One Tranquility Base
Huntsville, AL , 35808 Phone: 256-837-3400 Website The U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama is a museum operated by the government of Alabama, showcasing rockets, achievements, and artifacts of the U.S. space program. Sometimes billed as "Earth's largest space museum", astronaut Owen Garriott described the place as, "a great way to learn about space in a town that has embraced the space program from the very beginning".
Opened in 1970, just after the second manned mission to the lunar surface, the center not only showcases Apollo Program hardware but also houses interactive science exhibits, Space Shuttle and Army rocketry and aircraft.[5] With more than 1,500 permanent rocketry and space exploration artifacts, as well as meny rotating rocketry and space-related exhibits, the center occupies land carved out of Redstone Arsenal adjacent to Huntsville Botanical Garden at exit 15 on Interstate 565. The center offers bus tours of the nearby Marshall Space Flight Center.
Two camp programs offer visitors the opportunity to stay on the grounds and learn more about their respective subject matter. U.S. Space Camp gives an in-depth exposure to the space program through participant use of simulators, lectures, and training exercises. Similarly, Aviation Challenge offers a taste of military fighter pilot training including simulations, lectures, and survival exercises. Both camps provide residential and day camp educational programs for children and adults.
There are three machines here. One is at the main gift shop, one under the Saturn 5, and one by the IMAX theater. All have 'U.S. Space & Rocket Center' on them.
Machine 4: is in the old building near the IMAX theater. Designs are;
1) Rocket blasting off,
2) 'Aviation Challenge', Camp logo
3) Earth from the moon,
4) SR-71.
Machine 5: is in the Davidson Center on the second floor at the end of the Saturn V. Designs are:
1) Astronaut driving Lunar Rover.
2) Astronaut during a space walk,
3) 'Saturn 'V'', Rocket
4) 'Space Academy', Camp logo
Machine 6: is in the old building in the gift shop next to the entrance. Designs are:
1) Apollo 13 Capsule',
2) 'Nasa', logo
3) US Space Camp', logo,
4) Space shuttle with attached rockets blasting off.
Token Machine 1 is a new Pennycollector Token machine. This is a single token machine and they cost $1 each. It is next to Machine 5. Design is:
1) 'U.S. Space & Rocket Center Huntsville, Alabama', Rear- 'Davidson Center for Space Exploration, Saturn 'V'',
Retird designs/ Machines:
Retired 1: 1) Saturn V Rocket, Rear- 'U.S. Space & Rocket Center Huntsville, AL',
Retired 2) 1) Space Shuttle with rockets attached, Rear- 'U.S. Space & Rocket Center Huntsville, AL',
Retired 3) 1) 'Rusty Rocket', Cartoon rocket blasting off.
Other Retired design: 1) U.S. Space & Rocket Center Huntsville, AL', Alien's head
12/18: Other Retired design added
10/3/23-Staff said all 3 machines are not working and put away. No word on putting them back into service. |
