Tuesday, August 15:
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (Day 2) – Cape Canaveral
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Day 2 began at “Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex”, where Tech Talent 2023 explored the future of space travel while highlighting what is happening right now in the space program. On display were all the spacecraft of today and the visionary designs paving the way of human deep space travel as well as cutting-edge space exploration innovations from NASA and commercial partners. Then, everyone entered the spaceport of the future, Spaceport KSC, and launched into a unique journey through the solar system and beyond during an immersive ride.
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Leaving the Visitor Complex by bus, the group began a 3-hour journey “inside the gates” of NASA’s primary launch complex. First stop was an observation tower where they could view Launch Complex 39B and 39A, where all current manned and unmanned launches to the International Space Station and the future manned Moon launches occur. At the historic Vehicle Assembly Building, the group was able to see a finished rocket gantry loaded aboard one of the famous “Crawlers”, ready to be moved for the Artemis II manned Moon launch. They learned that VAB has the highest single-storey door in the world, and about the special rock surface used to pave the road for the Crawler. The group moved on to the Apollo/Saturn V spaceflight operations center (where they experienced the launch of Apollo 11), touched moon rocks, space gear, and they stood in awe under the 363 foot-long Saturn V moon rocket.
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