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Huntsville
| Founded: |
1805 |
| Location: |
Northern Alabama |
| Population: |
160,000 |
The city credited with putting a man on
the moon. Huntsville and the Redstone Arsenal were at the
center of our nation's space program during its early
conception in the 1950s. It was here that Dr.
Werner von Braun and a group of 100 former German
scientists spearheaded research into rocket technology.
Research that enabled America's first satellites to be
propelled into orbit. Huntsville (Alabama) joins Cape
Canaveral (Florida) and the Johnson Space Center (Texas)
as the three primary sites from which U.S. space missions
are planned and launched.
AL,
Huntsville, U.S. Space and Rocket Center
 On display are the world's largest
collection of rockets.
The nation's only full
scale Space Shuttle, Hubble Telescope, and Saturn V moon
rocket are located here. The Saturn V was developed at
Huntsville and powered the Apollo 11 that put the first
men on the moon (Armstrong and Aldrin). This 150 feet
long rocket is as tall as the Statue of Liberty and is
one of the most popular exhibits at the Rocket Center.
Prepare for crowds in the summer since the Space Center
is visited by more than a million people each year. Making
it one of the top three attractions in Alabama.
Other highlights of the US Space and
Rocket Center include an Omnimax theater, 180 foot tower
where visitors climb to experience a sense of
weightlessness, and a shuttle lander simulator to drive
and practice space docking. Open 9-5 PM daily. Take exit
15 off I-565, then east to the Space Center (800)
63-SPACE U.S. Space and Rocket Center(Admission $18.95 Adults $13.95 Children) and www.hsvchamber.org
Copyright ©1994-2006 Charles A. Read and ScenicUS. All Rights Reserved.
Please send any questions/ comments/ suggestions/ directly to
the author Charles A. Read
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