On either side of the screen, the walls were decorated with classic pulp art concept images of vehicles which only bare a passing resemblance to the final Space Shuttle, a hint about the sort of presentation we were about to see. We were able to move swiftly through this area and directly into the theater. Of course, with the park closed we didn’t have to worry about the crowds. The designers clearly understood that the Atlantis exhibit would be a huge draw at KSC, so they made every effort to ensure the long line of visitors would be as comfortable as possible. There’s gorgeous images from the history of the Shuttle program and inspirational quotes about what it was like to build and fly these incredible spacecraft on the walls to keep you placated, but it’s still a line by any other name. There’s absolutely no substitute for seeing the real thing, but if you can’t quite make the trip to Florida, hopefully this account courtesy of your humble scribe will serve to give you a taste of what the exhibit has to offer.īefore you get to see Atlantis herself, you’re directed into a long hallway that spirals in towards the center of the building. ![]() If you have the means to do so, you should absolutely make the trip to Cape Canaveral to see Atlantis and all the other fascinating pieces of space history housed at KSC. Judging by the response I saw, the mission is going quite well indeed. NASA officially considers the surviving Shuttle orbiters to be on a “Mission of Inspiration”, so rather than being mothballed in a hangar somewhere in the desert, they are out on display where the public can get up close and personal with one of humanities greatest achievements. ![]() But there’s no denying that the exhibit does a fantastic job of celebrating the history and accomplishments of the Space Shuttle program. I’ll admit it was somewhat bittersweet to see such an incredible piece of engineering turned into a museum piece it looked as if Atlantis could blast off for another mission at any moment. Though I may have come in as a close second. Of course, nobody sitting under Atlantis that night was more excited than the students. There was a real, palpable, energy about it that you simply can’t manufacture. It was an incredible night, and everyone I spoke to felt humbled by the unique experience. Thinking back on it now, the organizers of the Cornell Cup and the staff at Kennedy Space Center should truly be commended. ![]() ![]() It promised to be a memorable evening for the students, a well deserved reward for the incredible work they put in during the competition. After which, the winners of the competition would be announced during a dinner held under the orbiter itself. So you can imagine my reaction when I learned that the event Hackaday wanted me to cover, the Cornell Cup Finals, would culminate in a private viewing of the Atlantis exhibit after normal park hours. I hadn’t been there in years, since before the Space Shuttle program had ended, and I was eager to see the exhibit created for the fourth member of the Shuttle fleet, Atlantis. Not that it mattered, I’d gladly write a few thousand words about the National Crocheting Championships if they started holding them at KSC. Then about a week later, I remembered to call back and ask what I was supposed to be doing. When I got the call asking if I’d be willing to fly down to Kennedy Space Center and cover an event, I agreed immediately.
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