It’s All about the Birds—Nature and NASA

Merritt Island, a large nature reserve and home of NASA, is one of our favorite locations in Eastern Florida.  A large wetland near the coast, Merritt Island is home to many shore birds, wading birds, ducks and an assortment of tree birds.  The wildlife drive weaves through the wetlands and ponds, and offers some trails to walk, too.  It’s easy to spend a whole day here just marveling over the vast numbers and types of birds.

 

Roseate Spoonbill

Great Blue Heron Eating a Giant Salamander

 

Also located on Merritt Island, it’s easy to while away a whole day at KSC, Kennedy Space Center.  There’s a bus tour which goes out to the building  where the rockets are constructed, a mind-boggling huge interior space.  The launch pads are visible, and the vehicle that transports the rockets to the launch pad is on view as is the reinforced path that the vehicle follows. 

 

Back at the complex, there is an IMAX theatre and many exhibits showing what NASA is currently working on, ie. MARS!  Watching the presentations and going through the exhibits, I couldn’t help thinking that the science fiction of my childhood and even the Star Wars Movies are becoming a reality in a short time.  I remember coming from home from school as a young child and watching “Flash Gordon” before starting homework.  Now, it’s no longer fiction, science or otherwise!

 

 

 

It was explained to us that SpaceX and other contractors are taking over the work of putting satellites into earth’s orbit so that NASA can concentrate on the Mars missions.  As if this information wasn’t timely enough, the day following our visit we were privileged to see an actual SpaceX launch from our hotel in the evening.  The rocket carried an Israeli satellite and possibly 2 others.  Even more impressive, the rocket returned to the launch pad for future launches!  Yes, truly, the future is here.