Riding onboard the Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour from International Space Station Center back to Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Visiter Complex now :

Along our way, we see yet a few more Alligators :

Soon, Dear & I are back at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex a little past 4pm - Haha Dear & I really loved & enjoyed our Kennedy Space Center Bus Tours & now we’re earger & hope to explore more of the rest of the Space Center – here’s our KSC Visitor Complex Guide Map :

Once we get off the KSC Bus Tour Exit, we stop by the following Photos Display/Pickup Point where we get to see our Kennedy Space Center Photos which were taken earlier this morning while we were queuing for our first Bus Tour at the Space Center Tours – handing them our Photo No Collection Slip in-exchange for our Photos :

But of course we’ve to purchase them hahah!! Dear’s now queuing to pay for them at Mission Control Photo Lab located opposite the above Photos Pickup Point :

Thank goodness our Photos turn out very well considering they were taken so hurriedly hahah – they come in a full set of 1 huge Portrait, 4 mini Photos & 2 mini Photo Frame Souvenir Magnets  – total cost is US$21 which I think is really reasonable!!

Heheh ain’t they beautiful ha!! Dear & I think they are & we’re extremely pleased & very happy with them!!

And I especially adore the 2 most special & lovely mini Kennedy Space Center Photo Frame Souvenir Magnets which I plan to give one to Mom, attached with one of our 4 mini Photos heheh :

We’re now visiting the Shuttle Explorer which has a huge gantry-style Tower accessible by Visitors, located to the right of Mission Control Photo Lab at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex :

Close-up view of a NASA Aircraft :

Haha, Dear & I love this Space Shuttle Explorer which is a full-scale replica of a Space Shuttle – & the exact GIANT Model of my most treasured Space Shuttle Souvenir Magnet from Florida :

Here’s another pic of the Shuttle Explorer with Dear who can’t wait to have pics with it & keeps bugging me to photograph them together hahah!!

Now, let’s go explore the insides of the Shuttle Explorer as Dear & I hasten our footsteps up along the gantry-style Tower very excitedly :

Soon, we’re viewing the Interior of the Shuttle Explorer at its Crew Mid Deck :

Mock-up display of a Hughes Satellite Booster at Flight Deck :

NASA Shuttle Astronaut wearing Orange Launch/Entry Pressure Suit at Flight Deck :

After examining the Shuttle Explorer, Dear & I are now coming down from the Shuttle Explorer where we see Simulated Thermal Protection Sytem (TPS) Tiles underneath it :

Below pic shows the Simulated Thermal Protection Sytem (TPS) Tiles which, besides protecting the Space Shuttle from the heat & cold of Space while in Orbit, protect the Space Shuttle during the searing 1650 degrees Celsius heat of atmospheric reentry.

The TPS covers essentially the entire Space Shuttle (see my much earlier featured Shuttle Explorer pic above), & consists of 7 different materials in varying locations based on amount of required heat protection.

As the Space Shuttle’s aluminum structure cannot withstand temperatures over 175 degrees Celsius without structure failure, & Aerodynamic Heating during reentry would push the temperature well above this level in areas - an effective insulator such as the Thermal Protection Sytem (TPS) is needed.

These Simulated Thermal Protection Sytem (TPS) Tiles bear numbers just like the genuine Flight Articles do :

Pic of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Logo behind the Shuttle Explorer :

Here’s the Rust-colored External Tank (ET) with its 2 White-colored slender Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) which we saw upon approaching Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex earlier this morning :

Now, we’re coming close to the Shuttle Launch Experience :

Shuttle Launch Experience is a fairly new Attraction opened in May 2007 - a Simulator that takes Visitors on an incredible journey – launching into Orbit onboard a Space Shuttle.

At the same time for those who dislike great motions associated with great giddiness, there’s a NO MOTION Shuttle Launch Observation where one gets to see those riding inside the Launch Simulator!

Unfortunately there’re very long queues to both these Attractions, so Dear & I have to give it a miss – very sadly as we’ve no ample time left & we’ve still yet to explore a few other places…………As Dear & I keep telling each other that we need 2 full days here at Kennedy Space Center!! SHARKS!! SHARKS!!!!

Here’re pics of the Shuttle Launch Experience from our Kennedy Space Center Information Guide :

I’ve also attached a Youtube Video on the Shuttle Launch Experience Attraction – A MUST-Do Ride for all Visitors to Kennedy Space Center if you can - Stay COOL :

Below are pics of the Shuttle Launch Experience Attraction : 

Dear & I are having a quick stop at the following Shuttle Plaza Gifts located below the Shuttle Launch Experience Attraction :

Wow, we see yet another Astronaut in “Space” – so cool!! Dear & I immediately take pics of ourselves with it :

Here’s a Portrait of Space Shuttle Discovery STS-95 Crew Members inside the Shuttle Plaza Gifts :

We quickly handpick our Souvenirs which Dear’s paying for right now at the Cashier inside Shuttle Plaza Gifts :

Here’s our beautiful Collection of 10-in-a-Pack NASA Kennedy Space Center Panoramic Prints :

These are descriptions of Kennedy Space Center on the Cover page :

And now let’s see all the 10 Photo Prints on close-up -

Photo Print of The Moment of Truth for Apollo 11 at Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 (LC-39) Pad A, & its descriptions :

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who was the Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 11, walking on the Moon (2nd Human to set foot on the Lunar Surface, after Neil Armstrong) on the first Lunar Landing :

Here’s a close-up view of the most striking & memorable Moon Photo Print of the Reflection of Astronaut Neil Armstrong on Aldrin’s Face Plate :

Photo Print of the International Space Station, & its descriptions :

Photo Print of Saturn – the 6th Planet from the Sun & the 2nd largest Planet in the Solar System, & its descriptions :

Photo Print of the Earth from Space, & its descriptions :

Photo Print of a Space Shuttle Landing, & its descriptions :

Photo Print of Kenndy Space Center Visitor Complex with its External Tank (ET) & Solid Rocket Boosters (RSBs) which I featured above :

Below pics show Photo Prints of Space Shuttle Discovery Launch at Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex (LC-39) Pad A, & their descriptions :

Photo Print of VentureStar which is the next-generation delivery system of the 21st Century, & its descriptions :

Now, let’s watch my following Tavelling Slideshow as Dear & I make our way towards more Space exploration here at the Visitor Complex :