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View Full Version : When this stuff gets frustrating


LoopBaCK
08-12-2007, 09:16 PM
I took the weekend off (needed some down time) and took my daughter to Houston, TX to see the Johnson Space Center. She is interested in such things and at 13 I'm hoping to keep it going as much as possible before the teen years take over. She loved it and the highlight was walking through the building housing one of the last three Saturn V rockets. The thing is monstrous to say the least! 363 feet of goodness! And... it worked!!!

I love working on these heli's and especially engineering the aerial photo/video angles. Our "inventions/creations" don't always work so we go back, re-figure, re-cut, re-purchase, whatever it takes to get to a working unit - and eventually get there. I know it's on two completely different planes of thought but imagine what the folks that made these things (Saturn V's) were facing. Yeah, I also know they had many billions to spend on it, but everything had to be invented - you couldn't just go out and buy it. If you get a chance I highly recommend stopping in, jumping on the tram tour (you can't just walk to the building anymore) and spending some time in the Saturn V building. It's hard to believe something that big could come to life and push three guys all the way to the moon!

Anyway... here are a couple quick and dirty (heavy on the dirty) pano's I stitched from our visit. Without a wide angle there is no way to get the entire rocket into one frame. Sure wish I'd brought the fish-eye cam... Smaller versions are below (see thumbnails) but here are links to the full-res versions (18mb & 12mb):

http://www.texasskycam.com/pictures/houston/pano_SaturnV_Rocket_v2_corrected.jpg
http://www.texasskycam.com/pictures/houston/pano_SaturnV_Rocket_v3.jpg

Hogster
08-13-2007, 07:38 AM
Too true! I'm currently working with a guy (making a mount for my mast for my car) who does voluntary work maintaining the railways lines in his area, and seeing the sort of stuff he's been up to, it makes my AP work look like a jigsaw puzzle in comparison! One thing he's worked on was designing and building a trailer for a train that could carry 200 tons of cargo! :eek: The thing had 32 interlinked steerable wheels!! :eek: :eek:

Puts things in perspective doesn't it :)


David

PS. Cool photos! :cool:

zjuggler
08-15-2007, 03:53 PM
Great pics! When I was there last, there WAS no building...I wonder how long ago they built it. It sure makes you feel pretty insignificant standing next to that thing!

lrrps
04-19-2008, 03:58 AM
Loopback,

I was at the Johnson Space Center 10 years ago or maybe more, well at that time the Saturn rocket was outside.
Did you try to land the Space Shuttle on the simulator?
I did it twice and touched down safely.