Summer vacation is here and most families are making travel plans. If you’re considering making a trip to Orlando this summer, then Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is just a short drive away. There is a lot of fun, hands-on and educational things for kids!
Space Shuttle Atlantis®
The Space Shuttle Atlantis® attraction is filled with interactive games, where kids can land the space shuttle using the astronaut training simulators, perform a spacewalk, crawl through the International Space Station or play inside a mock-up of the space shuttle cockpit!
It’s easy to spend a couple hours exploring this exhibit, featuring the real space shuttle Atlantis that flew 33 missions to space. On the second floor, you can choose to walk or slide down to the first floor. The slide mimics the same angle of descent that the space shuttle had when re-entering Earth’s atmosphere! Most kids (and adults) choose this fun alternative to the ramp. On the first floor of Space Shuttle Atlantis is the Shuttle Launch Experience®*, pictured above, that allows you to experience the sights, sounds and sensation of a shuttle launch. *Kids must be at least 44” tall to ride.
PLANET PLAY
Aspiring astronauts can play among the planets in Planet Play. This indoor, multi-story interactive area includes numerous interactive gaming and artistic components designed to create a memorable learning experience. While kids play and learn, parents can enjoy a coffee, wine and beer bar in a comfortable lounge while watching their tiny explorers learn about space. Walk on Saturns rings, slide through wormholes and run in a Mars Rover race in Planet Play.
COSMIC QUEST
One great add-on to your ticket is the interactive Cosmic Quest challenge, located adjacent to Planet Play. It includes a personalized NASA badge which unlocks challenge stations inside Space Shuttle Atlantis and Journey To Mars: Explorers Wanted. You can build a Martian habitat or perform scientific experiments aboard the International Space Station. There’s a new low price of $8.99 to play! Be sure to grab your tickets in advance online or at Planet Play.
ROCKET GARDEN
While you’re exploring, be sure to check out the Rocket Garden, where kids can climb into replicas of the capsules used in the Mercury and Gemini programs. Nearby in NASA Central, they can enjoy “launching a rocket” by stepping on the new Step. Power. Launch. piezoelectric tiles.
JOURNEY TO MARS
Young explorers will find inspiration inside the Journey To Mars: Explorers Wanted attraction, where they’ll learn about the future of space exploration and practice maneuvering in space on simulators. Learn more about NASA's plan for future space exploration, including navigating deep space, placing a boot print on Mars and building a base on the Moon.
Bringing children to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex can be an enjoyable and memorable trip. It’s a chance for them to learn while having fun, and maybe even inspire them to pursue STEM careers in the future. Use our itinerary planner to organize your day in advance, and purchase tickets online.
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