NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX

Date of Photographs: October 13, 2006
Date of Gallery Update: Tue Dec 24 20:22 EST 2013
Photographs by John H. Yates

These photographs are from a Level 9 tour. You can go to their web site to pay for and register for this tour. I did so about a month in advance. There are only about 12 persons taken each weekday. (perhaps two tours on Fridays, as I recall). This is because they escort you around in a van that holds about 12 passengers, not including the driver and the tour guide. It is a well organized tour with many stops, gaining access to sites that other visitors cannot access. You even get to have lunch at the cafeteria where the astronauts eat. (but at your expense). Rest assured I did make the "Tang and something squeezed out of a tube" joke. The name Level 9 is based on the fact that the tallest building on the site is 9 stories. It implies the tour is full access. It isn't, of course, but it is high access.

Photos now all captioned and Gimp enhanced.



Huge Pool for Astronaut Training
This pool is actually off site, built at an old airport site


Huge Pool for Astronaut Training
Space Shuttle and Satellite Mock Ups are Under Water for Training


Huge Pool for Astronaut Training


Huge Pool for Astronaut Training


Control Room on Other Side of Pool



Follow the Air Hose to see the Astronaut


Scuba Divers. For Safety, Underwater Astronauts are always surrounded by scuba divers


Control Room on opposite side of pool


Scuba Eqipment Racks (blurred)


Live Closed Circuit TV Astronaut Monitor



Conference Room to the right of Pool


Stairway Into Pool


Box that lowers/raises Astronaut into/out of the Pool


Crane


Crane



Pool


Underwater Astronaut barely visible in center


Underwater Training Mockups


Live CCTV of Astronaut Training


Live CCTV of Astronaut Training



Live CCTV of Astronaut Training


Live CCTV Underwater View


Live CCTV Scuba Diver near Astronaut


Space Shuttle Mission Control Center


Space Shuttle Mission Control Center



Space Shuttle Mission Control Center


Space Shuttle Mission Control Center


Space Shuttle Mission Control Center


Space Shuttle Mission Control Center


Space Shuttle Mission Control Center



Inside Space Environment (Vacuum) Simulation Chamber (for vehicles)


Inside Space Environment Simulation Chamber. Black for space darkness, high intensity lamps to simulate sun's brightness.


Space Environment Simulation Chamber Door


Space Environment Simulation Chamber Door


Space Environment Simulation Chamber Door



Space Environment Simulation Chamber Door


Overhead View in Space Environment Simulation Chamber Room


Astronaut Chamber Test Facility


Astronaut Chamber Test Facility


Astronaut Space Suits



Astronaut Training Room


Astronaut Training Room


Space Shuttle Training Mock Up


Space Shuttle Training Mock Up


Space Shuttle Training Mock Up



Space Shuttle Robotic Arm Training Mock Up


Photo In Flight Training Room


Operation Control Center in Flight Training Room


Photo In Flight Training Room


Photo In Flight Training Room



Space Shuttle Training Mock Up


Flight Director Seat in Apollo Era Mission Control Center
"Houston, we have a problem!"


US Flag - Made Round Trip to the Moon, if I recall correctly


Apollo Era Mission Control Center


Flight Director Seat in Apollo Era Mission Control Center
"Houston, we have a problem!"



Mirror That Went to Moon and Back on Apollo 13


Mirror That Went to Moon and Back on Apollo 13


Apollo Era Mission Control Center


Apollo Era Mission Control Center


Apollo Era Mission Control Center



Apollo Era Mission Control Center


Apollo Era Mission Control Center


Apollo Era Mission Control Center


Apollo Era Mission Control Center


Apollo Era Mission Control Center



LEM - Lunar Escape Module


LM - Lunar Module


LES - Saturn V Launch Vehicle Description


CM - Command Module Description


SM - Service Module Saturn V Launch Vehicle Description



Stages of Service Module Saturn V Launch Vehicle


Stages of Service Module Saturn V Launch Vehicle


Stages of Service Module Saturn V Launch Vehicle