This will be my last post from our month long stay at Cocoa, Florida in the JOY RV Park. In this update, we visited with some family, met some new friends, visited the Kennedy Space Center, watched a rocket launch, and much more!
Family Visit
My cousin Sam lives in Cocoa Beach with his wife Carol. We always try to see them when we are in town. They have been great to my parents when they lived on Merritt Island. Many get togethers to dine and play card games over the years.
They are both retired and Sam likes a daily jog on the beach and play golf, while Carol has a part time job with a local cruise line. We met for lunch at Molly’s restaurant and tried to get caught up on each others lives. Sam has also written a lengthy novel and is in the editing process now. I look forward to its release one of these days! And I forgot to get a photo of the four of us…doh
New Friends
On one nice afternoon, we were walking around the Cocoa historic village and stopped at the Von Stephan Village Bier Garden for a refreshment. This German restaurant seemed to be very authentic from the food to the beer to the German band playing.
Seated next to us at the bar was a local couple (Bart and Natalie) who we chatted with for awhile. When we discussed our going over to the Space Center, Natalie’s eyes lit up as she works at the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA. She loves to advertise for the tours and even offered to pick up some discounted tour tickets for us.
The space center tour was on our short to do list while in Cocoa, so how about that!
Kennedy Space Center
We have toured this huge complex before, but it was about 20 years ago, and my how it has changed. Our day was to start early and leave late and we only saw about half of the tourist attractions. This place has grown and it is very well done.
The Airstream motorhome that was used to transport astronauts. 
VAB – Vehicle Assembly Building 
Spacex building
The two main things that we did were the bus tour and the space shuttle Atlantis. The bus tour was all around the grounds and to the Saturn 5 building that included the original Apollo launch control center that is exactly the way it was back in the 1960’s when they stopped using it. Including personal effects such as a cigarette pack.
The Saturn 5 is displayed in a large, long room. Very awesome to see the largest rocket ever built at 363 feet tall. When fueled it weighed in at 6.2 million pounds. How in the world does something this heavy have the thrust to lift off?! Well, the five rocket engines (first stage) provide 8 million pounds of thrust! Awesome American technology!
After the bus tour, we were back in the main tourist area and went into the Atlantis building. The space shuttle Atlantis is hanging from the ceiling and is just like it was when it was retired. Burn marks from re-entry and all.
This was one of the coolest introductions. The crowd was herded into a large room with a video all about the Atlantis. As the video ended, the extra large video screen just sort of disappeared and there in front of us was the real shuttle just a few steps away! Kind of gave you goosebumps.
At the shuttle pilot’s seat. 
Trish is my co-pilot.
Falcon 9 Launch
While we were on the “Space Coast” there were a couple of launches. I drove over to about as close as allowed to watch the Spacex Falcon 9 liftoff carrying a bunch of small satellites to help provide internet to rural areas.
The Falcon 9 is very cool to watch up close as you see the very bright light start to ascend and after about 15-20 seconds, the sound hits you as a loud rumble that actually can be felt in the ground.
My viewing spot. 
Many others had the same idea. 
Not the best image, but a screenshot of my launch video.
Wrap Up
That’s all from the Cocoa Florida area. We are now in Clermont Florida, just SW of Orlando for a month. While here, we are making some trips to the Disney parks and getting some RV and truck maintenance completed. Plus, we are just beginning to make our summer 2020 plans. A midwest loop it appears!
Take care and God Bless.
Thanks for sharing. I guess when I think of NASA and rocket launches I think of the 1960’s and the 80’s and 90’s. It seems so distant. Clearly much to see and still current activity. I need to go see what’s up in Florida one of these days.
Robert
The space center activity when through a downturn after the shuttle program was cancelled, but today the Space Coast is thriving more than ever with new NASA projects along with Spacex and now Blue Origin.
Oh we loved the space center and nothing beats when that curtain opens to the real shuttle! We really favor Kennedy to the Houston Space Center. Excited to hear where you midwest travels take you! We will be in WI for most of the summer and also IN. Perhaps our paths will cross!
It’s good to hear from you Julie. We are just beginning to map out our 2020 travels, but it will include Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Hope to have the more detailed plan completed in a few weeks. Where will you be in Wisconsin?
We will be in northern WI, near Rhinelander, mid June to mid August. Volunteering at a boy scout camp. Then remainder of August in SE WI and after that off to IN for some rv work and a Grand Design rally.
Once we have our plans completed, will see if we can cross paths somewhere!