Thousands of times we have looked up to the heights, admiring an unknown and endless world of planets, stars and celestial bodies. A fascinating universe that many of us look at intrigued, trying to understand what it is, what happens there and if someone is watching us from somewhere... If you are passionate about space and you travel to Orlando, you cannot miss the fantasy of feeling like an astronaut for a day, something you can enjoy at the Kennedy Space Center, in Cape Canaveral. It is the only theme park in the world inside a space station: it is one of NASA's most important bases.
Located on Merritt Island, north of Cape Canaveral, the complex is less than an hour's drive from the Orlando area, and three and a half hours from Miami via I-95 N.
Below, I select the best attractions and experiences, located in the so-called Mission Areas, that you can enjoy during an unforgettable day at NASA!
What to do at the Kennedy Space Center
The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex brings to life the epic story of America's space program, offering a full day or more of fun, inspiring and educational activities.
At the Kennedy Space Center, visitors will be able to marvel at the huge rockets of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs, which have soared through outer space in the past and present. They can also enter the incredible Rocket Garden, where winding through spacecraft soaring 25, 30 and even 35 meters into the skies, it is possible to imagine what it was like to sit atop one of these flaming sails hurtling into the unknown.
SOLID BOOSTER ROCKET
One of the first attractions you'll see upon entering NASA's Kennedy Space Center is this massive lunar booster rocket known as the Solid Booster Rocket.
The Space Shuttle Solid Booster Rockets were a pair of solid rockets located on either side of the orange outer fuel tank used by the Space Shuttle during the first two minutes of powered flight. Two of these types of boosters will be part of NASA's massive Space Launch System rocket, the largest launcher ever built since the Saturn V in the 1960s.
SPACEX FALCON 9: BOOSTER 1023 new attraction 2022!
A new attraction arrived at Kennedy Space Center in December 2021: The SpaceX Falcon 9 booster, officially known as Booster 1023. This booster supported two SpaceX missions in space, a Falcon 9 mission and a Falcon Heavy mission. You will be able to see it inside NASA's newest attraction at Kennedy Space Center: Gateway The Deep Space Launch Complex.
SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS
Another must-see attraction at the Kennedy Space Center is Space Shuttle Atlantis, one of the fully operational space shuttles in NASA's fleet, retired after the last servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope.
APOLLO 8 LAUNCH ROOM
One of the most immersive attractions and experiences at NASA's Kennedy Space Center is in the Apollo 8 Launch Room.
Right here, in the Firing Room Theatre, you can relive the thrilling moments of the launch of NASA's first manned mission to leave Earth orbit, reach and orbit the Moon, and finally return to Earth aboard the Saturn V rocket.
The crew of three astronauts were the first humans to leave Earth orbit, the first to see the entire Earth, the first to see the far side of the Moon, and the first to see Earth rise from the Moon. This mission, carried out in 1968, was the first special launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
SATURN V ROCKET
During your tour of the Kennedy Space Center, you will be able to walk under the largest rocket ever flown in space: the Saturn V Rocket used in NASA's Apollo and Skylab programs, a favorite attraction for visitors. With a length of 363 feet (111 m), it highlights the complexity of the assembly consisting of three parts that, if you look closely at the image, you can easily distinguish:
1. Scape Rocket: the most outstanding part, this is the escape module in case of system malfunction.
2. Apollo Spacecraft: the center of the spacecraft, it is the cabin where the astronauts travel, performing command and service functions.
3. Lunar Module Adapter: and finally, the base, where the lunar adapter module is located.
Some information before you visit The Kennedy Space Center
Opening hours: Monday through Sunday: 9 AM to 5 PM
You need at least 6 hours to enjoy the complex.
Bring your food and drinks (too expensive inside)
Recommended start point of the visit: go directly to the bus stop to go to the Apollo 8 and Saturn V center.
