One of the “must see” places to take your family, especially if you are one of the many who make the pilgrimage to Orlando Florida’s theme parks, is the Kennedy Space Center, just 35 miles east of Orlando. Authentic exhibitions, mixed with some fun, make for an engaging and educational experience. NASA’s center in Cape Canaveral is the base from which space shuttles and Apollo moon missions have launched into space.
Shuttle Launch at Kennedy Space Center
Right now, it is an exceptionally exciting time for the KSC to be on your radar - this April 29 at 3:47 EST is the target date for the space shuttle Endeavour to make it’s trip to the International Space Station. According to the center’s website, tickets to watch this from the launch base itself are sold out… but if you visit the website it lists other off-site launching viewing venues – www.kennedyspacecenter.com.
If you can’t get a good glimpse of Endeavour, then try again for the final shuttle launch ever – Atlantis on June 28th. After that, NASA is retiring the 30 year space shuttle program , and the shuttles will become museum pieces.
Kennedy Space Center
I took my family to the KSC last summer, and while it was hard to cover everything in one day, we hit many of the highlights that I will share with you right now.
—The IMAX theater, with daily space related films. We saw “Hubble 3D” and it was an interesting look at space study… with stunning images from the Hubble Telescope. The kids especially remembered how astronauts train for a space travel in a swimming pool.
—The Astronaut Encounter – I highly recommend this. A real-life astronaut answers questions on person… there is one there every day. This exchange between visitors and the brave men and women who fly into the celestial skies really makes it real, and personalizes the experience when astronauts talk about what they eat, if they were afraid, etc. TIP: If you have daughters (or sons!) , try to go when there is a female astronaut speaking. What a great role model for your kids to see. The website provides the date and names of astronauts appearing.
–Space Shuttle Plaza – There is a full-size NASA space shuttle replica. You can also experience what it is like going into space in the shuttle in the “Shuttle Launch Experience.” Once inside the replica shuttle, you will move and shake as if you were really taking off… all while narration from a former astronaut walking you through the feelings and procedures.
Rocket Garden
–Rocket Garden – Spectacular scenery at sunset – and very few places have as beautiful sunsets as I saw in Florida. Here there are many rockets displayed… and you can climb aboard capsules to see how cramped the quarters are.
There are also guided bus tours that are not included with the general price of admission, which is $43 plus tax for adults, and $33 plus tax for children 3-11. The special tours can be up to 3 or four hours long, so plan your day accordingly. The “Discover KSC: Today and Tomorrow” tour… and the “Cape Canaveral: Then and Now” tour both can sell out so reservations are highly recommended. TIP: If you want to go on both tours, a two-day visit is a must.
One more Big Colossal Tip: Take your kids here BEFORE you even step near the theme parks in Orlando. Unless your child is the type to naturally play with atom splitters, it is hard to drag them away from the Pirates of the Caribbean to see the heroes of our country, unfortunately…
If you just can’t get enough of the final frontier, all the shuttles will be in museums across the country once the program is retired with the return of Atlantis. NASA reported that the space shuttle Atlantis will be displayed at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida; the Endeavour, at the California Science Center in Los Angeles; the Discovery, at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia; and the test shuttle, Enterprise, at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York.
Launch into your next trip now!
