United States Space and Rocket Center
Huntsville, Ala.
Visited: December 14, 2004
NPS Site Visited: Not an NPS Site
Local Website
 WHAT IS IT?
NASA facility where, from 1950 to 1970, Wernher von Braun and his fellow pioneering rocket scientists designed the United States space fleet, satellites as well as terrestrial missile rockets. The Site remains an important NASA facility while opening its doors for tourism through the Center and every pre-teen’s dream solo vacation: Space Camp. Well, at least Michael’s.
BEAUTY (5/10)
Real-life rockets (acres full), moon rocks, moon rovers, space monkey capsules, astronaut suits and underwater training facilities are super cool if not exactly beautiful.
HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE (8/10)
This is where all the planning, research and development occurred for all the American space missions. Tons of space paraphernalia are on display to prove it. Sadly, we slacked on our history lesson in Huntsville, opting instead for the mind-numbing theme park thrills the Center provides.
CROWDS (4/10)
Even with a sparse winter crowd, we waited a while for the space shuttle landing simulator to open up. When he finally got his shot at the helm, Michael wrecked the thing twice, costing taxpayers billions of dollars. A line at the climbing wall thankfully made us rethink what would surely have been a failure-ridden ascent.
EASE OF USE/ACCESS (4/5)
If you are traveling on Interstate 65, follow the signs towards Huntsville and get on Interstate Spur 565. Drive about 17 miles. When you see the giant space rockets on your right get off at the next exit. You are there.
CONCESSIONS/BOOKSTORE (5/5)
One of the first areas you see upon entering the Center is their large bright gift store filled with stuffed aliens, replica space jumpsuits and Gab’s favorite, astronaut ice cream! More fun than substantial, the store was an attraction in itself.
 COSTS (1/5)
An $18.75 adult entry fee includes the Museum, Rocket Park and an IMAX film. The entry fee also includes a few amusement park rides which, sadly enough, were closed due to adverse weather conditions during our visit. Discounts can be found. We purchased a $15 ticket at the Huntsville Tourism Welcome Center.
RANGER/GUIDE TO TOURIST RATIO (1/5)
The Center advertised a guided walk through the Museum but we did not see said tour. Our interaction with staff was limited to the teams of teenaged workers manning the motion simulator, IMAX theater, climbing wall and gift store. No one looked too knowledgeable and/or professional except the Space Center staff hustling through the corridors to go to work on something much more important than an amusement park. We would have loved to learn about the NASA missions from them.
TOURS/CLASSES (4/10)
When we bought out tickets, we were in an amusement park frame of mind. What can we climb on? Which screens have games? Can we touch that? As soon as we found the flight simulator, and video games to test your skills at landing a space shuttle, the explanations and descriptions we were reading became a blur.
The first few rooms are staid. Typical museum-type displays showing actual astronaut gear, including the answers to a frequent question: “How do you go to the bathroom up there?”
For all the information presented in the space of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, we didn’t learn much. Print on exhibits was small and dense, and who can concentrate on reading when there are things you can push and pull and navigate and ride just around the corner?
 FUN (8/10)
The emphasis at the Space and Rocket is on fun more than education evidenced by the motion simulators, touch-screen video games, climbing wall and what John Glenn called, “the finest rocket collection in the world”.
An IMAX show is included with admission. You choose the time and film. Since we had already seen Space Station, we settled for the IMAX featuring NASCAR. Cars revving and racing at high speeds on a spherical screen is cool, but a little overwhelming. Gab swears this experience fried her brain. She has been processing things a bit slowly ever since.
Cold weather made the walk around Rocket Park a shiver-filled experience and shut down the large outdoor rides. Even without the Space Shot (shoots you 140 feet in the air) in full working order, we had a blast.
Weather also closed the outdoor children’s rides helpfully named the Energy Depletion Zone. But never fear, the indoor Mars Climbing Wall (included with admission) seemed to be tiring many a rambunctious youth.
WOULD WE RECOMMEND? (7/10)
We challenge you to drive past the towering rockets and not feel tempted to stop, especially if kids are in the back seat, or someone in the car has harbored dreams of Space Camp from their adolescence.
TOTAL 47/80
|