posted July 17, 2007 08:14 PM               

As I began to follow the same path I traveled when they moved the S-IC (across the grounds, toward the museum so I could get out to the front lot), I became the beneficiary of being in the very right place at the very right time.

There was a USSRC maintenance fellow (who shall remain nameless, to protect the innocent) in a golf cart. We'd him seen under the tent shooting home video earlier. Since it was still raining pretty hard and I had only a small umbrella, I asked if could hitch a ride around front. He said that he was going to go around back and motioned for me to hop in. He stopped off, got me a hard hat, and we took off chasing after the S-II crawler.

We initially took the same gravel road that the crawler took, but then went "off road," the golf cart fishtailing in the Alabama mud. We caught up with the S-II just as it began to near the open end of the Saturn V Center.

We drove around and got in front of it.

posted July 17, 2007 08:17 PM               

The S-II's journey lasted about 50 minutes. Shortly after the S-II was mostly in place (they still had to gouge the welds to remove the I-beams before they could erect the support posts and eventually lower the S-II into its final location), we left the Saturn V Center.

I checked on the S-II's progress throughout the day; I saw some welding going on around 1:30. We attended the screening of The Wonder of it All as part of the Saturn/Apollo Reunion. After we got out from that (around 4:45), they'd removed one of the I-beams.

The reunion was soon underway, but by the time the fireworks were over, the S-II was still it crawlers.

It was originally planned to move the S-IVB into the building on Friday, but with the delays, that was postponed until Tuesday July 17 at the earliest (and, checking the web cam right now, it looks like rain has delayed that some more).

So, when we left the USSRC, (most of) the Saturn V was bathed in light, on its new "pad".

posted July 18, 2007 11:43 AM               

It was a pleasure to get to meet you Friday, as well.

posted September 13, 2007 07:27 AM               

The name of the restored Saturn V rocket's exhibition hall now under construction at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center has been amended to better fit the building's mission, said CEO Larry Capps.

It is now the Davidson Center for Space Exploration rather than simply the Davidson Saturn V Center, he said.

posted January 02, 2008 01:56 PM            

Anyway, is anyone else planning on being there the 9th? Does anyone know if there will be any little ceremony (akin to the Rocket Roll) that morning? Perhaps we could do a little cS meetup.

posted January 28, 2008 02:19 PM               

During ceremonies at 5 p.m. today, the spotlights will shine on the full-size replica of the Saturn V moon rocket that stands, as if ready for launch, at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

The public is invited to the free event, which will include brief remarks from Space Center CEO Larry Capps and others, and is part of the citywide celebration this week of the 50th Anniversary of America in Space.

The lights had to be turned off for 18 months during construction of the Davidson Center for Space Exploration, prompting calls from curious Huntsvillians and even a few complaints, Capps said.

posted January 29, 2008 09:16 AM               

The gala has been sold out for weeks, but anyone wanting to watch the 50th Anniversary of America in Space festivities and the grand opening of the Davidson Center for Space Exploration Thursday night should be able to get a great view on their computer screen.

The entire evening's program will be streamed live by al.com, the Web home of The Huntsville Times. The dinner and awards program begin at 7 p.m.

posted January 31, 2008 02:18 PM               

And a view from the outside of the Center:

posted February 01, 2008 10:08 AM               

If gala guests at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration took their eyes off the restored Saturn V rocket suspended in the space above them long enough to look at their plate, they saw a stellar menu.

Each of the 1,400 or so diners enjoyed a petite filet of beef tenderloin with Madeira sauce, sea bass with chili lime sauce, organic baby baked potatoes, and could select from a variety of wines and artisanal breads, according to Claudia Jones, director of food and beverage for the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

She said Ellen's Creative Cakes presented a selection of "homemade" desserts.

The centerpiece of each table featured a model Saturn V atop an acrylic shaft, with blinking colored lights beneath cotton billows of launch smoke.

posted February 02, 2008 07:08 PM            

I am also glad to see the BP-23 Apollo boilerplate inside, but wish they did not 'attach' it to the S-V stack. As the only Apollo launched twice, once as a pad abort test and once on a Little Joe II, it deserves an honored place, but placing it on the Saturn confuses its history. I do like being able to see its unique heatshield roll pattern.

posted February 02, 2008 08:38 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Choose2Go:
Does any cS reader know what the fate of CM-010 which was on the outdoor display?

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posted February 15, 2008 10:33 PM            

Jim was kind enough to post some of the pictures on the Field Guide to American Spacecraft:

• SA-500-D
  
• BP-23

And, as an extra bonus, here are some other photos from around the USSRC that day. Highlights include a Mystery Shed that may or may not be a BP (it has holes for an LES tower!), arty shots of the Saturn V model and Pathfinder, and proof that the F-1 that some thought was destroyed for a movie is in fact in good shape.

What, you need more convincing?

(Click for the full-size.)

I've got more pictures coming, including an engineering test LRV, exteriors of the Davidson Center, and perhaps even the one of my girlfriend holding the Saturn V up with her tongue. No kidding, it's going to be the new Leaning Tower of Pisa gag!