Today's Saturn V launch

[Gdeaver]

Oh, those crazy Maryland _Delaware boys have been at it again.

[IKE]

MMMMPMMMM Most impressive indeed. I was just down in Huntsville and saw what I believe was a Saturn V looming over the town. 1/10th scale is still amazing!
I tend to agree with Dave. A model that is taller than a 3 story house is only a model by definition.

[DUCKIE]

That IS a Saturn V replica you saw standing in Huntsville.

It's part of rocket park at the US Space and Rocket Center -home of U.S. Space Camp and Aviation Challenge.

(And my home for 8 months when I worked there in '06)

[wilsonmw04]

If the sound of that ignition and burn doesn't excite you, you need to check to see if you have a pulse. Awesome stuff.

[Gdeaver]

The sound through video can not compare to the experience of being at one of these launches. You just don't hear it, you feel it. For those that have young kids that show mechanical tendencies, I would strongly suggest that you consider giving them some exposure to model rocketry. Estes has several starter kits to get one going. While a Ready To Fly rocket may be OK for a first launch, get them into kits fast. Rocket building can be a great parent child bonding experience. If the child gets the rocket bug consider joining the National Association of Rocketry (NAR). Chances are they have a club with in driving range. Rocketry teaches the critical engineering mind set. Every thing has to be perfect or you'll be picking up your hard work in a trash bag. Rocketry is an excellent tool to teach all the maths and sciences. Today there are many excellent design and simulation tools to help with the design and technical details. Nar has a wealth of information available. I started my son with the Este's stuff at 6 years and eventually work him up to the big stuff (level 2 Tripoli). In 9 th grade he did First FRC and sucked me into mentoring. My son is now a senior studying Mechanical Engineering. This summer he is the only student intern at the company he interned for last year. They total shut down the intern program because of the economy. The reason he is going back is last year he showed that he had the engineering mind set to methodically solve real world problems. I directly attribute his success to this point on his involvement in hobby rocketry and First Robotics.
Yes, these excellent programs DO make a difference in our youth.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by dlavery

There are three surviving Saturn V rockets that were never used and are currently on display - one in Huntsville, one in Houston at the Johnson Space Center, and one in Florida at the Kennedy Space Center.

To amplify Gdeaver's comments: If you have never seen a Saturn V rocket up close, put it on your list of things to do this year. There are no words that can describe it, aside from the obvious "big". Even the shuttle is dwarfed by this thing.

[GaryVoshol]

We visited the Johnson Space Center when champs was in Houston. In the museum they have an Apollo capsule, and next to it was a model of the whole Saturn V. The girls on the FLL team could hardly believe the capsule was the only part that came back to earth.

[wilsonmw04]

isn't the new space vehicle under development based, in part,on the Saturn 5?
We may again have a chance to see large rockets heading into space in the near future. The Ares V looks wicked btw.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

The girls on the FLL team could hardly believe the capsule was the only part that came back to earth.

It was an extraordinary time to live in and learn from. Simply extraordinary.

[dlavery]

Originally Posted by DUCKY

That IS a Saturn V replica you saw standing in Huntsville.

In Huntsville they have the full-scale upright replica, and they also have the real thing. There are three surviving Saturn V rockets that were never used and are currently on display - one in Huntsville, one in Houston at the Johnson Space Center, and one in Florida at the Kennedy Space Center.

-dave



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