Danger Will Robinson

Another day, another adventure. Today I visited Major Nelson and Major Healey in Cocoa Beach and discovered the first difficulty in traveling there alone. I could not perfect the Jeannie head nod with crossed arms while holding my camera. That move requires both hands. I desperately wanted to but I was already pulled over on the side of the road with traffic passing by and a survey team that looked at me like I was crazy. 

I drove up the coast until I reached Cape Canaveral (it is a couple miles) and visited the Kennedy Space Center. After hearing Jim Lovell speak at JAM last week I was inspired to make this a stop, and it fit in more perfectly after the Keys were stormed out of the agenda. It was hard to leave the beautiful Cocoa Beach, the beach was cleaner than Miami and parking was free. The water was also a bit cooler and the waves were awesome- but I was a bit concerned about the rip tides so I did not venture far from the lifeguard at this beach either.

But once I did leave and got to the space center (three weeks before the Atlantis exhibit opens- dang it) I had a great time! The rain interrupted things for a while, the threat of lightening closed down a couple things like the rocket garden and the Astronaut memorial, but I still got to see these  things. I learned more about the space program, took a bus tour of some of the grounds and saw A LOT of history. I also saw an IMAX movie about the International Space Station. 

There was a theme to the IMAX movie and some of the displays, it was that we are all part of the Human Race and inhabitants of Planet Earth. Not just Americans, Russians, Japanese, Italian, etc. There was almost tear invoking moments about global collaboration and responsibility. I am convinced that this movie could be used as part of my RA programming series. The exploration of space went from a race based in fear between the US and the USSR to a global effort to better understand the Planet and what lies beyond. If an RA could get an IMAX screen into the building, find some sweet 3D glasses for everyone (it really makes a difference to see IMAX in 3D) and get the rights to show this film this could lead to great conversation among residents.