The John F. Kennedy Space Center is located at Cape Canaveral in Florida. The area east of Orlando is known as the Space Coast, and all of NASA’s space shuttles have been launched from here. Although the National Aeronautics and Space Administration ended the space program in 2011, the site is still open to tourists.
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Table of Contents
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center
Upon arrival at the space center, I recommend starting with a roughly two-hour bus tour. This will offer a firsthand look at the launch pads from which the Apollo 8 crew members, the first humans to leave Earth’s orbit, embarked on their journey into space. You will also get to see the 363 ft-high Saturn V launch vehicle. The bus tour is included in the entrance fee, but a guide’s interpretation will incur an extra charge.
The Apollo 11 spacecraft launched from the pad at the Apollo/Saturn V Center, which saw Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin land on the moon on July 20, 1969. This center is the only place in the world where you can touch a piece of moon rock. To gain a deeper understanding of the USA-Soviet race for space and the run-up to the moon landing, consider watching the documentaries in the cinema. A tour bus will drop you off at the Apollo/Saturn V Center, and exploring this area will take about an hour and a half. Outside the Kennedy Center, you’ll find the Rocket Garden, a remarkable collection of rockets that have transported dozens of astronauts into space.
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What to See at Kennedy Space Center
It will take you about two hours to tour the next section, the Space Shuttle Atlantis.
🚀 Model of the Space Shuttle Explorer
One of the main attractions is the 184 ft mock-up of the space shuttle Explorer. It’s displayed at a 43.21-degree angle, with the cargo door open and the robotic arm extended — exactly as astronauts saw it when they ascended from the ISS into space.
The Space Shuttle Atlantis Center houses sixty interactive exhibits and simulators. Perhaps you’ll learn how astronauts use the bathroom in space.
🚀 Model of the Hubble Space Telescope
A short distance from the space shuttle Atlantis hangs a giant model of the Hubble Space Telescope. Since April 1990, the Hubble has been capturing stunning images of the universe from 350 mi above the Earth’s surface. Make sure to watch the video documenting the successes and challenges of the telescope.
Every hour, a film about the Hubble Telescope and its journey into space is shown in the IMAX 3D cinema. Admission to IMAX is included.
🚀 Astronauts Memorial
The Astronauts Memorial and Museum, dedicated to the victims of space exploration, is a touching tribute that contains authentic astronaut artifacts. Items like Michael Anderson’s lunchbox and Rick Husband’s cowboy boots, who both perished in the crash of the space shuttle Columbia on February 1, 2003, are on display. In the adjacent gallery, you can see original parts from the Challenger, which exploded 73 seconds after launch on January 28, 1986.
The Astronauts Memorial also includes the 43 ft-high Space Mirror Memorial, made of black polished granite. The giant black mirror bears the names of 24 astronauts who died during space travel.
🚀 Space Shuttle Atlantis
On the lower level of the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibition is the Shuttle Launch Experience attraction. For 45 minutes, you can experience what it feels like to be an astronaut waiting in the shuttle on the launch pad. Expect a great experience, but also long lines.
🚀 Meet an Astronaut in Person
Avid fans can attend a meet and greet with an astronaut. There are plenty of rotating sessions at the visitor center; you can check the calendar here. Alternatively, visitors can pay to have lunch with an astronaut and engage in lively discussion.
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Florida’s Kennedy Space Center
The Florida Space Center was named after John F. Kennedy. It was this American president who, in his speech to Congress on May 25, 1961, inspired Americans to send astronauts into space and land on the moon. The first unmanned mission, Apollo 5, launched from Cape Kennedy on February 22, 1968. President John F. Kennedy had died less than five years earlier.
The Space Center complex consists of over 700 different buildings and halls. The largest of these is the Vehicle Assembly Building, which was used for the final assembly of NASA’s largest rockets. The hall has a floor area of 32,000 square meters and, at the time, was the second-largest building in the world.
Each summer, the Kennedy Space Center hosts a camp for children aged 7 to 16. During the five-day program, budding space enthusiasts experience simulated space travel, work in teams to explore space, and meet retired astronauts in person.
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How to Visit Kennedy Space Center
🗺️ Where is Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center is located halfway between Jacksonville and Miami, about 45 mi east of downtown Orlando. It’s easily accessible from I-95. Public transportation to the center is complicated, so I recommend using a rental car. Parking is available directly at the visitor complex; the fee for a private car is $10.00 (April 2024).
🕒 Opening Hours
The visitor center is open 7 days a week, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Buses for the sightseeing circuit depart every 15 minutes between 10:00 am and 3:30 pm. As the tour takes around 2 hours, I recommend allowing at least 8 hours in total for the Kennedy Space Center visit. For space fans, I suggest spreading the visit over several days to enjoy the full experience.
🎟️ Kennedy Space Center Tickets
A one-day ticket to Kennedy Space Center costs $80 for adults and $69 for children aged 3 to 11. A two-day ticket is priced at $190 per adult and $169 per child. Tickets can be purchased online, I last updated ticket prices on April 25, 2024.
For $107 per person, you can buy a guided tour of the Kennedy Space Center. The price includes a bus tour of the site with audio commentary, stops include the historic Complex 39 launch pad, the Vehicle Assembly Building and the largest Saturn V launch vehicle ever built.
For the biggest space fans, a full-day program is available for $222. This includes a lunch with an astronaut where you can ask anything you’d like. A guide is provided at all times, and transportation to and from your hotel is included.
💡 Good to Know
The Kennedy Space Center experiences the highest influx of tourists on weekends, especially in the afternoon. To avoid crowds, plan your visit during the week and arrive early in the morning. I recommend starting your visit with a sightseeing bus tour.
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Photos From the Kennedy Space Center in Florida
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