There are more than 60 interactive exhibits and high-tech simulators that bring to life the complex systems and components behind this incredible feat of engineering. Visitors experience a display as only spacewalking astronauts have seen her before – the Atlantis is rotated 43.21 degrees with payload doors open and its robotic arm extended, as if it had just undocked from the International Space Station (ISS). When the video is over, the wall behind the front screen opens and you come face-to-face with Atlantis herself. One of the most complicated and sophisticated pieces of equipment ever built, the shuttle was launched like a rocket, flew in orbit like a spacecraft, and landed on a runway like a glider. The video is accompanied by a soaring soundtrack. You will travel past the massive Vehicle Assembly Building (the world’s largest building) where NASA is currently constructing a rocket that will eventually take astronauts to Mars.Īt the $100 million Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit, a giant screen shows an IMAX 3D film on the origin and history of the space shuttle program that went to space and back 33 times. You will experience parts of the space program not otherwise open to the public. When you enter the gates, head over to the Rocket Garden that features eight authentic rockets from the past, including a Mercury-Atlas rocket similar to the one used to launch John Glenn into space in 1962. Kennedy Space Center is home to the coolest space attractions on the planet. Another good resource is the local newspaper, Florida Today, ( that streams rocket launches starting 30 minutes before the lift off. So it’s important to make flexible plans and prepare to stay for a few days if you’re determined to catch the launch despite delays.Ĭheck Space Flight Now ( for up-to-date information, and keep an eye on NASA, SpaceX and ULA Twitter feeds for additional updates. And planned launches can be scrubbed or delayed due to weather or technical issues, even down to seconds before launch. When planning to visit a rocket launch, it’s important to remember that dates are rarely finalized until a few weeks to a few months before each launch. There are also prime viewing areas outside of the complex including the shores of the Indian River, the Exploration Tower, the Canaveral National Seashore, the Cocoa Beach Pier or any of the beaches south of Port Canaveral. SpaceX is expected to launch five more rockets during July and August, while United Launch Alliance, a partnership between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, is due to launch another two. If you’re traveling to Florida this summer, consider a side trip to Cape Canaveral on the central coast. The 45-year old billionaire believes SpaceX can revolutionize travel in the solar system and take humans to establish a city on Mars. The Falcon 9 rocket bolstered Musk’s mission to slash the cost of spaceflight through the use of reusable rockets and hardware. ![]() SpaceX now has 12 booster landings under its belt. The booster rocket transported an 8,000 pound satellite to orbit where it will provide will provide television and data-communications services to Bulgaria, the Balkans and other parts of Europe.Ībout eight minutes later the first stage rocket touched down intact with fold out legs on the drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You” stationed 200 miles off the coast of Cape Canaveral. He did it again on June 23 with the blast off of a two-stage, 23-story tall Falcon 9 rocket from Complex 39a at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral. ![]() Musk’s dream turned into reality with a launch of a “flight-proven” rocket in late March. When Musk dreamed up the idea for his commercial space exploration company 15 years ago his core principle was to recycle reusable rockets, a strategy that would dramatically reduce the cost of space travel and make it more available for commercial audiences. This will be the first private company to take civilians beyond lower Earth orbit. The pair have already put down a “significant deposit” for the 300,000 mile trip that will take a week. In 2018 he plans to launch one of his rockets to transport not astronauts, but two wealthy private citizens around the moon. In early March, the SpaceX founder and CEO stunned the spaceflight community by announcing the first joy ride into space. Elon Musk brings new meaning to the word irrepressible.
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