| If you're bringing your family to Orlando you will no | | | | With the help of giant screens, five stories high, you |
| doubt visit Disney World and the other theme parks in | | | | are taken on an awesome journey into space. The |
| the area, but why limit yourself to theme parks, when | | | | films contain dramatic footage taken by astronauts |
| you can also visit the fascinating and educative | | | | during their space missions and you get a feeling that |
| Kennedy Space Center located at historic Cape | | | | you are right there with them. |
| Canaveral? Here is a brief guide to some of the | | | | Saturn 5 Center |
| attractions currently on offer at the Kennedy Space | | | | The Saturn 5 was the huge rocket that took |
| Center. | | | | astronauts to the moon and back in the early 1970s. |
| Meet an Astronaut | | | | Featuring an actual 363-foot, 6.2 million pound Saturn V |
| The center has arranged for various astronauts to | | | | moon rocket, this exhibit takes you on a trip to the |
| meet visitors and talk about their missions in space. | | | | moon with a recreation of the first Apollo mission to |
| Astronauts from the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and | | | | the moon. There is also a hands-on exhibit. |
| Shuttle programs are scheduled to take part | | | | LC 39 Observation Gantry |
| throughout the year. | | | | This is a 60 foot tower which will give you a great |
| Simulated Shuttle Launch | | | | view of the space shuttle launch pads. There is also |
| If you want to get an idea of what an astronaut feels | | | | an on-the-ground exhibition which includes films of the |
| during liftoff, then the Space Center's launch simulator | | | | Shuttle program, showing the actual process used to |
| is the best way to do it. The room vibrates and roars | | | | launch a Shuttle into space. |
| and when the engines shutdown participants get to | | | | Space Center Guided Tour |
| view the earth, as astronauts see it when they reach | | | | This is a bus ride all around the Kennedy Space |
| their orbit. | | | | Center. It stops at the important places and the bus |
| Early Space History | | | | tours depart each day (except Christmas Day and |
| This is a walk through exhibit showing the background | | | | certain launch days) beginning at 9:30 a.m., and leave |
| of today's space program. One of the highlights is the | | | | continuously throughout the day, with the last bus |
| actual control panel which was used to guide the | | | | leaving approximately four hours before closing. |
| astronauts of the Mercury and Gemini space | | | | The Space Shop |
| programs. Mercury and Gemini capsules are also on | | | | Are you fascinated by space memorabilia? Then this |
| display. | | | | is the place for you. The Center's gift shop has more |
| Viking Mars Mission | | | | than 8,000 space-related items that make perfect |
| In 1976 a U.S. unmanned craft landed on Mars and | | | | souvenirs or additions to your serious space collection. |
| took the first pictures of the red planet's surface. This | | | | This is only just a small part of what you can see at |
| exhibit takes you on that journey and visitors also can | | | | the Kennedy Space Center, so if you want to treat |
| see and touch a piece of Mars as well (in the form of | | | | your kids to an out of this world experience be sure to |
| meteorite that fell to earth many years ago). | | | | add it to your list of "must-see" places when you |
| IMAX 3D Theater | | | | make your next Florida Vacation. |