Ever since I was a kid, I’ve wanted to visit Kennedy Space Center. I remember watching the space shuttle launches on TV years ago and thinking how exciting it would be to watch in person from the shores of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Now that I have two boys in elementary school, this year’s spring break seemed like the perfect time for us to go and learn about NASA’s endeavors of the past, present, and future.
The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is huge. You could easily spend the whole day there and not even see every exhibit. Many of the attractions begin with a video presentation that starts at a certain time, so it’s imperative that you have a map, a schedule, and some time-management skills if you want to get the most out of the experience. We began with the Astronaut Hall of Fame. Here you can learn about everyone from John Glenn to Sally Ride to Charles Bolden. The exhibits about the early years of the space program were particularly interesting to me. When I saw this replica of a 1960’s control room, I was struck by the vast difference between its technology and that which we have today.
This room seems so primitive with its picture tube monitors and rotary phones. Even so, the people who used those phones were able to put a man on the moon. I’m in awe of the bravery of those who risked their lives to travel into space. Their work was the catalyst for the technology we enjoy today. We owe them an enormous debt of gratitude!
The Space Shuttle Atlantis building was our favorite! In addition to seeing the Atlantis on display, the kids had a great time playing in the mock cockpit, on the landing simulation slides, and in the miniature International Space Station. In the photo below, if you look just below the shuttle, you can see a child crawling through a clear tube suspended in mid-air. It’s part of the mini ISS and was a thrill for the kids!
We also watched a 3-D movie about the space shuttle missions and took a (very tame) ride on the Shuttle Launch Experience. We remembered the astronauts lost on the Challenger and Columbia, and learned about NASA’s many successful shuttle missions. Even though I grew up in the era of the shuttle, I had no idea there were so many missions – 135 in all!
We took the Space Center Bus Tour, which gave us a drive-by look at the spaceflight facilities, including the launch pads. The bus drops off at the Apollo/Saturn V Center, which is a whole museum in itself. (If you’re planning a day at the space center, be sure to take the bus tour early in the day so you have plenty of time to explore the Apollo building. It even has a restaurant, so it’s ok to go at lunch time.)
Finally, we visited the Journey to Mars building, where we learned about what’s next for NASA. Did you know they are trying to figure out how to put humans on Mars? The journey there and back would take two years! One of the space center guides said that if you are between the ages of 7 and 17, you could be the first person to visit the Red Planet.
Our family had a wonderful time at Kennedy Space Center, and I’m happy to cross it off my bucket list! Here’s my best travel tip if you are headed to the space center: Arrive at 9:00 AM and plan to visit the main exhibits in the order they are listed here in my blog post or on this webpage. (The only difference is I listed Atlantis before the bus tour and Apollo/Saturn V.) The attractions are not physically located in this order in the visitor complex. If you wander through the complex without a plan, stopping at each exhibit as you come to it, you’re likely to run out of time and miss one of the main attractions. Closing time varies depending on the date.
Also, be sure to check this webpage for special offers before you go. You or your child may qualify for free admission!
I highly recommend visiting Kennedy Space Center if you have the opportunity. Come and see what the amazing people of NASA can do!
My husband and I were just talking about how the next time we go to Orlando we are coming here too!! Thanks for the tip!!
You’re welcome! Hope you’re able to visit soon!
Well, that’s now on my bucket list!
It’s a great little side trip if you’re going to Florida!