Christmas at the Kennedy Space Center
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida – The past few years while covering the Oklahoma State football team at it’s bowl games – stretching from Dallas, to Phoenix, to New Orleans and San Antonio – I’ve always tried to notch time into the schedule to enjoy these new locations.
When I went to Phoenix for the Cactus Bowl, I got the opportunity to experience several national parks. There was a quick trip down to the Saguaro National Park outside of Tucson, and a shorter than I would have liked trip to the Grand Canyon after a fresh snowfall.
In New Orleans, I went beyond Bourbon Street – really only spending one evening there for the media dinner – and walked through some of the historic cemeteries, and took the streetcar through the historic Garden District.
Last year’s visit to San Antonio permitted my second trip to the Alamo – but the first time as an appreciative adult, instead of a ungrateful high schooler.
Having to go slightly out of the way this year, I couldn’t miss out on the chance of exploring the past and present of space exploration. And with having a science teacher for a wife, there was arm-twisting needed when electing to spend our Christmas at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral.
A permanent fixture at the Kennedy Space Center, the spherical logo for NASA gets an addition during the holiday season to make it look like a Christmas tree ornament.
Welcomed to the center by the “Rocket Garden” – a group of real, not replica, rockets used in the NASA program – the day was spent in awe of the advancement of space exploration over the past 50 years.
Visitors to the Kennedy Space Center are greeted by a Rocket Garden of actual rockets used by NASA.
One of the main attractions at the main visitor campus is the Space Shuttle Atlantis, which made 33 trips into Earth’s orbit – including the important mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope, the final NASA mission not to the International Space Station.
The Space Shuttle Atlantis is housed in a building by itself on the visitor's campus at the Kennedy Space Center.
The highlight of the trip was paying extra to take the Launch Control Tour.
Being bussed around several of the launch sites along the Atlantic Ocean, we eventually wound our way to the Launch Control Center at the base of the Vehicle Assembly Building – perhaps the most iconic building at NASA.
Standing in the shadow of the world’s tallest hanger built in 1966, our tour guide put the magnitude of the VAB into perspective. The blue field of the American Flag that adorns the building that can be viewed from over 15 miles away is as large as a regulation-size basketball court, with each star being over six feet wide from point to point.
Perhaps the most iconic structure at NASA, the Vehicle Assembly Building stands over 500 feet tall and has housed all the of rockets that the United States has launched.
From there, we got to visit the actual launch control room – Firing Room 4 – where the last 21 shuttle missions were monitored. A section of it has now been remodeled to with cubicles that allow launch missions for the growing business industries – such as SpaceX and eventually Blue Origin – to utilize.
From the launch room, you were afforded a view of several of the launch pads in the distance. It was all worth the extra $25, as the building is still in use and required security personnel to escort us through the lobby to the third-floor launch room.
Firing Room 4 in the Launch Control Center has been home of the last 21 launch missions by NASA.
Launch pads dot the coast of the Atlantic Ocean at the Kennedy Space Center, with several viewable from the Launch Control Room next to the Vehicle Assembly Building.
While my brief break from work was spent on an educational exploration, an hour away, the Oklahoma State football team got its second-straight day of spending time in some of Orlando’s famous amusement parks.
On Sunday, the Cowboys ventured to Universal Studios, with players scrambling all over the park with specific destinations in mind.
Senior linebacker Chad Whitener said he was keen about hopping on The Incredible Hulk ride, while senior safety Tre Flowers found himself in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
? http://pic.twitter.com/xXaIoQIRur
— Tre Flowers (@_Slimm7) December 24, 2017
"We're enjoying the weather and seeing everything," wide receiver James Washington said during Sunday’s adventure. "I've been looking forward to Universal Studios. Like Tre (Flowers) said a while back, I'm excited to just be a kid today and ride as many rides as I possibly can. I've never been here, so it's all new to me."
While many of the Cowboys are making their first trips through the Florida theme-park circuit, their coach is already a veteran of which are the more enjoyable parks.
"I'm happy to say that I've been to all of the amusement parks," coach Mike Gundy said. "As I've gotten older, I'm kind of an Epcot guy, but Universal is awesome. My kids have played baseball down here a lot, so we've been here a number of times, and they were still as excited as I was to come back and see the parks again."
The Cowboys capped off their two-day theme park adventure Monday morning with a Christmas present the likes of any child would enjoy – a trip to Disney World.
Thanks to the Camping World bowl for a great trip. Go Pokes! http://pic.twitter.com/sRf2GvXXtr
— Kasey Dunn (@kasey_dunn) December 25, 2017
And while things weren’t nearly as crazy at the Kennedy Space Center, the crowd in Orlando for the Cowboys’ adventure was a little more out of this world.
It may not be just because @CowboyFB is in town, but @Magickingdom has reached capacity for the first time in 4 years, according to someone who looks like she tells the truth. #okstatehttp://pic.twitter.com/TB8PMYtsiK
— Kevin Klintworth (@KKlintworth) December 25, 2017
SUNDAY
Landing in the Sunshine State on Christmas Eve
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida – The holidays are about family, and football. And for athletes, coaches and support staff – as well as media – football can make it hard to be with family around Christmas or the start of the New Year.
For me, it has been an adjustment since following Oklahoma State football to its bowl every season since 2012. I’ve spent either holiday on the road.
While it has afforded some once in a lifetime experiences, like ringing in the New Year on the banks of the Mississippi River in New Orleans (Sugar Bowl) or along the snow-covered cliffs of the Grand Canyon (Cactus Bowl), or spending Christmas in the shadow of the Alamo (Alamo Bowl), it’s hard to be away from my parents, siblings and nephews.
Fortunately, I have never been alone on these holiday-heavy work trips. My now wife of almost three years – who as any coach will attest to are the backbone of successful career – has always been by my side.
News Press sports editor Jason Elmquist, right, is in Florida to cover the Cowboys at the Camping World Bowl. His wife, Aimee, has been along his side for each of Oklahoma State's trips during bowl season dating back to the Heart of Dallas at the end of the 2012 season. Before bowl availability on Tuesday, the pair are taking in the sites near the Atlantic Ocean in Cape Canaveral – 45 minutes from Orlando.
The best part of having my wife along for this trip is it has given me an opportunity to try to make up for missed meals, events and the lot.
With a late Sunday arrival to Orlando and the Cowboys off for Christmas, we made plans to spend two nights on the Atlantic Ocean – completing the dream of my science-teacher wife of stepping in both oceans along the U.S. coasts.
That’s just the beginning for our short trip to Cape Canaveral.
You’ll have to check back Monday to find out how we spend our Christmas in Florida – with some discussion of how the Cowboy players will also be spending their holiday in the Sunshine State.
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