The era of passenger flights into space isn’t too far away. Virgin Galactic has unveiled the space shuttle that will take ordinary members of the public on sub-orbital flights, while work on its specialist space port in the New Mexico desert is underway. The only slight snag is that tickets for a ride on Richard Branson’s new toy cost US$200,000 (AU$225,000).
Luckily, there are other options for would-be astronauts to get a taste of the space experience…
Johnson Space Center
Where? Houston, Texas, United States
NASA’s main space centre – well, part of it, anyway – is open to the public. For staff, this means having to hear “Houston, we have a problem” jokes on a near constant basis, but there’s plenty to keep visitors enthralled.
It’s possible to poke around both the current and historic mission control centres on a tram tour, whilst the Saturn V Complex at the Rocket Park is also included.
There are two theatres – and the Blast Off theatre simulates a shuttle launch experience – while the Astronaut Gallery has a vast collection of space suits and memorabilia.
The Living In Space Exhibit is also rather good fun – a Mission Briefing Officer explains how basic tasks such as eating and showering are done in a microgravity environment, and there are plenty of pieces of on-board equipment to play with.
Kennedy Space Center
Where? Orlando, Florida, United States
NASA’s main launch facility has an enormous array of options for visitors – site tours just scratch the surface. Visitors can meet astronauts, mooch around the Astronaut Hall of Fame and book special packages for observing shuttle launches.
There’s also an IMAX theatre, a ‘rocket garden’ featuring a selection of retired craft under dramatic lighting and a full-scale mock-up of the International Space Station.
It’s also possible to undergo an Astronaut Training Experience for from US$145 (AU$163). This half day programme includes space flight simulators and a full space shuttle mission simulation, with training from NASA experts.
In the latter, participants have to work together as a team to orbit around the earth, dock at the International Space Station and perform vital repairs. It’s not the real thing, but you’re made to feel as though it’s pretty close.
Baikonur Cosmodrome
Where? Baikonur, Kazakhstan
The biggest space launch facility in the world can be found in the middle of nowhere. Currently leased to the Russians until 2050, the Baikonur Cosmodrome was the where the first satellite was launched from in 1957. Yuri Gagarin also became the first man in space after taking off from Baikonur in 1961.
Trips to Baikonur are nowhere near as simple as those to the key NASA hubs, and are generally only available in multi day organised tours. Country of Tourism offers packages timed to coincide with Soyuz rocket launches for EUR2,500 (AU$3,812) per person, with departures from Moscow.
National Air and Space Museum
Where? Washington DC, United States
Coming under the giant Smithsonian umbrella, the National Air and Space Museum is arguably the best museum-style space attraction in the world.
One of the key highlights in the collection is the original 1903 Wright Flyer – the first aircraft in which man achieved powered flight – but there are some big draw cards from the space flight era too.
These include the Apollo 11 command module, an IMAX theatre and the Albert Einstein Planetarium. The latter two host hugely impressive shows about space, whilst the 22 exhibitions in the museum include great displays on the space race with Russia and the 1969 moon landings.
Armstrong Air and Space Museum
Where: Wapakoneta, Ohio, United States
The scale isn’t as impressive as the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum, but this one in an obscure Ohio town has history on its side.
Wapakoneta is the birthplace of the first man to set foot on the moon. Neil Armstrong is the town’s most famous son, and he has donated numerous artefacts to the museum. These include the suits he wore whilst on his space missions and lunar rock that Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin collected on their moon missions.
There are also items belonging to the first man in space – Yuri Gagarin – and a space shuttle landing simulator for those who prefer things a little more high-tech.
Arecibo Observatory
Where: Arecibo, Puerto Rico
There might not be space suits and simulators and the Arecibo Observatory, but it’s still mightily impressive.
The observatory’s radio telescope – which seems to burst out of the surrounding rainforest – is the largest in the world. Movie fans may recognise it from the Bond film, Goldeneye, and Jodie Foster’s Contact.
The telescope is 305m in diameter and is the most sensitive on earth – and this makes Arecibo vital in our efforts to map out and monitor space.
Isango offers tours to and around the observatory for from AU$130.45 per person. The tours also take in the Camuy Caves on the way.
Zero G Experience
Where? Las Vegas, United States
It’s not quite space flight, but the weightlessness adventure offered by Zero G Experience in the US is the closest you can get without splashing out on Virgin Galactic.
It doesn’t come cheap – prices start at US$4,950 (AU$5,555) per person – but this is what Tom Hanks used whilst training for Apollo 13.
During the flight, the specially modified Boeing 727 goes up to a high altitude where the pilot executes manoeuvres called parabolas. These curving swoops bring on the same weightlessness you’d get in space, and 12 to 15 goes at floating around inside the plane are included before landing.
Deep Space Communication Complex
Where? Tidbinbilla, ACT, Australia
Australia’s own space hub is rather humble in comparison to those in the US and Kazakhstan, but the Visitor Centre at the Deep Space Communication Complex near Canberra is still worth a look.
There are great views out over the largest antenna complex in the southern hemisphere, while there the highlights include models of spacecraft as well as hardware that has made it up it into orbit.
The latest images beamed back from Mars are on display, as are ancient chunks of the moon and exhibitions on what life in space is like for the astronauts.
This article was originally written for the Sun-Herald.
Prices accurate as of February 2010. Copyright David Whitley
