NASA – Jacksonville Blogger

David Scott, Moon Rover Driver Visits Jax

He was a Colonel in the United States Air Force and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal. He was a fighter pilot, test pilot and astronaut.

On January 20th, David Scott sat with his wife and daughter, at the front section of the Florida Times Union Center listening to the co-founder of Apple Computers, Steve Wozniak. We were in the room when his name was announced and he was asked to stand. The crowd went wild as he waved to the elite group.

Scott was the 7th person to walk on the moon according to NASA. His first flight was as a pilot along with Neil Armstrong on Gemini 8. He was one of a few who flew into space on several missions and was commander of Apollo 15.

After the speaker’s forum was over and Apple founder, Wozniak had left the stage, I told my daughter I’d meet her at the entrance of the building. I wanted to get a few photos and possibly meet Scott. As quickly as possible, I weaved through the out-going crown and stood beside the Astronaut, now 91 years old. A man had already gotten Scott’s attention and basically took over a great amount of his time. There was a line waiting to talk to Scott and then his wife and daughter began to encourage him to go into the aisle. While I did not shake his hand, we met eyes and I was able to get a few photos. To my surprise, my daughter was behind me clicking away as well.

We both followed he and his family out of the room and as he turned to go left, and as he turned to look right for passage, my daughter, Kristie Cross reached out and he shook her hand and gave her a kind greeting. “Just the simple shaking of the hand of the man who drove the first rover on the moon is enough to bring about a surreal feeling”. She said.

It was another good day in Jacksonville, Florida. Jan. 2024

See you tomorrow,

Nan

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March 13

One of the Last Remaining Fuel Tanks of NASA

So, If you’ve never seen a NASA external fuel tank up close simply drive across the Shands Bridge and look ashore on the far right side. You don’t even have to get out of your car. You will see a yuge, yes….huge orange capsule-looking thing. That, my friend, is a NASA fuel tank AND…. If you visit it, you can get in a geocache…. YUP. There is one there at the end of the fuel tank. SO! ( If you don’t know what geocaching is…google it. It’s basically treasure hunting from your phone).

NASA fuel tank in Green Cove Springs, Fl

It is rare to see a fuel tank because when they go into space, they tend to burn up when they re-enter the earth’s atmosphere. In addition, they don’t use these any more…

According to reports from Roadside America, the tank is “longer than the Statue of Liberty is tall and built in the 1970’s.” The most Angeles Times says that it is 153.8 feet in length and “taller than a 15 story building”. So, if you want to see something as long as Lady Liberty is tall, this is your stop and it’s free in Green Cove Springs, Florida, just over the county line.

Notice the fuel tank is still on the original trailer…

When I was at Kennedy Space Shuttle back-in-the-day, I saw this item on display. My understanding is that after the space shuttle era ended in 2011, they had this as a museum artifact. Some time around 2013, it was loaded on a barge, trailer and all, and carried to this Green Cove Springs boat yard. It’s still there.

I don’t know of another fuel tank that you could see except for that of the one at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. This one is a free look. You have to pay to see the one in CA. Take your pick, ya’ll.

The day I was there a Dad was field tripping with a family member. (Permission granted to take pic.)

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Sources, RoadSide America, California Science Center, NASA

See it here- 3939 Reynolds Blvd, Green Cove Springs, Fl ( I don’t know how long it will be here. It’s been here at least since about 2013 but…who knows?)

Cost:- FREE

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January 28

Jacksonville’s Teacher in the Space Program

Many of us applied for the Teacher in Space program back-in-the-day. Teachers were invited to fill out some paperwork in order to be considered for the NASA space program. The paperwork was done by hand and mailed in. Having been a teacher for only about 9 years I applied anyhow. After a time, a letter was sent from NASA indicating if a person was in the running for a spot with NASA and the Teacher in Space program.

Mike Reynolds was born on March 30, 1954. He was a Jacksonville teacher who had grown up in Duval County and ended up being one of the final five contestants. He had attended Duval County schools and began teaching at Duncan U. Fletcher High School. Later, he left town to attend Thomas Edison State College in New Jersey and in 1982 had returned to receive a Masters at the University of North Florida right here in our city. He later received a Doctorate in science education and astronomy in 1990 from UF.

In 1985 Reynolds had applied for the Teacher in Space program and became one of the top 5 candidates. In 1986, Reynolds was teacher of the year at Fletcher High and from there he traveled to the Kennedy space center to be a part of the teacher in space program events and later would be invited to watch the Challenger space shuttle blast off into space.

On this cold day, January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger with 7 NASA astronauts aboard, lost their lives in a shuttle disaster only 73 seconds after take off. The cause of the explosion was cold weather when the 0-ring seal failed. It was a sad day for all of America and even the world. Jacksonville residents mourned the loss.

Mike Reynolds went on to work at Florida State College, Chabot Space and Science center, Meade Instruments and the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observation. He died October 15, 2019 at the age of 65. He had spent his whole career in the science, astronomy and in the education field.

For me, I probably could not have figured out the math.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

In honor of those who lost their lives, we name them and thank them for their service:

The last Challenger mission, dubbed STS-51L, was commanded by Francis R. “Dick” Scobee and piloted by Michael J. Smith. The other crew members on board were mission specialists Ronald E. McNair; Ellison S. Onizuka, and Judith A. Resnik; payload specialist Gregory B. Jarvis; and teacher S. Christa McAuliffe. (Credit: NASA).

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