FunkyFlorida

Some of you may be curious about the source of this page's profile image. Those who grew up during the Space Shuttle era may recognize this as the external fuel tank used to launch the space shuttle into orbit. This tank was single-use and held a liquid fuel mixture that helped push the shuttle into our stratosphere and ultimately into orbit. This astonishing task was also aided by two solid rocket boosters mounted on each side of the external tank. The boosters ran independently from the tank and the tank would feed the three main shuttle engines. Once the boosters were expended, they would be jettisoned from the spacecraft to fall back down to the ocean to be recovered and used again. The external tank would provide fuel for the main engines a bit longer before also separating and falling to the ocean. Unlike the boosters, the external fuel tank wasn't reused. The Space Shuttle program was ended in 2011 with the shuttle Atlantis completing the final mission in July 2011.

While the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral is a great place to view and learn about the relics of the space shuttle era as well as other great achievements in space exploration, research and innovation, this particular fuel tank is sitting in an open lot next to the St Johns River in Green Cove Springs. In fact, this distinct muted orange piece of history can be spotted when travelling westbound across the Shands Bridge on SR16. A keen eye can pick out the tank's silhouette standing out against the riverbank, concealing its impressive scale from the distant view. The size cannot be appreciated from photos or a distant vantage point. Standing next to the behemoth is sure to raise your curiosity and lead you to the type of questions spawned from fascination and awe. How many gallons of liquid fuel did the tank hold? What's it's empty weight? What's the government nomenclature for the wagon the tank is mounted to? How much weight did that orange paintjob add to the total weight? Just how sharp is that nose tip?

This tank has its own story regarding how it ended up orphaned on the shore of the St Johns and that story is linked below. It should also be noted, this tank saw no official missions and I believe it was used for testing. It's still an impressive sight and definitely a nostalgic piece of history from a bygone space program. If you're in the area, I recommend you make a quick detour and check it out!

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/nasa-space-shuttle-fuel-tank

Situated on the Ponce Inlet between Port Orange and New Smyrna, the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse dwarfs the surrounding trees and stands tall for all coastal travelers to see. Towering at 175 feet, this lighthouse was completed in 1887 and was in service until 1970. The museum and grounds include many period-accurate displays and structures, as well as several lighthouse artifacts that allow you to see how life was as a lighthouse keeper through the years. If you feel adventurous, you can climb the 203 steps to the top of the lighthouse and take in the panoramic coastal views, while reflecting on the daily rigors performed by the keepers. After making the journey back down, be sure to stop by the lens exhibit building for an immersive experience on the history and innovation of signal lenses. If you truly enjoyed the experience, you can visit the gift shop on the way out and purchase a souvenir or even purchase a museum membership. This museum is funded solely through visitors, memberships, and private donations and every dollar helps preserve the memory of this historic site for future generations.

Check out their webpage for more information and plan a visit!
https://www.ponceinlet.org/