By Ken Storey
On January 1, 2013, the Kennedy Space Center unveiled the latest expansion to the Visitors Center with a new $16 million dollar entry plaza. The new entrance plaza includes a fountain, ticket stations and self-service kiosks, will call, guest services and information stations, a retail shop and a restaurant.
The 75 foot long, 5,000 gallon fountain features a brand new, first-ever 3D representation of the NASA insignia spanning 13 feet in diameter. There's an etching of Kennedy himself and a quote from his famous 1962 Rice University "moon speech."
The quote reads “For the eyes of the world now look into space, to the moon and to the planets beyond…”
Beyond the fountain, the ticket stations are set up in a digital queue fashion providing shorter line waits. Large screens at each station allow guests to view each of the ticketing options. There are six self-service ticketing kiosks.
A new 2,500 square foot Voyagers gift shop provides a retail option for those who do not wish to purchase an admission ticket. This is similar to the gift shop found at the entrance to SeaWorld Florida. This new gift shop also allows guests exiting at the end of their trip a chance to pick up last-minute gifts.
Past the new security checkpoint, the entrance has guests entering through the rocket garden which features a wide sidewalk, called the "vapor trail." This has two strips of Tennessee river rock, the same used to support the massive weight of NASA’s nearly 3,000-ton crawler-transporter.
A new mid-century themed outdoor cafe was also opened in this phase.
This is just the first phase of a multi-year expansion and improvement to the attraction. The next major addition will be the $100million, 90,000 square foot Shuttle Atlantis (which made the trip into space and back 33 times) exhibit that will feature the only actual space shuttle on exhibit with its payload bay doors open and the Canadarm extended.
The new exhibit will open in July 2013. Until then, you can follow the construction with this great time-lapse camera.
The entrance to the exhibit will feature a 184 foot tall full-size, upright, replica external tank and two solid rocket boosters along with a silhouette of the orbiter.
Beyond 2013, KSC has a number of other plans in the works including moving the Astronaut Hall of Fame to the visitors center. The new AHOF will feature a Soarin' style panoramic flight simulator.
A new nature trail and a night time show are also in the works.
Adult admission is $50, and $40 for children ages 3-11.
On January 1, 2013, the Kennedy Space Center unveiled the latest expansion to the Visitors Center with a new $16 million dollar entry plaza. The new entrance plaza includes a fountain, ticket stations and self-service kiosks, will call, guest services and information stations, a retail shop and a restaurant.
The 75 foot long, 5,000 gallon fountain features a brand new, first-ever 3D representation of the NASA insignia spanning 13 feet in diameter. There's an etching of Kennedy himself and a quote from his famous 1962 Rice University "moon speech."
The quote reads “For the eyes of the world now look into space, to the moon and to the planets beyond…”
Beyond the fountain, the ticket stations are set up in a digital queue fashion providing shorter line waits. Large screens at each station allow guests to view each of the ticketing options. There are six self-service ticketing kiosks.
A new 2,500 square foot Voyagers gift shop provides a retail option for those who do not wish to purchase an admission ticket. This is similar to the gift shop found at the entrance to SeaWorld Florida. This new gift shop also allows guests exiting at the end of their trip a chance to pick up last-minute gifts.
Past the new security checkpoint, the entrance has guests entering through the rocket garden which features a wide sidewalk, called the "vapor trail." This has two strips of Tennessee river rock, the same used to support the massive weight of NASA’s nearly 3,000-ton crawler-transporter.
A new mid-century themed outdoor cafe was also opened in this phase.
This is just the first phase of a multi-year expansion and improvement to the attraction. The next major addition will be the $100million, 90,000 square foot Shuttle Atlantis (which made the trip into space and back 33 times) exhibit that will feature the only actual space shuttle on exhibit with its payload bay doors open and the Canadarm extended. The new exhibit will open in July 2013. Until then, you can follow the construction with this great time-lapse camera.
The entrance to the exhibit will feature a 184 foot tall full-size, upright, replica external tank and two solid rocket boosters along with a silhouette of the orbiter.
Beyond 2013, KSC has a number of other plans in the works including moving the Astronaut Hall of Fame to the visitors center. The new AHOF will feature a Soarin' style panoramic flight simulator.
A new nature trail and a night time show are also in the works.
Adult admission is $50, and $40 for children ages 3-11.
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