New Shepard Capsule Offers Virtual Reality Ride Into Space
WATCH: The Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson visits the newest exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (KSCVC); Blue Origin’s New Shepard Flight to Space Virtual Reality Simulator. During his visit, Wilson experienced a simulated spaceflight, and spoke with Blue Origin’s Barret Schlegelmilch and KSCVC’s Rebecca Burgman.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Believe it or not, I recently took a ride into space! Well, maybe not, but it sure felt like it. I was fortunate to be given a tour of Blue Origin’s first permanent exhibit, which is located at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. This virtual reality simulator features the New Shepard crew capsule, with actual data and imagery, that makes your “flight experience” special.
I wanted to find out about the exhibit, so I spoke with Blue Origin CrewMember 7’s Barret Schlegelmilch, whose job is to train the astronauts that fly on the New Shepard launch vehicle. Schlegelmilch said the goal of the exhibit is to, “create an educational tool to help communicate space flight to the general public and also inspire the next generation.”
I could see and feel the excitement surrounding Blue Origin’s exhibit. In talking with Rebecca Burgman, Senior Manager Public Relations, and Communications at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, she told me, “This is the place for space. You are not going to get any closer, you are not going to get more accurate, you are just going to get a really exciting and entertaining experience here.”
A trip to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex should be in your near future. Every time I go there, I see something I have never seen before. I promise, if you take a “virtual ride” into space abord Blue Origin’s New Shepard Capsule, you will not be disappointed.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia. He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.
Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020 and Ecofest Achievement Award – 2022.
Wilson is especially proud of his chairing two fundraisers in support of pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock that raised over $25,000.00.
He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 24 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.
The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.
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