Karlie excited to be standing by the Apollo 6

We had the opportunity to spend some time in Atlanta, Georgia recently.  Actually we have had 2 recent trips to Georgia in the past couple of months!   Georgia is not too far away from where we live so it was nice to get away as a family for a little bit and hang out for a few days together.

On this particular trip to Atlanta we visited the Fernbank Science Center for the first time.  It is part of the same association as the Roper Mountain Science Center.  It was already free admission, but since we are part of the association we were able to get free tickets to the IMAX shows throughout the day (we could go to as many as we wanted).  We were only there for a couple hours so we just went to one of the shows.  It is smaller than our local Science Center, but the kids still enjoyed learning and exploring the different items they had on display.  The Apollo 6 was Karlie’s favorite while the animals were Brina’s favorite.

The Fernback Science Center is located at 156 Heaton Park Drive, Atlanta, GA 30307.  Phone number is  678-874-7102.  They also have an observatory open some nights and a library where you can relax and read some books (which the kids enjoyed).  For current events, programs, and shows please visit the Fernbank Science Center website.

Karlie trying to get the light bulb to glow.

Jake and Karlie checking out the Apollo 6

Apollo 6 Command Module

If you look under the capsule you will see a series of holes.  The holes were drilled to investigate how the heat shield held up after this capsule re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere.

Apollo 6 was the last unmanned Apollo mission and was launched on April 4, 1968.  The purpose of the mission was to test, for a second time, the Saturn V rocket.  At the time of the launch (one second past 7 a.m. EST) all five engines operated normally, then a series of sharp vibrations shook the rocket.  Minutes later two of the five rocket engines shut down.  For the next 80 seconds the Saturn V behaved like a drunk driver lurching back and forth, as NASA flight controllers decided whether to abort the mission or not. 

After two earth orbits it was time to re-light a smaller rocket.  CS-IVB, to stimulate injecting the rocket into a path toward the moon, but this rocket failed.  Using a series of smaller rockets on the Service Module NASA scientists completed most of the planned maneuvers.  The spacecraft was returned safely to Earth.

A monkey on the inside!

  Brina working on her balancing and building skills

Her buildings with stood the Earthquake

Karlie and Daddy working together to build a giant carbon nanotube.

It was almost as tall as she was!

Pretty bird

The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax.  Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away.  Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories.  It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine.  Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn.  You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!