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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER
CELEBRATES 60 YEARS
NASA PHOTO
The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, circa 1970s.
fuel tank that were used to launch shuttles into space. Inside
there is a giant screen video about the shuttle program, and
leave it to NASA not to skimp on any details. The movie
includes the double bang of sonic booms the shuttle always
made on landing. At the end of the movie, the doors open to
an exhibit room that holds the actual retired Atlantis shuttle.
It’s an awesome site and you have to wonder how in the
world did they ever get something that big off the ground
and into space.
For the record, Atlantis is 122 feet long, 57 feet high and has
a wing span of 78 feet. The whole thing weighed 4.5 million
pounds at liftoff.
Kids get a thrill at being able to sit in a mock-up of an actual
space shuttle cockpit in the Atlantis building. It makes for a
great photo opportunity.
After you’re done looking in awe at Atlantis, there is an
opportunity to get thrilled in the Shuttle Launch Experience,
a simulation of an actual lift off of a shuttle. You get strapped
into your seat and there is simulation of the actual shaking
and g-forces experienced by the astronauts during a launch.
The simulator has a warning for people who may experience
motion sickness, but it isn’t really that bad, just a little shake
and bake. Fun for everyone.
A special treat for the kids is an opportunity to have their
picture taken with an astronaut in a space suit. This takes
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If you go…
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER VISITOR COMPLEX
ADDRESS: Space Commerce Way, Merritt Island
PHONE: 321.867.5000
HOURS: The complex is open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you plan to
hit all the exhibits, the IMAX movies and the Apollo/Saturn V tour,
it makes for a full day. Even at that you won’t get to everything.
ADMISSION: $57 for adults, $47 for children. The best bet is to
purchase tickets at https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/info/
tickets in advance of your visit. Once you are in the complex there
are no additional charges for the exhibits.
At the entrance to the
exhibit featuring the
space shuttle Atlantis
is a full scale model of
the rocket and external
fuel tank used to launch
shuttles into space.
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