アラバマ州ハンツビル観光（ロケットセンター）

土曜日はアラバマ州ハンツビルにあるロケットセンターを見学。


ヒューストンのジョンソン宇宙センター、フロリダのケネディ宇宙センターに続き、NASAのアトラクションはこれで3つ目･･･もうおなかいっぱい？

ハンツビルのロケットセンターは三つの中では最も規模が小さい。たぶん半日もあれば回り切れてしまうほど。
規模は小さいですが、役割としては名前の通りロケットの製造、開発を行っています。
ロケットの開発といえば、フォン・ブラウンが有名ですが、ハンツビルは彼がドイツから移住してきて住居を構え、月に行ったサターンロケットの開発を行った舞台でもあります。別名「ロケット･シティ」。
ロケットセンターの展示内容もフォン・ブラウンの半生や功績を中心に展開されております。

第二次世界大戦中にドイツでロケット兵器"V2"を開発。ドイツの敗戦直前にフォン･ブラウンと彼のチームの一部はアメリカ陸軍によってロケット技術と共にアメリカへ。残りのメンバーは旧ソ連へ。　フォン･ブラウン一派は月へ行ったサターンロケットの開発に携わり、旧ソ連のメンバーはスプートニクやガガーリンを運んだボストークロケットの開発に携わっています。　つまりロケット技術の基礎はドイツが大元で、V2兵器で既に確立されていたといっても過言ではありません。

なぜかクライミングウォールが･･･
火星の山「オリンポス山」を登ってみよう！というコンセプトです。　ハーネスが貸し出されていて、オートビレイ器によるトップロープクライミングが出来ます。　もちろん子供対象の壁なのでホールドは基本ガバばっかで、普通の靴のままで登ってました。

その他ハンツビルのロケットセンターは子供向けの教育プログラムが充実しており、泊り込みで実習できる施設が完備されてました。　至る所で小学生くらいの子供たちが実習を受けていました。　ここの実習を終えた子供達の中には、その後実際に宇宙飛行士になった子供もいるそうです。

実物大のスペースシャトル。シャトルはモックアップですが、オレンジ色の燃料タンクは本物です。

歴代の開発されたロケットたち

打ち上げ時の重力を体験するアトラクションがありましたが、傍から観れば遊園地の絶叫マシンとなんら変わらないですね･･･
IMAXシアターも観ましたが、うかつにもケネディ宇宙センターで観たものと同じもの･･･

おなじみアポロ計画で余ったサターンロケットの展示。ケネディ宇宙センターと同じ展示でした。でもやっぱりロケットは立ててあるほうが迫力ありますね。

お土産品を売っているギフトショップですが、これは他の二つの宇宙センターと比べ物にならないほど品揃えが悪い･･･

規模は小さいですが、その分じっくり時間をかけてみたので、ホテルに戻ったときはクタクタでした。
フォン･ブラウンと黎明期のロケット技術の展示内容は、個人的にはとても興味深い内容でした。

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