Have A Blast

From America’s iconic moon missions to Space Center (KSC) Visitor Complex is a chance to get as close to space as possible without leaving Earth. Whether you’re a space nerd, an astronaut wannabe, or a rocket rookie who knows nothing of Apollo or Artemis, visitors leave with a reverence for the people, science, and perseverance of space exploration.

That’s because here you can touch a moon rock, get up close to mission-flown artifacts, meet a veteran NASA astronaut, and feel the thundering rumble of a rocket launch.

Full disclosure: I’m a huge space fan through a longtime friendship I had with Apollo 14 Astronaut Edgar D. Mitchell, who, in 1972, became the sixth person to walk on the moon. I also reported on the final launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis in 2011 from KSC, and I was there when the orbiter was moved from the Vehicle Assembly Building to its permanent home at the Visitor Complex.

Located about 82 miles north of Vero Beach, the KSC Visitor Complex, which hosts more than 1.5 million guests each year, is very much a place “where the mission for exploration and inspiration is still alive.” And the entire place is a blast—literally!

With the number of launches more than tripling in the last five years, the odds of seeing a rocket blast off, or at least one on the launch pad, are pretty good no matter when you visit.

Here are the top attractions to include on a must-see itinerary at KSC.

Photos courtesy of NASA : Joel Kowsky

1 WATCH A ROCKET LAUNCH

A chance to view a live launch at the Visitor Complex is determined by the launch window, launch pad, NASA approval, and other factors. The Apollo/Saturn V Center offers outdoor bleacher seating with views of launch pads across Banana Creek. Seating is also available outside at the Gantry at LC-39. For crewed or milestone launches, you can purchase viewing packages that include admission, a bus ride to special viewing areas, and a return visit in case of a scrub.

In Indian River County, any local beach offers a stunning launch view, especially if the trajectory heads south. Favorite spots include the Merrill P. Barber Bridge and Wabasso Causeway (County Road 510.) Another great photo spot is Sexton Plaza, outside the Ocean Grill.

Photos courtesy of Kennedy Space Center

2 ROCKET GARDEN: STAND WITH GIANTS

If you want the perfect photo op, head to the Rocket Garden (next to Heroes & Legends), where you’ll be surrounded by authentic rockets from NASA’s earliest days. This incredible rocket collection includes the Mercury-Redstone 3, a modified ballistic missile that launched Alan Shepard on May 5, 1961, making him the first American (and second human) in space.

Photo by Kelly Rogers

3 APOLLO/SATURN V CENTER

A bus tour included with admission stops at the Apollo/Saturn V Center, where you can stand under a massive Saturn V, the largest rocket ever fl own. Look for a moon rock you can touch, and see the real Lunar Module 9. (Find the mural of a painting by Apollo 12 moonwalker Alan Bean, and see if you can spy tool marks he was known to add to his paintings using equipment from his 1969 mission.)

Enter the Apollo Treasures Gallery to see a 3.7-billion-year-old moon rock and the Apollo 14 command module, Kitty Hawk, piloted in 1972 by Stuart Roosa while Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell worked on the moon. There’s also an Apollo 1 tribute dedicated to Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee, who perished on January 27, 1967 while training for the Apollo 1 fl ight that was to have launched a few weeks later.

Photo by Kelly Rogers

4 HEROES & LEGENDS, U.S. ASTRONAUT HALL OF FAME

See and hear about America’s earliest space missions during the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs and the astronaut pioneers like Alan Shepard and John Glenn who embarked on awe-inspiring journeys into orbit and beyond. The Mercury-Redstone 6 rocket suspended overhead is fascinating to see, as well as the Sigma 7 and Gemini 9 capsules.

Experience John Glenn’s mission recreated in a Mercury Control Center with actual consoles used in the Flight Control Area during the February 20, 1962 Friendship 7 launch that made him the fi rst American to orbit Earth. And don’t miss the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, featuring every astronaut inducted into this exclusive club of space explorers.

Photo courtesy of Kennedy Space Center

5 WEDDINGS AT KSC

Imagine starting your marriage journey saying “I do” while standing under the iconic Space Shuttle Atlantis or inside the Heroes & Legends building, with exclusive access to the Rocket Garden and catering for up to 200 guests. That’s just part of what to expect when booking a wedding at the Visitor Complex, along with exclusive use of your selected venue for up to three hours. Choose from a range of menu options catered by an award-winning executive chef and her team.

Photo courtesy of Kennedy Space Center

6 FRAGGLE ROCK AND PLANET PLAY

Youngsters can join Jim Henson’s Emmy Award–winning Fraggles as they embark on “A Space-y Adventure” through the inner workings of NASA’s space program; it’s a show full of laughter, music, and physical comedy. If you’re looking for more fun for ages 2 to 12, head to Planet Play, an area filled with space-themed activities like gliding through asteroid fields and climbing wormholes. Parents can keep an eye on their children while enjoying a drink from a cozy second-floor lounge area.

Photos by Dominic Agostini

7 SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS AND SHUTTLE LAUNCH EXPERIENCE

the International Space Station. While exploring more than 60 hands-on activities, you can also visit the Forever Remembered exhibit and pay respects to the 14 astronauts who perished during the final Challenger and Columbia shuttle missions.

Then head to the Shuttle Launch Experience—the next best thing to a real launch, simulated during an 8 ½-minute ascent into orbit that features special-effects seats with motion and sound technology that mimic the main engines firing up for liftoff. It’s an exhilarating experience.

Photo courtesy of the Kennedy Space Center

8 MEET AN ASTRONAUT

Suspended in the Gateway Each day at the Universe Theater, you can are a replica of Dream meet a veteran NASA astronaut who is part Chaser, a reusable of a roster that includes commanders, spaceplane that will ferry pilots, and mission and payload specialists cargo to the International Space Station, and a twice- who share their experiences of living flown SpaceX booster. and working in space. During scheduled astronaut encounters, enjoy a small-group conversation with the Astronaut of the Day and get an astronaut’s autograph at various spots.

Photo by Kelly Rogers

9 THE GANTRY AT LC-39 THE GATEWAY

Located within the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, the Gantry at LC-39, just 1 ½ miles from Launch Complex 39, features a stunning 360-degree view of the pads where Apollo and shuttle missions lifted off . The four-story gantry off ers interactive experiences including a rocket engine model that roars to life during a mock static test fire. There’s also a shaded courtyard, an outdoor dining area, and a gift shop.

And have a camera handy during the KSC bus trip to the Gantry. You’ll pass by SpaceX’s new Starship Gigabay, set to be completed by the end of this year—a facility that, at 380 feet tall, is expected to support Starship and Super Heavy vehicles up to 266 feet tall, according to SpaceX officials.

Photo by Kelly Rogers

10 THE GATEWAY

At the Deep Space Launch Complex inside the Gateway, get up close with real spaceships and cutting-edge technology that will make deep space missions possible. Peak inside a Boeing CST-100 Starliner capsule and see visionary exhibits such as the Sierra Space LIFE (Large Integrated Flexible Environment) Habitat, which “will reshape how humans live and work in space.”

Head upstairs to Spaceport KSC to experience four immersive rides that “place you in the center of a cosmic adventure.” Fly to unexplored destinations such as Mars, the Horsehead Nebula, Saturn, Jupiter, and more during a thrilling motion- theater ride. (The Mars trip was fun and visually stunning.)

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

Where/when: The KSC Visitor Complex is about 309 miles from Tallahassee on Space Commerce Way, on Merritt Island. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets: Single-day admission is $77 per adult; $72 for seniors and U.S. military; and $67 per child. A two-day ticket, which is valid for six months, is $91 per adult and $81 per child.

Cashless: Cash is not accepted at KSC registers, but you can convert cash to a MasterCard at kiosks located throughout the Visitor Complex and Apollo/ Saturn V Center. The complex has nine dining spots and four retail shops brimming with souvenirs.

KSC app: Download the KSC Offi cial Guide app to buy tickets, plan your trip, and track launches. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property.

Be prepared: All bags and backpacks may be opened and inspected, and no weapons, alcohol, large coolers, or luggage are permitted.

VIP: With a Star for the Day VIP package, get an exclusive all-day tour in a small-group setting with a space expert as your guide, priority access to Spaceport KSC and the Shuttle Launch Experience, plus a private bus tour behind NASA’s gates. Tickets are $175 per person, with a lunch buff et, snacks, and water included.

For more information, call (877) 313-2610 or visit kennedyspacecenter.com.