A visit to the space coast and Kennedy space centre - Orlando / Florida Guide
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Kennedy space centre is a truly awesome place to visit. The visitor complex is the best place to start. Here we have an IMAX theatre were they show 2 different films on stunning screens which are more than 5 storeys high. The first film we saw was Magnificent Desolation; Walking on the Moon 3-D. This is narrated by Tom Hanks and it takes the audience to the lunar surface to walk alongside the 12 astronauts who have been there. You also get to see rare footage and renditions of the lunar landscape.
The other film they show is Space Station3-D which shows astronauts from Europe and America on board a space station, its well worth watching. The 300-seat Universe theatre at the visitor complex shows the inspirational film Quest for Life in our galaxy. The NASA Art Gallery inside the IMAX Theatre offers more than 200 artworks from famous artists such as Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, and Annie Leibovitz.
If you’re taking the kids then they will probably prefer the explorer robots in Robot Scouts or even coming face to face with a real astronaut in the Astronaut Encounter show. The Shuttle Plaza a life size replica of the Space Shuttle. There is also a Launch Status Centre alongside where briefings are held throughout the day that provide the latest mission details. Nearby is a “Space Mirror” that tracks the movement of the sun reflecting its light onto names inscribed in the Astronaut Memorial. This honours the 16 astronauts from Apollo 1 to the space shuttle Challenger missions who have given their lives in exploration.
After the IMAX theatres you can take a tour to the Early Space Exploration which shows key figures from the early days of Rocketry. The Mercury Mission Control Room you can see the observation deck where the actual components and consoles were used for the first eight manned missions were monitored. Next are displays of the Mercury and Gemini spacecraft, you can relive some of the excitement and intensity of early space exploration.
You can also hop on a tour bus and get to see the space centre’s major facilities including the LC39 Observation Gantry and the Apollo/Saturn V Centre. There are 2 additional tours called Cape Canaveral: then and now which is an historic tour of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo launch pads. Also you have the NASA up close and personnel tour which provides an insiders view of the entire space shuttle program.
I can fully recommend you visit this place even if you’re not interested in space exploration it’s a fascinating place to visit.
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