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