Independent guide and review of Florida as a holiday destination

LAUNCH UPDATES

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.

Friday, December 14

The launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis has been pushed back again to no earlier than January 10, 2008 to allow the NASA engineers time off over Christmas and the new Year.

Monday, December 10

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 Rocket (NROL-24) launched a classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office from launch pad SLC-41 at 5:05 pm.

Thursday, December 6

The launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis has been scrubbed for today following faulty cutoff sensor readings during the fuelling of the external tank.

Saturday, November 11

The second ever launch of a Delta 4-Heavy has successfully launched the final (23rd) Defense Support Program missile-warning satellite (DSP 23).

More launch details

TICKET TIPS

Child tickets

NASA operate a slightly different scheme to the theme parks when it comes to children's tickets. Children between the ages of 3 and 11 are classed as children and may purchase a child ticket. Children under the age of 3 are admitted for free.

Shuttle launch

Tickets for space shuttle launch days are only offered for a limited time prior to a launch and must be purchased in advance but bear in mind that the tickets are only valid for a particular mission. You will also have to pay UPS shipping charges.

All launch transportation/viewing Kennedy Space Center tickets are NON-REFUNDABLE and NON-TRANSFERABLE to another launch mission. They are only valid for the specific mission. You should carefully check the cancellation terms and conditions prior to buying your ticket.

Because there is no guarantee that a shuttle will launch at a particular time or even on a particular day, you have to be prepared for disappointment. It took us two goes to see a launch; on our first attempt the launch was delayed by several days (until after our holiday ended) and on the second attempt it was delayed for a few hours but that didn't matter.

Buying Kennedy Space Center Tickets

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There are various NASA ticket options for the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, depending upon whether you visit on a normal operations day or a shuttle launch day. All in all they make the new Disney Magic Your Way ticket scheme look like a walk in the park if you'll forgive the pun!!

You can also get FREE admission to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex by purchasing either a Go Orlando Card or a Go Miami Card.

Kennedy Space Center 2007 Normal Operations ticket prices

These prices are subject to change and you should check with Kennedy Space Center for the latest prices.

If you would like to meet an astronaut then you can purchase a Lunch with an Astronaut ticket. This is in addition to the normal Standard Admission or Maximum Admission ticket price.

Maximum Access Admission
Tour Kennedy Space Center, see IMAX® space movies and all exhibits and shows including the Apollo/Saturn V Center. Also includes the Astronaut Hall of Fame and interactive space-flight simulators	Adult	$38.00 plus tax
	Child	$28.00 plus tax

Standard Admission
Tour Kennedy Space Center, see IMAX® movies and enjoy the exhibits and shows including the Apollo/Saturn V Center	Adult	$31.00 plus tax
	Child	$21.00 plus tax

Astronaut Hall of Fame Admission Only
Just visit the Astronaut Hall of Fame but you must buy your Astronaut Hall of Fame ticket at the Astronaut Hall of Fame	Adult	$17.00 plus tax
	Child	$13.00 plus tax

12-Month Pass
Get 12 months of Maximum Access Admission for less than the price of two days	Adult	$50.00 plus tax
	Child	$35.00 plus tax

Lunch with an Astronaut
A lunchtime space program briefing with an actual NASA Astronaut. Enjoy a delicious meal and take home an autographed souvenir. Seating begins at 12:15 pm daily. Runs approx. 60 min.	Adult	$22.99 plus tax
	Child	$15.99 plus tax

Kennedy Space Center 2007 Launch Day ticket prices

On space shuttle launch days, you can choose to view the launch from the Astronaut Hall of Fame, the Space Shuttle Plaza at the Visitor Complex or from the NASA causeway.

Astronaut Hall of Fame Launch Viewing
Visit the Astronaut Hall of Fame and watch the shuttle launch from outside.	Adult	$17.00 plus tax
	Child	$13.00 plus tax

Maximum Access Launch Viewing
Tour Kennedy Space Center, see IMAX® space movies and all exhibits and shows including the Apollo/Saturn V Center. Also includes the Astronaut Hall of Fame and interactive space-flight simulators. Watch the shuttle launch from the Space Shuttle Plaza at the Visitor Complex	Adult	$38.00 plus tax
	Child	$28.00 plus tax

Launch Viewing and Admission Package
Tour Kennedy Space Center, see IMAX® space movies and all exhibits and shows including the Apollo/Saturn V Center. Also includes the Astronaut Hall of Fame and interactive space-flight simulators. Watch the shuttle launch from the NASA causeway. You are taken to a launch viewing site just 6 miles from the launch pad. This is the closest possible location accessible by the public and is worth the extra money just to see the actual moment of launch across the causeway.	Adult	$50.00 plus tax
	Child	$40.00 plus tax

Launch Viewing and Admission Package plus a Meal
Have either a breakfast, lunch or dinner and witness a launch. With the breakfast and lunchtime meal packages, you watch the launch from the NASA causeway; with the dinner package, you watch it from the Space Shuttle Plaza at the Visitor Complex Same comments apply regarding visibility at launch time.	Adult	$69.99 (breakfast or lunch) $56.99 (dinner) plus tax
	Child	$52.99 (breakfast or lunch) $39.99 (dinner) plus tax

There are also two supplementary Kennedy Space Center tours that can be taken by bus whilst you are at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and like the lunch with an astronaut tickets, they must be bought with either a Standard Admission Kennedy Space Center ticket or a Maximum Access Admission Kennedy Space Center ticket, they cannot be purchased on their own.

Don't forget that you can also watch a shuttle launch from the nearby area outside of the NASA complex.