DIS Unplugged Roving Reporter Adventure - Live!

[tlcoke]

Have a Good Trip Dave!

I got this info in my email at work today:
The University of Louisville Gheens Science Hall & Rauch Planetarium is going to do a Special Event in honor of the 40th Anniversary of the First Apollo Moon Landing. So if you are in the Louisville Area, you can participate in the Celebration, too.

Planetarium to Celebrate Historic Moon Landing
On Monday, July 20 from 6:30 - 10 p.m., the Gheens Science Hall and Rauch Planetarium will host a 40th anniversary event to celebrate the first Apollo moon landing, including the premiere of their newest show, Astronaut.

Recapture the excitement of that famous day by reliving the countdown to launch and Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon, or see it for the first time in high definition on the big screen! The first 100 guests will receive free moon pies.

A Lunar Landing Party from 6:30 - 7 p.m. will feature activities for kids such as making a moon crater, launching a rocket and more. Our newest show, Astronaut, will be shown at 7 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., special guests will share their stories of what the Apollo mission meant to them. At 8 p.m., the movie "For All Mankind," considered one of the best Apollo Mission films of all time, will be shown in the dome.

Special admission of $5 per person for adults and children.

For more information or directions to the Planetarium:
https://louisville.edu/planetarium/

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Good Morning Everyone: OK, my bags are packed and I'm ready to go. I need to drop Evie, DD8 , off at soccer camp, attend one meeting at work, drop my car off, and then I'm off to the airport.

The shuttle is supposed to launch today at 6pm. My Dad's flight arrives at 4:45p. I'm going to try to take him to the top of the airport parking garage to watch the launch. Wish us luck.

 

[AnneR]

Looking forward to hearing of your adventures. Fingers crossed that there is a shuttle launch.

 

[safetymom]

See you tomorrow morning Dave.

 

[kab407]

Dave, have a great time with your Dad!!!!

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Have a blast, Dave, and kudos to you for scheduling some special time with your father.

 

[hideeh]

I will be thinking of you! Make some great memories with your dad.

Safe travels.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Thanks for the good wishes everyone. I'm at the airport now waiting for my flight.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Whoo hoo in Orlando now!!!

 

[AnneR]

Did ya see the launch?

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Good Morning Everyone: Just checking in with how the adventure is going so far. I got on my plane at 12:30p yesterday, and arrived in Orlando with no problems at 3:00p. Dad's flight didn't arrive until 4:45p - so I had some time to wait for him at the airport. I picked up my rental car - a nice PT Cruiser from Dollar (my girls would have loved it).

I also saw a Magical Express bus all decked out in Philharmagic designs.

The Kennedy Space Center Store in the terminal had lots of stuff for the Apollo 40th Celebration.

Dad's flight got here with no trouble, and I met him as he got off the plane.

Dad's the one not in the space suit.

It was about 5:00p, and the shuttle was lifting off at 6:03p. So we went up to the top floor of the roof of the parking structure at MCO. There were about 20-30 people up there as well, and police cars too.

Right at 6:03p, we could see a small fireball in the air, and then the contrail. I was able to get a surprisingly good picture of the launch.

OK, I wasn't able to get any pictures of it at all, but Dad videotaped it.

We checked into our hotel - the Buena Vista Suites, and then went to dinner.

I took Dad to dinner at the Wilderness Lodge so he could see the lobby. Neither of us were that hungry, so we just grabbed a sandwich at Roaring Forks, but he really liked looking around the hotel and grounds. On the way back to our hotel, we were treated to a huge lightening storm. Evidently, there was a tornado warning too, but I didn't know about it.

OK, I need to get ready for the event today, but I'll be sure to check in again later.

Kathy and I are going down to KSC together, and she is coming to pick me up at 7:00a.

 

[cocowum]

Dave, I don't know how I missed this before but I'm so glad I found your report.
I love the picture of your Dad at the airport. I actually got a little choked up seeing it. I guess I miss my dad. You are an awesome Son!

I'm looking forward to reading about your adventure.

 

[disneyholic family]

thanks for taking us along on your trip Dave!

i wish i could be at KSC for the 40th.....but it's great to be able to live vicariously through your reports!!

 

[kab407]

Have a great time with your Dad, Dave. Tell Kathy her peeps say, HI!

Looking forward to your report.

 

[georgemoe]

Have a great day today at KSC with dad. Looking forward to the reports. Thanks!

 

[jcb]

I have been looking forward to reading about your trip for a while. Thanks for taking us along.

 

[aspen37]

Dave your dad is so cute! Have fun today at KSC!

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Greetings Everyone: OK, I'm back from a great day at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Kathy and her daughter picked us up at 7am. We got to KSC around 8:00am. Once we figured out where to go we were placed on a bus for media to be taken to the press briefing with the Apollo astronauts.

Kathy and Katie used their time to update Facebook.

Entrance to Saturn V center

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

The press briefing was held in the new "Apollo treasures" room. We didn't realize we were in this special room at first, and then we noticed all of the artifacts around the room. Keep an eye out for Kathy's blog - she's going to be posting a detailed report. She got a lot of good pictures of the room.

The media - that we were a part of. They were from all over the world - Orlando, CNN, ABC, BBC, Canadian Broadcasting Company, France, and Al Jazeera were some of the places that I saw.

This is the actual Apollo 14 capsule recovered from the sea after splashdown.

The astronauts came in to answer our questions. I was able to ask Buzz Aldrin a question (you'll have to listen to the show to hear it). He was great, looked me right in the eye and gave me a detail long answer. I was impressed.

Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11, left) and Walt Cunningham (Apollo 7, right)

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

After the press briefing, it was time for the 40th Anniversary Celebration in the Saturn V center. This was hosted by a special correspondent from CNN - John Zarrella. Oh well, I was busy.

Saturn V center

Ceremony Stage where 8 Apollo Astronaut Panelists would speak.

Program lasted for a solid hour, and I thought the time flew by.