At this 140,000-acre campus, the dreams of some of the 20th century’s greatest scientists flew back to the moon. But the sense of possibility that has always characterized the Kennedy Space Center—indeed, what is helping NASA reach Mars and beyond—has made him one of the most visited places in Florida. is still evident in this place. Learn about the rigors of space exploration training and of course, try some astronaut ice cream.
Whether you’re a bit of a space enthusiast or a fan of his science fiction, a visit to the Kennedy Space Center is impressive. For an overview, start with the Early Space Exploration exhibit, continue with his 90-minute bus tour to the Apollo/Saturn V Center (where the best local coffee shops are located), and end with the impressive Atlantis exhibit. . On 33 missions through space he can walk under the scorched hulls of shuttles that have traveled more than 126 million miles.
Visitor Complex
The Visitor Complex, with several exhibits showcasing the history and future of US space travel and research, is the heart of the Kennedy Space Center. Here you’ll find the Rocket Garden, featuring replicas of classic rockets towering over the complex; Heroes & Legends and the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, with films and multimedia exhibits honoring astronauts; and the hour-long Astronaut Encounter, where a real, live astronaut fields questions from the audience. A NASA Now exhibit includes Journey to Mars, a collection of related shows and interactive exhibits, and two delightful IMAX films:
A Beautiful Planet offers footage of Earth from space and an optimistic look at the future of the planet (narrated by Jennifer Lawrence), and Journey to Space 3-D features interviews with astronauts and an overview of NASA’s past, present, and future endeavors.
The stunningly beautiful Space Mirror Memorial, a shiny granite wall standing four stories high, reflects both literally and figuratively on the personal and tragic stories behind the theme-park energy that permeates the center. Several stone panels display the photos and names of those who died in shuttle disasters.
Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour
This 90-minute bus tour of his is the only way to see the other side of the visitor complex without paying an additional tour fee. The bus winds through the launch complex to the Apollo/Saturn V Center. Don’t miss the multimedia show in the Firing Room. Three-screen video footage shows America’s first lunar mission, the 1968 Apollo VIII launch, then leads you to a huge hangar displaying an authentic Apollo 14 command module and a 363-foot Saturn V lunar rocket will be This £6.5 million engineering marvel of his was launched into space on November 9, 1967.
Tours depart every 15 minutes from 10am to 3am.
30 pm As you enter the visitor complex, watch out for tour buses and the long queue on the right.
Editor’s Note:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kennedy Space Center bus tours have been cancelled.
Space Shuttle Atlantis
NASA’s final orbiter, the Space Shuttle Atlantis, blasted with rocket fuel and littered with space dust, is the complex’s most impressive exhibit. Suspended in her specially designed $100 million room, as if orbiting the Earth, the nose is down and the payload is hanging out of range with her doors open. It’s a creative and dramatic performance that precedes a stunning film that tells the story of the shuttle program from the beginning of the 1960s to his final Atlantis mission in 2011. Interactive consoles throughout the shuttle let visitors attempt to land or dock with the International Space Station, touchscreens provide mission and crew details, and a full-size replica of the Hubble Space Telescope and a not-so-scary Not a ‘shuttle-launch experience. The Doctor, many of whom have worked with his programs on the Shuttle, are stationed around the exhibit to answer questions and share stories of the universe.
Heroes & Legends and US Astronaut Hall of Fame
Next to the Rocket Garden, the center’s brand new exhibit celebrates the pioneers of NASA’s original space programs, inspiring a new generation to pursue their intergalactic dreams. It begins with a 360-degree film about the lives of astronauts, then guides visitors through displays of Redstone rockets, space shuttles, and individual astronaut effects, as well as the Stations are organized according to astronaut characteristics, such as “passionate”, “resilient”. and “Be disciplined”. The exhibit also features the Mercury Mission Control Room and the 4-D film Through the Eyes of a Hero, which follows the lives of 93 Hall of Fame participants. Finally, inside the recently moved and remodeled Room A of Fame, visitors are greeted by a statue of Alan Shepard, as well as interactive video displays of the astronauts and their missions.
Additional experience
Extended tours offer the option to visit Cape Canaveral Air Force Base and the Mercury and Gemini launch sites. Great for kids, Dine with an Astronaut offers the chance to hang out with a real astronaut, while Cosmic Quest is an action-driven gaming experience featuring real-life NASA missions involving launch rocket, redirect an asteroid and build a habitat on Mars. You can also fly with an astronaut and join the Astronaut Training Experience (ATX) to go through some of the rigors that astronauts go through in preparation for their trip to Mars.
Tickets and other factual details
Admission to Kennedy Space Center starts at $57 for adults ($47 for children ages 3-11). Additional tours must be booked in advance. Continue straight to the guided bus tour upon arrival to cut down on wait times.
Time your visit to coincide with an unlaunched rocket or satellite launch; Visit www.spacecoastlaunches.com for schedule.
Bring valid identification; Citizens who are not US citizens will need a passport.