This portion of the web doesn't cover current events. The four characters (N.E.W.S.) represents the compass points: North, East, West and South. Here you will find information about various world-wide destinations. This page is updated with facts and images on a number of destinations. Previous themes and topics have been moved to the ARCHIVE section of the web.
“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home.” - James Michener
N.E.W.S.
Visit this web page next month when we'll offer up new locations and adventures in travel. And be sure to visit the Archives page for a look at past NEWS features.
If You Go:
Mission Space
When Jules Verne published his book From the Earth to the Moon (1865), he would have been surprised to see how accurate his tale turned out to be. In his book he offered two potential launch sites, one in Florida and the second in Texas. A century later, when America was on the verge of sending our first astronauts to the moon, the launch facility was indeed located in Florida with the Mission Control Center located in Houston, Texas. Other eerie similarities between the fictionous tale of Jules Verne and reality of that historic mission were that his spacecraft carried three men to the moon just as the Apollo mission did, the dimensions of his projectile were close to those of the Apollo capsule, his adventurers splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, and the name of the cannon that launched his 19th century crew was Columbiad, while the Apollo spacecraft that took us to the moon was named Columbia.
However putting a man in space (let alone sending a crew to the moon) turned out to be far more complicated than even Jules Verne could imagine. It took years of planning, testing, and experimentation before we were ready to mount such a huge expedition. But, true to Verne's vision, it began at Cape Canaveral, Florida with Project Mercury.
Early Rockets
The Mercury program was a one-man mission which launched a simple space craft, testing some of the rigors astronauts were expected to face exploring the new oceans of space. One man in a space capsule did not require a large facility; the rockets were simple, and the missions were short - all lasting no more than 36 hours. All ground control from launch to splash-down was handled through the Mercury Control Center (MCC) located at the launch facility by less than two dozen launch specialists. This facility was adequate for the Project Mercury program as well as the first three Project Gemini launches, the first two of which were unmanned and the third launch (the first manned mission) lasted for only three orbits.
Cape Canaveral Rocket Display
The remaining nine Gemini flights required longer missions, space walks, docking maneuvers, and close capsule-to-capsule flights. With the added complexity came the requirements of a newer and larger facility that was located at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. This larger facility split the launch responsibilities between the launch facility - still located in the Mercury Control Center - and the Houston flight monitoring facility, dubbed the Mission Control Center (also called MCC). To avoid confusion, the Mercury Control Center was renamed the Launch Control Center (LCC).
Project Apollo Hall
Subsequently, a new 4-story Launch Control Center was built at Cape Canaveral at Launch Complex 39 from which Apollo and Shuttle missions would launch. All mission launch responsibilities remain with the Cape Canaveral Launch Control Center. (Launches have been handled by the new LCC building since 1967.) Once the booster clears the launch tower, control of manned missions is handed over to the Houston Mission Control Center. Launches of unmanned missions (satellite missions and robotic probes ) are handled by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.
Johnson Space Flight Center
Today both Cape Canaveral's Launch Control Center and Houston's Mission Control Center are open to public tours when they are not in use for current missions or training. The Houston facility has two MCC's and unless they have both a mission and scheduled training occurring simultaneously, one is always available for public viewing.
Saturn Launch Vehicle — Houston
The now defunct Mercury Control Center was intended to be preserved as a historical site, however due to its high maintenance costs and the expense of asbestos removal, it was considered impractical to maintain and was demolished in 2010. Its various consoles, displays and other equipment were moved to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in 1999 where they remain on display today
Mission Control — Houston
Expect crowds at both Cape Canaveral's Kennedy Space Center Visitors Comples and at Houston's Space Center, especially in the summer when shool is out for summer vacation. If you can schedule your visit during mid-week at other times of the year, you can expect fewer people. Either way, try to arrive as early as possible so the wait to get passage on the tram is minimal.
Remember that both sites are in areas where heat can be a problem. Even in the late fall and early spring temperatures can be in the 80's so beware of the heat and the sun; use sunscreen and drink plenty of water. Water fountains are readily available at both sites, but take a bottle of water with you on your tour. You can always re-fill it at a drinking fountain. Also, by arriving early, you'll be able to park closer to the building entrance, which will make it easier to find your car when you are ready to leave.
Expect to spend the better part of a day to see all the displays and take the tour. The Saturn/Apollo display in Florida is much more appealing than the Houston facility, but both are in a climate controled enclosure. There may be times, especially in Houston, that some parts of the facility are closed to the public when they are conducting training for an upcoming mission.
Also, be aware that both of these sites are within hurricane areas, and hurricane season runs from June through November. Check the forecast before you travel if you plan on going during that time of the year. If a hurricane warning is in affect during your travel time, postpone or cancel your trip to some future date. Furthermore, you can expect thunderstorms during the summer, especially in Florida. But because the land is so flat, the storms usually pass quickly.
Remember that both sites are in areas where heat can be a problem. Even in the late fall and early spring temperatures can be in the 80's so beware of the heat and the sun; use sunscreen and drink plenty of water. Water fountains are readily available at both sites, but take a bottle of water with you on your tour. You can always re-fill it at a drinking fountain. Also, by arriving early, you'll be able to park closer to the building entrance, which will make it easier to find your car when you are ready to leave.
Expect to spend the better part of a day to see all the displays and take the tour. The Saturn/Apollo display in Florida is much more appealing than the Houston facility, but both are in a climate controled enclosure. There may be times, especially in Houston, that some parts of the facility are closed to the public when they are conducting training for an upcoming mission.
Also, be aware that both of these sites are within hurricane areas, and hurricane season runs from June through November. Check the forecast before you travel if you plan on going during that time of the year. If a hurricane warning is in affect during your travel time, postpone or cancel your trip to some future date. Furthermore, you can expect thunderstorms during the summer, especially in Florida. But because the land is so flat, the storms usually pass quickly.