Covering an almost unimaginably vast area of over five billion square metres – six times the size of Manhattan – the Kennedy Space Center was where Apollo 11 launched before it put the first men on the moon. As NASA’s space launch headquarters unmanned shuttles are still launched regularly here, which you may even get to see if you visit at the right time.
You’ll arrive at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Tour buses leave from here every 15 minutes, so you’ll never be kept waiting long. Once you hop on board, you’ll be able to take a self-guided tour around the site, getting on and off the bus at your own pace. Alternatively if you’d rather have a more structured experienced, you can go on a guided tour led by trained experts though it will cost you a little more and you’ll have to book in advance.
At the Rocket Garden you’ll get to see some of the pioneering early space shuttles, whilst elsewhere you can climb on board more modern crafts to find out how astronauts live and work whilst they’re out in space. On the Shuttle Launch Experience you can also enjoy a virtual trip into space as well as hear from space programme experts when you land.
The main attractions are housed in hangars throughout the complex. Among them you’ll find photo galleries which tell the story of the making of the earliest shuttle launch pads, one of which you’ll get to drive by on the tour bus. You can also see a moon rocket if you stop off at the Apollo/Saturn V Center.
Head for the United States Astronauts Hall of Fame where you’ll see exhibits on space travellers through the ages, with a large collection of personal memorabilia on display. You can even book ahead for an hour long Lunch With An Astronaut for an additional fee in which you’ll get to talk to a real astronaut and find out more about the experience.
Many visitors come and spend a whole day here, so arrive early to see the exhibits, take a tour and watch an IMAX film – all of which are included in your entry fee.
