Thomas D. Jones, PhD and Captain Scott D. Altman Inducted into U. S. Astronaut Hall of Fame® at Kennedy Space Center @ExploreSpaceKSC

April 23, 2018April 23, 2018 - Michelle Snow

Saturday, April 21, in a ceremony set beneath space shuttle Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, two veteran astronauts, Thomas D. Jones, PhD and Captain Scott D. Altman, were inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame

Saturday, April 21, in a ceremony set beneath space shuttle Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, two veteran astronauts were inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame®.

Thomas D. Jones, PhD and Captain Scott D. Altman, who have each demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in furthering NASA’s mission of exploration and discovery, brought the total number of astronauts in this prestigious society to 97.

Both Dr. Jones and Captain Altman have had illustrious careers centered around their love of space and science:

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Offers Special Viewing Access For SpaceX Falcon Heavy Launch Feb 6

February 3, 2018February 4, 2018 - Michelle Snow

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Offers Special Viewing Access For Launch of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy

The SpaceX Falcon Heavy is set to lift off from famed Pad 39A on February 6, and the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is offering guests special viewing opportunities through a selection of packages.

They are as follows:

Out and About: NASA Fallen Astronauts are Honored in Annual Ceremony at Kennedy Space Center

January 31, 2018 - Kirk Garreans

NASA Fallen Astronauts are Honored in Annual Ceremony at Kennedy Space Center - photo by Kirk Garreans for CitySurfing Orlando

Each year the Astronauts Memorial Foundation holds a ceremony at the Kennedy Space Center to remember the astronauts who gave their lives while serving to further the NASA mission of space exploration. It is generally held on the last Thursday of January, since many of the tragedies occurred around this time of year.

This year, the annual Day of Remembrance was held at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation building at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (KSCVC), as well as at the Space Mirror Memorial.

Out and About: The New Astronaut Training Experience at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

December 24, 2017December 21, 2017 - Kirk Garreans

The New Astronaut Training Experience at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (KSCVC) has long been known as the gateway to outer space for those seeking to get a close up view of our nation’s space program. Between housing space artifacts and memorabilia, to actual spacecraft like the orbiter Atlantis, as well as hosting viewings of launches from the historic pads, they have always been on the cutting edge of space related tourism.

With the introduction of the all new Astronaut Training Experience (ATX), KSCVC will continue the tradition of offering hands-on interactive exhibits, but with a twist – you actually get to experience training for simulated space missions!

Holidays in Space Returns to Kennedy Space Center Starting Dec 21, 2016

December 20, 2016December 21, 2016 - Michelle Snow

Holidays In Space Returns to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex’s annual high-tech holiday celebration, Holidays In Space, returns for its fifth year from December 21-January 1, 2017.

The centerpiece of the nightly event is a “Spirit of Exploration” show projected against the side of a Saturn 1B. Reimagined for 2016, it takes guests on a journey through NASA’s history and plans for the future.

Out and About: Holidays In Space at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

December 24, 2015December 20, 2015 - Michelle Snow

Friday, I had the chance to attend a mixed media/passholder preview of the 2015 edition of “Holidays in Space” at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, and I have to say it’s a lovely addition to all the other incredible things to see at the complex.

Holidays In Space at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex - NASA ornament

Your first taste of the holiday theming is the giant NASA logo that has been tranformed into a giant ornament. Peace on Earth, indeed.

Holidays In Space Returns to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Dec 19 through Jan 3, 2016

December 19, 2015December 20, 2015 - Michelle Snow

Returning for its fourth year, “Holidays in Space” offers visitors to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex a unique hi-tech way to celebrate the holidays, along with the history of space exploration.

Holidays In Space Returns to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Highlights of the celebration include the very cool “Spirit of Exploration” show, a one-of-a-kind presentation of space and holiday imagery shown on the side of the 223-foot-long Saturn 1B rocket, accompanied by mood lighting in the Rocket Garden.

Heroes and Legends Attraction Breaks Ground at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

June 6, 2015June 5, 2015 - Michelle Snow

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has broken ground on a new attraction called Heroes and Legends, which will include the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held on May 29, on the eve of this year’s 25th Anniversary Hall of Fame inductions, and featured many hall of fame members.

Kennedy Space Center to Induct Four Space Shuttle Astronauts into 2015 U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame May 30

May 25, 2015May 24, 2015 - Michelle Snow

On Saturday, May 30, 2015, four space shuttle astronauts will be inducted into the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame during a public ceremony held at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex’s Space Shuttle Atlantis attraction.

This year marks the historic 25th anniversary of the Hall of Fame, which was conceived in the 1980s by the six remaining Mercury astronauts as a place where space explorers could be remembered. Past Hall of Fame inductees include Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab and Space Shuttle astronauts.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Invites Guests to ‘Fly With An Astronaut’ Feb 15-16

February 13, 2015February 13, 2015 - Michelle Snow

This weekend, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will offer a special, limited-time, limited-capacity program called Fly With An Astronaut, on February 15 and 16 only.

Fly With An Astronaut allows guests to spend a half day experiencing the highlights of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, including a ‘flight’ on Shuttle Launch Experience, with a veteran NASA space shuttle astronaut and pilot.

Limited to just 43 guests each day, the program includes admission to the Visitor Complex as well as a morning of tours and activities guided by astronaut Jon McBride. McBride served as the pilot of STS-41G aboard space shuttle Challenger, and he will join guests on the Shuttle Launch Experience.

Watch the SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch from Kennedy Space Center on January 6, 2015

December 17, 2014December 19, 2014 - Michelle Snow

[Ed. Note: we learned after this went to press that KSC has changed the date of the launch to January 6, 2015. So you still have time to make plans.]

Get a “front row seat” to view the Dec. 19 SpaceX Falcon 9 launch at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on December 19, at 1:20pm.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 will carry the Dragon capsule to deliver cargo to the International Space Station (ISS). This is the fifth resupply mission by SpaceX for NASA, bringing food and supplies, including new science experiments and technology research, to the crew aboard the ISS.

Launch viewing is available at the LC-39 Observation Gantry, located within the secured areas of Kennedy Space Center and just over three miles away from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, where the Falcon 9 will launch from Space Launch Complex 40.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Celebrates International Space Station 15th Anniversary December 10, 2013

December 8, 2013December 8, 2013 - Michelle Snow

In celebration of the 15th anniversary of the International Space Station (ISS), Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is hosting crew members of the first space shuttle mission to construct the ISS on Tuesday, December 10.

On Dec. 10, 1998, the six-member crew aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour became the first people to enter the newly created International Space Station after transporting the American connecting node, Unity, and connecting it with the Russian module, Zarya.

The anniversary celebration at the Visitor Complex includes photo opportunities for the public with the astronauts at Space Shuttle Atlantis from 10-11am. A panel discussion and Q & A with the astronaut crew takes place at 12:30pm at the Astronaut Encounter Theater. Seating is provided on a first come, first serve basis.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Celebrates Holidays in Space 2013

December 5, 2013December 3, 2013 - Michelle Snow

Holidays in Space returns to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex through January 5, 2014.

Adorned with holiday decorations, the Visitor Complex will welcome Santa and Mrs. Claus daily through December 24. Each day, the first 200 children to visit Santa will receive a voucher for a free gift. In addition, Kodak representatives will be on hand to snap the perfect family photo, sitting with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and provide prints for sale.

New this year is the exhibit, “Through the Toy Box: An Out-of-this-World Collection,” which represents mankind’s fascination with space over the last 100 years in the form of toys.

And the decorations include a towering 42’ International Space Station-themed holiday tree located in the Rocket Garden, decorated with 5,000 LED and 32 strobe lights, 600 miniature international flags and 5,000 ornaments, topped with an LED star.

“Holidays in Space” is included in admission to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Souvenir photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus are available at an additional charge.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call 877-313-2610 and visit KennedySpaceCenter.com.

Kennedy Space Center Holds 4-Day Pre-Launch Celebration for MAVEN Launch November 14-18

November 12, 2013November 12, 2013 - Michelle Snow

On November 18, a massive United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvoultioN (MAVEN) orbiter is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

The Kennedy Space Center is holding a four-day pre-launch celebration starting November 14, leading up to the historic launch.

The MAVEN mission will explore the Red Planet’s upper atmosphere, ionosphere and interactions with the sun and solar wind, and is the first mission dedicated to measuring the upper atmosphere of the planet.

From Thursday, Nov. 14 through Sunday, Nov. 17, Visitor Complex guests can discover a wide array of displays, exhibits and models themed around Humans 2 Mars.

Kennedy Space Center Introduces New Annual Pass Options for Visitors

October 27, 2013October 25, 2013 - Michelle Snow

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has begun offering a new three-tiered annual pass program that will allow guests to choose the experience that is best for them.

The new tiered annual pass structure and benefits are as follows:

Discovery Pass – $75 plus tax for adults, $60 plus tax for children ages 3-11
· Unlimited admission for one year
· 10 percent off admission tickets for up to six guests per visit
· A Discovery Pass lanyard
· The Visitor Complex newsletter

Atlantis Pass – $89 plus tax for adults, $71 plus tax for children ages 3-11
· All Discovery Pass benefits
· Free parking
· 10 percent off souvenirs
· 10 percent off food and beverage
· 10 percent off Astronaut Training Experience® and Camp KSC®
· Exclusive special events and privileges
· An Atlantis Pass lanyard

Explorer VIP Pass – $139 plus tax adults and children
· All Atlantis and Discovery Pass benefits
· One free KSC Up-close tour
· One free Lunch with an Astronaut
· A free collectible souvenir
· An Explorer Pass lanyard

Guests who have purchased the previous Commander’s Club annual pass within the last year will continue to receive those benefits through the expiration date of their pass. The Commander’s Club pass sold for $75.

For more information on Kennedy Space Center Complex, please visit KennedySpaceCenter.com.