Exploring Closer to Home

This week I'm going to share a little about the Operations and Checkout building (O&C), which is where Myca and I live during normal working hours. The O&C is located in what we call "The KSC Industrial Area" between Headquarters (HQ) and the Space Station Processing Facility (SSPF), and is a 10-15 minute drive from some of the other places we have visited.

The lobby is much smaller than the one we saw over in the Launch Control Center (LCC), but there are still a few cool things to look at.

This is a model of the Mars Rovers made out of Lego.

And I guess these birds have something to do with a weather satellite.

If you walk straight back you'll find the Mission Briefing Room, or MBR. This is where they hold some of the big reviews before countdown begins to decide if we're ready to launch. Myca wanted to know what it looked like from the podium.

When you go out of the MBR and turn left there is a set of double doors that lead to the back half of the building. This is where the high bay is located.

The O&C High Bay has been used for testing many spacecraft before launch, including Gemini capsules, Lunar Modules and Command Modules for the Apollo program, Skylab, and Spacelab Modules for the shuttle program. Recently Lockheed Martin decided they will use the building for their work on Orion, the new crew exploration vehicle.

Right now the high bay is empty. All of the old workstands have been removed so that new ones can be built for the new program.

One of the only things still there are the altitude chambers, which are used to test how the spacecraft will perform outside of Earth's atmosphere. The picture with Myca in it came out blurry, so here are the chambers by themselves.

Up on the 3rd floor we have an observation area where you can look out into the high bay. When there's activity I imagine it gives a great view.

Also on the 3rd floor is...

Unfortunately it's not someplace I can just walk into, but maybe one day Myca will get a peek inside. Instead I took her to the elevator and out the door like a real astronaut on their way to the launch pad.

Notice the mission stickers along the door frame.


She even found her own parking spot.

So the next time you see pictures of astronauts in their orange suits waving to people as they walk outside, that's our building they're leaving. Pretty cool, huh?

I may not get a chance to update next week because I am going to Virgina for a conference. If I have a chance to take Myca out I will be sure to post, otherwise I'll see you in two weeks with the next part of our adventure. Take care until then.