Once again thank you for your input guys!
Here's a post-visit answer to my own questions:
Q: Is it possible to obtain a permit for MSFC bus tour for a foreigner?
A: Not for bus tour starting from USSRC.Redstone Arsenal is an active military location. After 2001 American terrorist attacks they restricted visits. USSRC entered an agreement with Redstone/MSFC where they are allowed to bring tourists under condition that they verify USA citizenship, and that groups are escorted by USSRC personel all the time.
This agreement does not allow USSRC to take non-USA citizens on board, even if they had a permit obtained elsewhere.
One option to enter Redstone Arsenal is therefore to obtain USA citizenship ;-)
Another is also hard, as it requires Arsenal resident to apply for permit on your behalf, and later escort you whole time on Arsenal premises. Unless you know someone in there who would vouch for you this is not an option, as there is no program/person in place to handle such requests.
Q:are there other space-related locations outside of Redstone that are worth visiting for people interested in space/air technology? (say, within 2-3 hour drive range)
A: nothing close by, but see below for other placesOther attractions worth visiting, although with longer travel and not space-related:
- Jack Daniel's distillery, Lynchburg Tennessee, about 45 miles NE. 2-hour tour of the old part (still operating) is a fantastic insight into making of a whisky.
http://www.jackdaniels.com/visit- Beechcraft Heritage Musem, Tulahoma Tennessee, about 60 miles NE. Well, something for Beechraft fans out there :-)
http://www.beechcraftheritagemuseum.org/- Southern Museum of Flight, Birmingham Alabama, about 110 miles S. Excellent aircraft collection, including a lovely A-12 (one can never get enough of these).
http://www.southernmuseumofflight.org/- USS Alabama, Mobile Alabama, about 360 miles SW. Huge battleship, submarine, and a bunch of airplanes too, including... A-12 :-)
http://www.ussalabama.com/- National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola Florida, about 360 miles S. Plenty of airplanes, not only Naval ones.
http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/- Eglin Airforce Armament Musem, Eglin Florida, about 330 miles S. Another SR-71 ("Big Tail") on display outdoors, indoors plenty of missiles and bombs.
http://www.afarmamentmuseum.com/Q: how much of USSRC content is just entertainment rather than museum quality facts?
A: it is richer in technical information/facts, a bit better in that respect than KSC/Houston, but still a large part (over 1/3) is pure fun/kids zone.Outdoor display is the best I've seen - rockets arranged in a way that allows to understand evolution and history of their construction, comparing subsequent models standing next to each other. I preferred it over KSC.
Shuttle/tank/SRB mock up that you can walk under also makes you realize huge size of the shuttle much better than KSC one.
Saturn V is something you can't miss (literally, it's seen from a large distance on a highway). There are two - one standing upright, making you realise the exceptional size; and another one arranged horizontally, almost like in KSC. This dual display is just fantastic!
When in main Saturn V building, take notice of volunteers who can guide you around the display. I had the luck and privilege to meet Mike Pessin, chief engineer of shuttle External Tank, who earlier worked on propulsion too. He spent almost 2 hours chatting about technical details well beyond what visitors usually ask about, and provided a boatload of anecdotes. It was definitely the highlight of the whole visit - reminder it's not just hardware, it's people behind it too!
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/history/oral_histories/STS-R/PessinMA/PessinMA_6-30-10.htmOn the other hand I do not recommend IMAX theatre at all, movies are without much substance/technicalities, meant to entertain kids mainly (and people who do not know much).
Say, compared to KSC Florida or Houston Texas visitor centers (which were disappointingly light on information beyond "crowd amusement" level).
Q: for people who will probably have just one chance to be there (as most foreigners), what are the "don't miss" things in the USSRC, especially those smaller than Saturn rocket and easier to overlook? ;-)
A: there is so much to see it's hard to answer my own question ;-) Check out shuttle wing panels used in actual impact testing after Columbia incident. There is also quite a lot of information/items on von Braun that are worth noticing