I went over to the Kennedy Space Centre on Friday after Lotusphere. It was such a disappointment. I've been there quite a few times in the past, and really enjoyed being there, but it the visitor centre, at least, is now just another Florida theme park. There's no longer any serious discussion of the science, or of the value to humankind of the US space program. All there is now is cheap displays - Early Space Exploration, for one; snack bars - I count 5, as well as the main cafe, the Rocket Park is now very poorly explained, children's play areas, and even a theme part simulator ride. I will say that I didn't go into the Nature and Technology building, nor did I do the bus ride to the outstation exhibits, because I didn't have time (I have been to them before). It seems that the only serious pieces of the place left are the Launch Status centre - but nothing there as there isn't a current mission, and the Astronaut memorial stone, which was closed - I assumed for cleaning , as there was a guy on a cherrypicker round the back of it, but no apology for it.
When I first visited, way back in '95 or '96, the place absolutely oozed the Right Stuff. It doesn't any more, and I think it, and the presentation of NASA's space program, are greatly diminished by it. A great pity.
Mick Moignard January 24th, 2010 11:50:22 AM
I recently attended a conference (in Australia) where a senior NASA Project Manager was presenting on the topic of risk management. He mentioned in passing that as the current generation of shuttles where designed in the mid to late 1970's, and mostly were designed to use Intel 8088, 286 & 386 processors.
As a result, NASA was having some trouble sourcing spare parts from e-Bay for such obsolete technology. So if you were hoping to also see NASA promoting state-of-the art in rocket science, you would also be somewhat dissapointed.
Until, the US Government makes a commitment to a permanent Lunar base or a trip to Mars, the days of the Right Stuff will be simply something that Generation X & Y regard as old farts taking about ancient stuff that happened last century.
Ian