Independent guide and review of Florida as a holiday destination

LAUNCH UPDATES

June 16, 2008

The delayed GLAST mission was launched by a United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket.

June 14, 2008

The Space Shuttle Discovery touched down at the end of another successful mission to the International Space Station. However, damage to the launch pad may delay future shuttle missions.

May 31, 2008

The Space Shuttle Discovery blasted off on mission STS-124 to deliver the Kibo laboratory’s Japanese Pressurized Module to the International Space Station.

April 3, 2008

The launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery has been pushed back to May 31 at 5:01 pm following delays with the delivery of the external fuel tank.

March 26, 2008

The Space Shuttle Endeavour followed up on its night launch with a night time landing at the end of a successful mission. Endeavour touched down at 8:39 pm EST after the first landing attempt was called off because of cloud cover.

March 11, 2008

The Space Shuttle Endeavour made the first night launch in over two years. Lift off was at 2:28 am on mission STS-123 to the International Space Station.

February 20, 2008

The Space Shuttle Atlantis landed at the Kennedy Space Station after successfully delivering the European Space AgencyÕs (ESA) Columbus laboratory to the International Space Station.

February 7, 2008

The Space Shuttle Atlantis finally blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center after months of delays following fuel sensor problems.

January 12, 2008

NASA have further delayed the launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis until February 7 which will then push back the launch of Endeavour until mid March.

January 6, 2008

NASA have announced that the launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis has been put back until January 24 at the earliest. This will have a knock-on effect on the other 2008 missions.

More launch details

LAUNCH DAYS

Spaceport USA is closed to the general public on launch days unless you have purchased a ticket in advance but it is possible to watch a launch from the nearby areas or from within the NASA complex itself if you purchased a launch pass ticket.

FREE NEWSLETTER

Why not subscribe to our free monthly newsletter?

NASA Kennedy Space Center Tours

A bus tour to the Apollo/Saturn V Center is included in the price of the admission ticket but there are two other guided bus tours that you can go on but it is advisable to buy your tickets in advance as there is limited availability.

All tour tickets (except the standard KSC tour) are in addition to the maximum or standard admission ticket

Kennedy Space Center Tour

Included in the admission is a trip to the LC-39 Observation Gantry and the Apollo/Saturn V Center.

From the top of the 60 foot tall Launch Complex 39 Observation Gantry, you get a 360 degree view of the two giant Shuttle Launch Pads, 39A and 39B. You can also see the Launch Control Center, the massive Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and the crawlerway leading to the launch pads.

Featured Advertiser - Viator

A trip to remember which will take you to the exciting Kennedy Space Center to discover the wonders of space travel. Having explored the shuttle launch pads and enjoyed an IMAX movie, you'll take a 40 minute air boat ride to discover the beauty of the swamps. Look for exotic plants and wildlife such as the main inhabitant of the swamp... the gator! A day of fun for the whole family! Click here for more details

The recently opened Apollo/Saturn V Center tells the history of the Apollo Moon landing programme and contains a complete Saturn V launch vehicle, Apollo capsule/lander and a lunar rover.

There are a couple of good books covering the Apollo moon landings if you are interested in the early history of the Kennedy Space Center.

The Kennedy Space Center Tour takes approximately 2 to 2 1/2 hours and runs continuously from 10:00 am every day at 15 minute intervals. Last tour starts at 3:45 pm.

NASA Up Close Guided Tour

This is very much a behind the scenes bus tour of the NASA complex and takes in the NASA headquarters, the Space Shuttle launch pads at Complex 39A and 39B, the shuttle landing facilities, the massive Vehicle Assembly Building and NASA's gigantic Crawler Transporters that take the fully assembled space shuttles from the VAB to the launch pads.

Another of the attractions is a visit to the International Space Station Center where from an elevated observation room you can see the actual processing bay where each space station component is checked out, processed in readiness for its trip into orbit aboard a space shuttle.

You can also enter a full-scale mock-up of the Habitation Module where the crew live, sleep and work.

NASA Up Close Guided Tour
Extra stops include the A/B Camera Stop - the closest viewing for the Space Shuttle Launch Pads, and the International Space Station Center where actual components are readied for launch into space. Limited seating and departure times. Number of daily departures vary based on operational requirements. First departure at 10 am. Last departure is at 1:50 pm daily. Runs approx. 120 min. Total tour time with regular KSC tour is approx. 3 hrs.	Adult	$22.00 plus tax
	Child	$16.00 plus tax

Cape Canaveral: Then and Now Guided Tour

On the Cape Canaveral: Then and Now Tour you get to see some of the historic early launch sites of the the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programmes, precursors to today's space shuttle programme.

Amongst the stops are the Air Force Space and Missile Museum, the launch complex where Alan Shepard lifted off on America's first human spaceflight, as well as Apollo Launch Pad 34, the site of the tragic Apollo 1 fire.

This guided bus tour ends at the Apollo/Saturn V Center.

Cape Canaveral: Then and Now Guided Tour
Tour America's first launch sites from the 1960's, visit the Air Force Space and Missile Museum and see today's active unmanned rocket program. Limited seating available. Offered once daily and departs at 12:50 pm. Runs approx. 150 min. Total tour time with regular KSC tour is approx. 3.5 - 4 hrs.	Adult	$22.00 plus tax
	Child	$16.00 plus tax

See also:- Kennedy Space Center main page | KSC tickets