Sailing from Port Canaveral? See Atlantis While You're There!

See Space Shuttle Atlantis

By Kitch  [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)],
via Wikimedia Commons

If you're planning on cruising out of Port Canaveral any time soon, why not come a day or two early, and see NASA's new Space Shuttle Atlantis Exhibit at at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor's Complex?

The visitor complex is convenient to the port, so if you stay at a Port Canaveral hotel, you won't have far to go.  (You can actually see the Vehicle Assembly Building from the decks of the ships when they are in port.)

The exhibit is a new one, having been open for only about a month.  There's plenty else to see at the space center, too.  You'll no doubt be awed by some of the things you'll see, not the least of which is the last shuttle to make a trip into space.

There's also the Rocket Garden, a couple of impressive IMAX movies, several different bus tours of the facilities to choose from, and even the opportunity to have lunch with a real astronaut!  (Visit the KSC Visitor Complex website to get tickets and find out what else there is to see.)

And, if you're wondering where Atlantis got its name, here's a hint:  It was NOT named after the mythical lost city.

A space center tour is just one of the things that you can do in and around Port Canaveral before or after your cruise.  It's one that will be long remembered by both kids and adults.

Last Week Was Quite a Week

Space Shuttle Atlantis
(public domain image from NASA) 

Last week was quite a week. Things were happening all over the globe, and not all of them pleasant.  Last week, there were significant developments in manned space flightnature,in Nature , and sadly, in Norway.

MANNED SPACE FLIGHT

Space Shuttle Atlantis retured to earth for the last time. The good news is, she brought herself and her crew home safely. The bad news is that she'll never do it again. Nor will any other shuttle. NASA's manned space flight program has been scuttled. And along with it, thousands of jobs, and the space dominance of the U S of A. It was a sad day.



NATURE

We had THREE named storms at one point in the week: Tropical Storms Bret and Cindy in the Atlantic and Hurricane Dora in the Pacific. The good news is that NONE of them made landfall. The (maybe) not so good news is that it was a very active week for the tropics, and no one knows if this was a foreshadowing of things to come. The NHC and other organizations sure think it will be an active season. You can see their 2011 Hurricane Season Predictions here.


NORWAY

The Royal Palace in Oslo
was not attacked
(public domain photo)

There was horror and terror in a place that is usually known for its peaceful environment - Norway. 
A madman set off a bomb in central Oslo then proceded to a youth camp being held on an island.  There, dressed as a policeman, he shot and killed at least 84 young people.
There is NO reason for civilized human beings to behave this way towards one another.  Unlike the work that NASA does, it's NOT rocket science.  Just be nice to everyone. 
Today, we are holding the people of Norway in our hearts.  They have our deepest sympathies and most fervent prayers.

The past week was not one that will soon be forgotten for several reasons... but Norway is uppermost in our minds right now. 

It's my sincere hope that the week ahead will bring different ... and much happier news.