Remembering something special from a few weeks ago...
...Since I have a few minutes before I should go up for washing and bed...
A few weeks ago (late June/early July,) Nikki and I spent a part-day in Chicago. We went to see the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium. I think Nikki liked the Aquarium better, and I liked the Planetarium better. *giggle*
I'd hoped to share my own pics, but apparently I haven't uploaded them to my computer yet. So you'll have to do with very good links to stuff that's not mine.
The Shedd was nice, but after lunching, wandering the exhibits, and then seeing a couple of planetarium shows at the Adler, we were just about to leave when I noticed that there was a whole Jim Lovell wing that we hadn't explored. (Actually called "Shoot for the Moon.") So, making us late to get to my sister's apartment, we wandered through as quick as possible. Lots of cool exhibits, including the most realistic Lunar Lander simulation game that I've ever played.
And, there behind glass, was the Gemini 12 capsule. :O *drool* So I got some wonderful pictures of it, and Nikki got pics of me standing in front of it. Eventually I may post those pics (I thought I had them on the computer here when I started posting this, but now I can't find it.) So the temp shortcut to see a picture of the capsule (I suppose I could just grab the pic, but I'm too ethical for my own damn good...):
* Go to http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/exhibits/index.shtml#sftm
* Scroll down to the "Shoot for the Moon" exhibit
* Click on the graphic that says "Click to Launch Minisite" - you'll need Flash; it will open a popup in Java.
* Click on "Gallery" - Lots of good pics here from the exhibit and others.
* Click on "Exhibition 4" - This is the what I was standing next to.
Remember that scene in "Star Trek: First Contact" where Picard and Data were talking next to the "Phoenix?" That's what it felt like to be standing next to something that went up into space, carrying Jim Lovell and Buzz Aldrin. Before Apollo 11, before Apollo 13, there were two men in a cramped capsule, already pushing the envelope and nothing from space's vacuum but a small amount of aluminum and glass. (I would've loved to have placed my hand on it. :) )
Other things to note: It was *cramped* - ever seen a jet fighter cockpit? Think tighter than that. Another link I found with someone working on the restoration sitting in the cockpit: http://www.space1.com/About_Us/Newsroom/Gemini_12_Restoration/gemini_12_restoration.html
The "computer" display - hard to believe that people actually used devices like that. Again, I hope to post a photo eventually. In the meantime: http://history.nasa.gov/diagrams/gemini3.gif
This the the control panel layout from NASA. The right side "2nd Astronaut Panel", on the lower right edge - the number panel is the input for the computer, the "display" to the left of it is it's display. :O
Anyway, can you tell it was a moving experience? If you're ever in Chicago on sightseeing - check out the Shedd and Adler, right next to Soldier field. (And, if you've got enough time, check out the Field museum, also - we're going to eventually.)
And we've almost paid for the trip, too. :)
A few weeks ago (late June/early July,) Nikki and I spent a part-day in Chicago. We went to see the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium. I think Nikki liked the Aquarium better, and I liked the Planetarium better. *giggle*
I'd hoped to share my own pics, but apparently I haven't uploaded them to my computer yet. So you'll have to do with very good links to stuff that's not mine.
The Shedd was nice, but after lunching, wandering the exhibits, and then seeing a couple of planetarium shows at the Adler, we were just about to leave when I noticed that there was a whole Jim Lovell wing that we hadn't explored. (Actually called "Shoot for the Moon.") So, making us late to get to my sister's apartment, we wandered through as quick as possible. Lots of cool exhibits, including the most realistic Lunar Lander simulation game that I've ever played.
And, there behind glass, was the Gemini 12 capsule. :O *drool* So I got some wonderful pictures of it, and Nikki got pics of me standing in front of it. Eventually I may post those pics (I thought I had them on the computer here when I started posting this, but now I can't find it.) So the temp shortcut to see a picture of the capsule (I suppose I could just grab the pic, but I'm too ethical for my own damn good...):
* Go to http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/exhibits/index.shtml#sftm
* Scroll down to the "Shoot for the Moon" exhibit
* Click on the graphic that says "Click to Launch Minisite" - you'll need Flash; it will open a popup in Java.
* Click on "Gallery" - Lots of good pics here from the exhibit and others.
* Click on "Exhibition 4" - This is the what I was standing next to.
Remember that scene in "Star Trek: First Contact" where Picard and Data were talking next to the "Phoenix?" That's what it felt like to be standing next to something that went up into space, carrying Jim Lovell and Buzz Aldrin. Before Apollo 11, before Apollo 13, there were two men in a cramped capsule, already pushing the envelope and nothing from space's vacuum but a small amount of aluminum and glass. (I would've loved to have placed my hand on it. :) )
Other things to note: It was *cramped* - ever seen a jet fighter cockpit? Think tighter than that. Another link I found with someone working on the restoration sitting in the cockpit: http://www.space1.com/About_Us/Newsroom/Gemini_12_Restoration/gemini_12_restoration.html
The "computer" display - hard to believe that people actually used devices like that. Again, I hope to post a photo eventually. In the meantime: http://history.nasa.gov/diagrams/gemini3.gif
This the the control panel layout from NASA. The right side "2nd Astronaut Panel", on the lower right edge - the number panel is the input for the computer, the "display" to the left of it is it's display. :O
Anyway, can you tell it was a moving experience? If you're ever in Chicago on sightseeing - check out the Shedd and Adler, right next to Soldier field. (And, if you've got enough time, check out the Field museum, also - we're going to eventually.)
And we've almost paid for the trip, too. :)