Rockets, space shuttles, exhibitions and more. NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in the Orlando area is a popular travel destination for those who want to learn more about space travel. Or for those who just want to spend an entertaining day with many attractions and sights. And with a little luck, you can even experience a rocket launch live on the rocket runway at Cape Canaveral.
Follow humanity into space at this interactive visitor complex at the Kennedy Space Center. A visit there is definitely worth the trip. The spaceport is about an hour’s drive from Orlando and, with its exhibits, is also a popular destination for tours.
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What is the Kennedy Space Center?
The John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is NASA’s spaceport and is located in the state of Florida on Merritt Island, northwest of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It is the place where all US manned space flights took off from December 1968 to July 2011. Initially, these were the famous Apollo missions and, from 1981, the space shuttles, some of which landed again at this location in Florida. With over 17,000 employees, it represents an immense economic factor for this region of Florida today. Whether moon rocket, space suit, space films or various achievements in space travel, the KSC has a lot to offer.
Where is the Kennedy Space Center located?
The Kennedy Space Center visitor center is located in central Florida on the Atlantic coast, not far from Orlando and Daytona Beach. The site itself is 55 kilometers long and 10 kilometers wide and thus covers an area of around 567 square kilometers. The Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) facilities are located on the peninsula southeast of the site. This is where satellites are launched and this is where the United States’ manned space missions began until 1968.
How is the grounds of the Kennedy Space Center structured?
The Kennedy Space Center consists of four areas, many of which are closed to the public for security reasons. This contributes to the fact that many protected animal species have found a safe home here. To protect these animals, the northern tip of the island was designated as a nature reserve Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge expelled. The KSC visitor center is located in front of the actual complex, which consists of the KSC Industrial Area, the Launch Complex 39 with two launch ramps, the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) and the Shuttle Landing Facility. The launch pads LC-39A and LC-39B are 2.7 kilometers apart. The LC-39-B launch pad was no longer available for flights in the final phase of the shuttle program. Today the LC-39A launch pad is used as a launch pad for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy. From the launch site LC-39B, flights of the Space Launch System are to start in the future.
Food at the Kennedy Space Center
For the physical well-being is in the visitor center of NASA in the following cafes and restaurants also taken care of:
- Rocket Garden Cafe
- Moon Rock Cafe
- Orbit Cafe
- Red Rock Grill
- Milky Way
- Rocket Fuel Food Truck
Shopping at the Kennedy Space Center
What would a trip to the space center be without souvenirs. In the space shop, you can purchase debris from meteorites, patches, books, models of space shuttles, t-shirts and much more.
Entrance fees
Day, multi-day, and annual tickets are available for the Kennedy Space Center.
The following admission prices apply.
Day Pass
Adults (12+): $ 57
Children (3+): $ 47
Multi-day ticket
Indian (ages 3+): $ 67
Annual pass
Adults (12 years and older): $ 96
Children (3 years old and over): $ 78
It is recommended, Buy tickets online in advance. You can print out these tickets and use them to enter the visitor center directly. If you want to take part in a special interest tour, you should definitely reserve your ticket in advance, as experience has shown that they sell out quickly.
Opening Hours
- January 6 to March 22: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- March 23 to April 19: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- April 20 to June 28: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- June 29 to August 9: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- 10 August to 20 December: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- December 21st to December 24th: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- December 25th: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- December 26th to December 31st: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- January 1st to January 3rd: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Address
- Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
- Space Commerce Way
- Merritt Island, FL 32953
