payload Operations Center, training center with mockups of some of the actual ISS modules that are used to recreate situations on earth to help the astronauts deal with problems or answer questions aboard the station.
Payload Operations & Integration Center at the Marshall Space Flight Center at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama
The Payload Operations Integration Center is the “mission control” for all of the scientific activities that are happening on the space station. The folks at the various workstations monitor these operations remotely, as we learned the the majority of experiments happening on board are not actually handled by the astronauts themselves unless hands-on is required.
Astronaut toilet in the International Space Station exhibit at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, AlabamaUS Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama
The Environmental Control & Life Support Systems facility deals with the systems required to sustain life aboard the station. A lot of the work done here deals with developing systems to maintain the environmental and sanitary needs of the crew aboard the ISS.
Exhibits at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, AlabamaDocents in the Davidson Center for Space Exploration at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama
The entire day was great, but the highlight for me was the visit to the Davidson Center for Space Exploration, which is a huge building that houses an actual Saturn V rocket along with tons and tons of memorabilia from the early days of manned space exploration through the Apollo moon landings. One of the things I thought was really cool is that they employ retired scientists as docents, so it is not unusual to find yourself talking to one of the heros of the space program. In fact, I didn’t realize it at the time, but one of my photos is of Brooks Moore, who headed the Astrionics Laboratory and is actually in the black & white photo in the picture of the old computer hardware!
An actual Saturn V rocket on display at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, AlabamaAn actual Saturn V rocket on display at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, AlabamaAn actual Saturn V rocket on display at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, AlabamaApollo 16 command module on display at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama
It was a great day and an excellent way to highlight our visit to Alabama!
Moon rock on display at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, AlabamaRedstone Missle Test Stand, a National Historic Landmark, at the Marshall Space Flight Center at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, AlabamaDavidson Center for Space Exploration at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama
Cyprus trees at the Tupelo-Bald Cyprus Swamp on the Natchez Trace Parkway
While visiting the cyprus swamp on the Natchez Trace Parkway, I did a few impressionistic photos of the trees using camera movement to blur the trunks. These are two of my favorites from that session. I love how the motion simplifies the composition by making it all about the lines of the trees and removing the distracting details.
Cyprus trees at the Tupelo-Bald Cyprus Swamp on the Natchez Trace Parkway
Interstate 10 bridge at the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area Welcome Center near Breaux Bridge, Louisiana
I’m a little late to the April Fool’s party so I don’t have anything funny. But wanted to post that we are safely at home now and enjoying the spoils of our own house – quiet music, comfortable chairs and our own place! We loved the travel but are happy to be back to home base. It won’t last long, but we’ll enjoy it while we can!
Cyprus trees at the Tupelo-Bald Cyprus Swamp on the Natchez Trace Parkway
I have a thing for Cyprus trees. The shapes are interesting, and I love how they live against all odds of nature. We found these in a swamp along the Natchez Trace Parkway today. I know there’s a rule about taking landscape photos in harsh sunlight, but I keep forgetting…. 🙂
Cyprus trees at the Tupelo-Bald Cyprus Swamp on the Natchez Trace ParkwayCyprus trees at the Tupelo-Bald Cyprus Swamp on the Natchez Trace ParkwayCyprus trees at the Tupelo-Bald Cyprus Swamp on the Natchez Trace Parkway
Kathy & I spent a couple of nights in Natchez, Mississippi before starting off on the Natchez Trace Parkway. Natchez sits on a 200 foot bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. We spent a lot of time walking and watching the barge traffic on the river. The river is high and a few roads are closed, but we didn’t see anything serious.
Live Oak at Jungle Gardens, Avery Island, Louisiana
In addition to being the home of Tabasco, Avery Island is home to Jungle Gardens, a 170-acre semitropical garden that stretches along Bayou Petite Anse. Jungle Gardens was created by Edward Avery “Ned” McIlhenny. Born on Avery Island in 1872, Ned was an arctic explorer, naturalist and conservationist.
Alligator at Lake Martin during our swamp tour with Cajun Country Swamp Tours
Today, Kathy & I are in Lafayette, Louisiana where we toured the Tabasco plant in Avery Island and took a swamp tour, then capped off the day with a visit to a roadhouse with Cajun music and fresh seafood. Louisiana is an interesting place!
