As a native Floridian I get very excited when Florida is mentioned as the biggest or greatest of anything and especially proud of Florida’s recognition as the leader in the global aerospace industry. I heard my first sonic boom when I was in 4th grade, it came from F-15 fighters at MacDill Airforce Base (US Central Command in Tampa Florida). It was an explosive thunder- like sound that my teacher said was caused by shock waves from an object traveling through the air faster than the speed of sound. I heard the sonic boom again when I moved to Central Florida, this time coming from space shuttle and rocket launches at Kennedy Space Center, and just t recently from a Boeing’s X-37B unmanned and reusable spaceplane re-entering from an extended missions in orbit. The 100 Most Amazing Space Photos of 2017.
Whether you call Florida home, or you are one of our 68 million tourists who visit the Sunshine State each year, it would be a shame to be just one small step from world-changing innovation and not to join the journey at KSC Visitor Complex. You can watch a rocket launch at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. My advice for attending a rocket launch is to enjoy the process and plan to explore the many exciting parts of the visitor complex just in case your launch is scrubbed (which happens quite often). Also, a great excuse to visit the historic Cocoa Beach Pier for dinner on the way home.
For a really special experience, you can attend the April 21, 2018 US Astronaut Hall of Fame Induction honoring veteran astronauts Dr. Thomas D. Jones and Capt. Scott D. Altman. The ceremony will take place at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Space Shuttle Atlantis® at 11:00 AM, while the orbiter floats overhead. Guests are invited to attend the ceremony, included with daily admission.
I wouldn’t say I am full-fledged space-geek (not yet), but more like a space-groupie, which includes my brand-crush on Elon Musk. If you are bordering on space-geek status here are some interesting people, places and things you may want to follow:
- Space Florida is Florida’s aerospace and spaceport development authority, they are committed to attracting and expanding the next generation of space industry businesses. Beyond rockets: Space Florida gives rundown on what’s ahead in 2018
- Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos also founded Blue Origin who is upgrading Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Launch Complex 36 to support New Glenn launches, not far from the Florida factory Blue Origin is opening to build the rockets. Follow Jeff Bezos on Twitter
- I follow basically everything that Elon Musk does, especially SpaceX which just won a $290 million contract to launch three Global Positioning Satellites. Elon says SpaceX will be ready with its Mars rocket by next year
- Stephen Hawking, physicist who came to symbolize the power of the human mind, dies at 76
- Nomination of Congressman Jim Bridenstine to lead the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
- SpaceX Falcon Heavy montage highlights launch, Sturman and that one failed landing
- S.442 – National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2017
- Cape Canaveral Spaceport: the premier transportation hub for global space commerce
- SpaceX, Blue Origin have Florida’s Space Coast poised for change
