Space Camp, which is also called the US Space and Rocket Center, was an unexpected museum type stop we accidentally found on our way to an RV park in Alabama. This is a museum operated by the government of Alabama, showcasing rockets, achievements, and artifacts of the U.S. space program. It showcases the Apollo Program hardware but also houses interactive science exhibits, Space Shuttle and Army rocketry and aircraft. With more than 1,500 permanent rocketry and space exploration artifacts, as well as many rotating rocketry and space-related exhibits, the center occupies land carved out of Redstone Arsenal.
Oddly enough the advertisement that caught our attention was a bill board for Space Camp! But once we arrived at the Space Center there was very little of 'Space Camp' that we were able to see. For security of the camper's they keep the Space Camp section of the campus separate from the Museum. Of the little we could see I did snap the following pics. you'll notice there were only two areas involving Space Camp we were able to see.
Also another oddity was a jewelry exhibit! Most of all of the jewelry displayed interestingly related to the space program, but not all!
Two triple-strand necklaces, one
Pendant, 14k white gold and a 14k white gold clasp.
Huntsville Tornado
A tribute creation, 18k gold and seed pearls on tornado, white diamonds on tornado base; natural color canary diamonds, white diamonds and 21 ruby beads.
Challenger
Two hundred and twenty eight Akoya pearls,
Six pear-shaped Baroque pearls, two diamonds, two sapphires, two rubies with 18k gold.
Aurora (right)
18k gold, par shaped, black South Sea pearl, approximately two hundred and seventy three Keshi pearls, thirty six diamonds (twenty five single cut, eleven full cut.)
Saturn Necklace
Multicolored Brazilian gemstones including blue topaz, tourmaline, amethyst, garnet and citrine in 18k gold.
American in Space
22k and 18k gold with watermelon tourmaline, white freshwater pearls, off-round and oval, colored diamond necklace, 18k, colored diamonds.
Gone With The Wind
Two necklaces and a tiara. 75 diamonds, onechampagne diamond, round, white round inside the flower, pear-shape diamond, trillion, cotton ball bezel, marquis group diamonds on leaf, seventeen round diamonds on collar, thirty two multicolored sapphires, 18k gold, 18k white gold, platinum and 14k gold.
Meteor Shower
18k gold, 5 round diamonds, 2 white South Sea pearls, 39 and 57 shower droplets in freshwater pearl.
There was also a display of Archimedes .... it seemed another strange display for a Space Museum! There were several models of his inventions and it was interesting, if a little unexpected.
Finally we got to the 'space' part of the museum.
Examples of some of the first space suits astronauts wore.
Examples of old and new, past and future, historic and unknown!
Then we went outside to see what there was to see - now it really looks like the Space & Rocket Center! See for yourself...
Our first space explorers ... may they rest in peace.
We have seen the Space Shuttle Discovery, Independence (used only for approach and landing tests) and now Pathfinder. Everyone of them leave me in awe!! They are huge for one thing but what really amazes me is that they went to space and returned to earth and landed like a regular plane. The only ones left for us to see are the Enterprise and the Atlantis. We must also remember the sad circumstance of the loss of the Challenger and the Columbia as well as the brave astronauts that were on board each of those flights.
From it's toes to it's nose the shuttle with it's main engines are mind boggling!
A working model of 'Sky Lab' used in training is above.
Seeing the Space Shuttles, the equipment used, remembering those lost, you realize - it does take courage to pursue the space program ... it's amazing!
More soon 🌷🌷🐾🐾
Jan
