Kennedy Space Center tour

[trypnotic]

We're coming to central Florida on May 7th and leaving on May 14th so we're obviously going to miss the Discovery launch but would like to take part in the KSC tour.

We're likely just going to take the standard Kennedy Space Center tour that you get with admission but were wondering how the view is of the Space Shuttle at the LC 39 Observation Gantry? Also, if anyone has any feelings about the tour I'd also be interested to know!

I'm compromising with bmleroy and only planning on spending a half-day there since space stuff isn't her thing :P

[leebee]

You will have a terrific view of the shuttle on the launch pad, and if you don't feel you are close enough you can pop a quarter into the binocular viewer- you should be able to see the eye color on the technicians! What a wonderful time to be at KSC...just days before return to flight! We adore KSC, definitely the best part is the bus tour that is included with your admission. We were there for the last shuttle launch (the ones who didn't make it back...sigh...) and I'd give my eyeteeth to be there for this one. DO NOT COMPROMISE on the bus tour- it is the BEST, especially when you get to the Saturn V exhibits!

[trypnotic]

You provide much confidence :) Thank-you! I'm really looking forward to going - I hope my wife gets something out of it as well. I love my photos and was hoping for a good view of the shuttle on the pad. I have 7x optical so that should suffice per your description!

I'd absolutely love to see a launch! I hope I get to before the current space program is phased out :( But alas, this time... the airline and hotel is already booked. Maybe next trip!

[ttfn3]

We visited the KSC for the first time the end of March. It was so much fun. We got to see into the Vehicle Assembly Building (from the bus tour) and saw the booster rockets for the shuttle launch. It was so cool just to see that. I would love to see the shuttle on the launch pad. I'm sure you will have a great view.

[leebee]

trypnotic. we really love going to KSC. I can't imagine anyone NOT getting something out of it. Don't get the admission with ksc and astronaut hall of fame...there isn't enough time to do both on one day. the most important thing to do is the bus tour, as i mentioned above. from the observation gantry you'll not only see the shuttle launch pads, but you'll also have a bird's eye view of the areas referred to as "historic" launch pads...where the mercury and gemini rockets were launched. once upon a time, before 9/11, we had a friend who worked at ksc and could take us behind the scenes- i've been out to the historic pads and in the bunker whree the ground crew watched these early flights. talk about touching a piece of history! can't go there anymore without taking a tour...this world we live in...anyhow, take the bus tour, you'll go by the vehicle assembly bldg, to the observation gantry, out to the shuttle landing area, but best of all is the saturn v exhibits. there is an actual saturn v rocket, originally scheduled to go to the moon (apollo 17?20?) before the program was scrapped, hanging from the ceiling. the 2 movies out here are great, there's an apollo capsule and lunar module, and a moon rock you can touch. back at the visitor's center you can walk thru a shuttle, visit the memorial garden, go to the rocket garden (worth walking thru, not just admiring from afar), and if you have time, the IMAX movies are pretty cool. while on the bus tour, keep your eyes peeled for gators and armadillos- also pretty cool. get your travel partner (DW?) to agree to plan to stay all day...you'll be glad you did!

ps- sorry about lower case typing- shift button sends typing into the ethers, it's annoying to lose messages!

[trypnotic]

I'm really excited to go - everything you described sounds like lots of fun! Maybe i'll get lucky and they will have wheeled Atlantis into the VAB by the time we go?

My wife and I don't have much else planned for that day except she wanted to drive around Cocoa Beach and around Celebration so maybe I can get her to stay longer and see the IMAX movies. We're going to be in the area for seven days and five of those are planned at WDW.

[flclarkkent]

oops! sorry

[leebee]

Cocoa Beach is about another 20-30 mins east of KSC. We stayed there last summer while DD was at Space Camp at KSC (dad and grampa are both physicists, they are psyched to have another budding scientist in the family!). Didn't find Cocoa Beach much to write home about, food-wise...wouldn't be my choice of place to go for dinner, although we did have a very good time staying there, having a beach vacation for 5 days while DD was at day camp at KSC. Celebration has some good restaurants; I'd definitely head back here for dinner. Try Columbia for great Cuban food, also there's a fairly large diner type place that has good "american" food.

[trypnotic]

Ahh Space Camp. I wish my parents would have let me gone while I was growing up. I don't know how many hours I spent watching that movie (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091993/)!

I think we're just going to limit our time in Cocoa Beach to just walking along the shore (provided we have time after our full day at KSC! ;)

[darlene9947]

My husband works at Lockheed Martin, the company that builds the external tank. We are heading to Disney on May 21 and plan to spend a day at KSC. My husband got to see a launch in 1994. His team at LM won Team of the Year and they all went to KSC. Of course, his team had so many members, the company would not let spouses/significant others attend. I was sooo bummed. Now I'm hoping that I will finally see an actual launch!
Also, my 2 grandsons are coming with us and they both loved Johnson Space Center in Houston. We went there last year when we evacuated for Ivan the Terrible!! The boys still talk about the space shuttle. They will flip if the launch goes off the day we are there!! Wish us luck! :flower:

[DMRick]

We paid for the "extra" tour (maximum)..the bus ride, and the astronaut hall of fame only to find out when we got there, that the "regular" ticket now gives that to you. They wouldn't refund :(

[gjw007]

We're coming to central Florida on May 7th and leaving on May 14th so we're obviously going to miss the Discovery launch but would like to take part in the KSC tour.

We're likely just going to take the standard Kennedy Space Center tour that you get with admission but were wondering how the view is of the Space Shuttle at the LC 39 Observation Gantry? Also, if anyone has any feelings about the tour I'd also be interested to know!

I'm compromising with bmleroy and only planning on spending a half-day there since space stuff isn't her thing :P

You should get a good view of it. You will get a lot closer than I will. I didn't expect the launch during my week in Orlando (May 20 to 27), so I didn't order tickets for the bus ride (from KSC's visitor center) to watch the launch. Well, since they changed the launch date to the 22nd, I check to see if there were any tickets available for the bus. Nope! But they did have tickets available for the visitor's area. Not as close as I would like but still fairly close. I suspect any trips to the Saturn V will not occur until after the launch. My understanding is that you can actually see the launch from almost anywhere around KSC without great difficulty.

[bmleroy]

Thanks again all for your input everyone! I'm really looking forward to our day out at KSC.

Another quick question. Is it recommended to buy the tickets for admission/bus tour in advance from the web site? Or should we just wait until we get there?

This is trypnotic. I just realized my wife was logged in on my laptop after I made the post :rolleyes:

[DMRick]

we bought ours here:
http://www.floridaorlandotickets.net/kennedy_space_center.html

[gjw007]

Thanks again all for your input everyone! I'm really looking forward to our day out at KSC.

Another quick question. Is it recommended to buy the tickets for admission/bus tour in advance from the web site? Or should we just wait until we get there?

This is trypnotic. I just realized my wife was logged in on my laptop after I made the post :rolleyes:

Unless the site is restricted due to events such as the space shuttle launch, there is no advantage to purchasing in advance. I purchased mine this way so that I could be onsite for the launch but consider that is cost me $37.00 + tax + $10 shipping or around $50. You can purchase the same ticket at various locations in Orlando for around $33 or less.

There is a bus tour that is included in the basic ticket. It takes you to the Saturn V location and to some of the observation sights. You don't need to purchase anything for this.

For launchs, there is another bus ticket ($10) that takes you to a clear view of the launch. This is what I had hoped to purchase off the web but none were available. If you really want to get as close to a launch as possible, it would appear that it might be advantageous to make the purchases off the web since there is limited quantities of these available. I suspect for night launches they would be easier to get.

NASA URL: http://www.ksctickets.com/kennedyspacecenter/ltt.html

[leebee]

From what I know, the launch day tickets that get you as close as possible to the site basically don't get you much closer than the KSC visitor comples, which is closed to the public on launch day (from what I remember from last shuttle launch). For good viewing, head to Titusville. We stayed at the Holiday Inn the night before the launch so that we'd have a good viewing spot, but this is not necessary. Hundreds of people will park in the hotel parking lots and watch the launch. This area is directly across the river from the launch pads. You can see and feel an hear the launch quite well. It is very cool- you see the shock waves coming across the water, even. I would not pay extra to do the KSC launch day pkg, and as you can tell from me posts above, we are pretty space program obsessed around here! I'm thinking of coming down now that they moved the launch date. It would be like coming full circle, after the excitement or the last launch and hollow emptiness of its ending. (Of course, DH and I both work on grant money which ends in July- with no current hope of new money and no jobs lined up- not a good time to spend $$$$ on airfare for 3!)

[gjw007]

From what I know, the launch day tickets that get you as close as possible to the site basically don't get you much closer than the KSC visitor comples, which is closed to the public on launch day (from what I remember from last shuttle launch). For good viewing, head to Titusville.

I think I mentioned that the launch could be viewed along the coast. It is good to have this confirmed. I'm been told that night launches can be seen from Tampa but who knows. Still, if I'm going to drive there, I'm going to want to do something besides drive there and then drive back. There was a message with the tickets that I purchased from the NASA site that they will send you a access card to put on the front window to let you onto the visitor's center on launch day. I would assume that the visitor's center would open as well if they're going to let the public onsite. I don't think that you can purchase tickets the day of the launch to get to the visitor's center but I could be wrong.

[trypnotic]

It'd really be neat to see a night launch. According to an article on CNN, for at least the next two launches, they'll take place during the day so that high res shots can be taken to detect any foam or other debris falling off the external tank.

We'll obviously miss this launch so we'll likely just buy our tickets at the front gate.

[FishNette]

Just got back from our trip and thought I would let everyone know that you should plan to eat somewhere OTHER than at KSC. Not only is the food expensive (even by Disney standards), but it is awful. We paid $2.99 for a NON-refillable soda!!!! And, to make matters even worse, we waited in line for a good 15-20 minutes to get our food & pay for it.

And, there isn't a place to eat within 10 miles of the KSC. Either pack your own lunch (and return to the car to eat it), or arrange your schedule so you don't have to eat there. YUCK (or did I say that already???)!!!!

Other than this..... we had a GREAT time and enjoyed our tour. I also agree that the Astronaut Hall of Fame isn't worth the extra $7.

[leebee]

We liked the Astronaut Hall of Fame, just didn't find enough time to do both KSC and AHF on the same day. AHF took us about 2 hrs and was interesting; we did it on a separate day from KSC (with a separate ticket). We always have lunch at the Saturn V exhibit hall. I think the food is on a par, for variety, quality, and price, with the counter service at MK. Not good, not bad, costs more than it should, but I can't see taking the time to go back out to the car to eat. As DBIL says, different opinions is what keeps us from becoming boring!

[keishashadow]

Agree, thought the food was passable, priced about the same as most counter-serve amusement/attraction offerings.

There's so much to see here, you really need more than 1 day. We did purchase the up close tour through the space center directly. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. Particularly interesting was the assembly building where they're working on future projects and the stop by the beach. One plus of the add-on tours are shorter waits in yet another line. You're guaranteed a seat on the bus for the time you select.

There is a very dark tint on the bus windows, which effected our pictures to some degree. Additionally, we centered our vacation around a published satellite launch that never occured. I do think it was one of the highlights of our whole trip.

[golfgal]

It'd really be neat to see a night launch. According to an article on CNN, for at least the next two launches, they'll take place during the day so that high res shots can be taken to detect any foam or other debris falling off the external tank.

We'll obviously miss this launch so we'll likely just buy our tickets at the front gate.


We were able to see a night time launch in '96 from our hotel in Downtown Disney. We had the tv on in the room and watched the launch from the balcony of our hotel. It was pretty cool. We are hoping they delay the next launch until we are at Disney, so sometime after May 29th! DS12 is a space nut and wants to work at NASA, so it would be a highlight of his trip!

[yogibigdog]

Was there last Thursday. The shuttle is at LC-39B so it is hard to see. You can see some of the external fuel tank but the orbiter itself is not visible. Here is what you can see from the LC-39 Observation Gantry taken with a 10x optical zoom.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/data/500/78903shuttlelunchpad.jpg
http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/data/500/78903shuttle_on_pad.jpg

Here is a view from the Apollo/Saturn V center
http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/data/500/78903shuttlesaturncenter.jpg

My son was very excited just knowing it was there.

[Phrank40]

Took a Kennedy tour I think 5 or so years ago, we were lucky someone in our group knew somebody who knew somebody so we had a NASA avionics engineer (think that is correct) give us the tour, just him and the three of us. Got to ride out to the launch pad and drive around it. I did not know there was a little building the astronauts could slide down to from the shuttle area if there was trouble on the pad. Also got to go into assembly building, and got to stand under the shuttle just a few feet away. Everything is on such a massive scale. Last part of our tour was the room, or rooms, where some of the parts of the International Space Station were being assembled, got a close up look at some items that I guess have been orbiting the earth for a few years. Quite a memorable experience.

Phrank

[trypnotic]

Was there last Thursday. The shuttle is at LC-39B so it is hard to see. You can see some of the external fuel tank but the orbiter itself is not visible. Here is what you can see from the LC-39 Observation Gantry taken with a 10x optical zoom.

My son was very excited just knowing it was there.

That's really a bummer :( There wasn't a good view of the shuttle at any point during the tour? I was really looking forward to seeing it. I should feel lucky that I see anything there at all I suppose!

Edit: removed photos from quote

[yogibigdog]

That's really a bummer :( There wasn't a good view of the shuttle at any point during the tour? I was really looking forward to seeing it. I should feel lucky that I see anything there at all I suppose!


Maybe if you took the Nasa up close tour (see link) you would get a better view. It was already sold out when we arrived. You can buy advance tickets.
http://www.ksctickets.com/nasaupclose.html

Let us know how you do. I know on the standard admission you won't get a better view.

[trypnotic]

I've been doing some Google-based research regarding the view you had.

The structure in front of the shuttle which is obstructing the view is the Rotating Service Structure (RSS) which normally isn't planted in front of the shuttle in the photos that we normally see and associate the shuttle on the pad with.

"The RSS accommodates the loading of payloads vertically at the pad. It is mounted on a semi-circular track which allows it to rotate through an arc of 120 degrees on a radius of 36.6 meters (120 ft). The RSS pivots from a hinge on the FSS until the RSS spacecraft changeout room fits flush with the Orbiters's cargo bay. This room allows payloads to be installed or serviced under contamination-free or "clean room" conditions." (reference - http://www.space-shuttle.com/shuttlelc39.htm)

Another article (http://www1.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2005/apr/HQ_S05015_Shuttle_Status.html), with specifics about this mission, mentions the RSS being moved away on April 28 in preparation for some testing.

[keishashadow]

FYI, the launch has been changed to May 22 @ 1:03 p.m., with a launch window extending thru June 3rd as per KSC. Their email of today indicated that tickets were still available to view the launch.

[golfgal]

Any KSC experts know if Sunday or Monday would be a better day to go? I want to buy tickets in advance to do the lunch with an astronaunt but not sure which day to go. Our choices are Sunday, June 5 or Mon June 6th.

[HIHO...HIHO]

Ok...so it sounds like the shuttle can be viewed from along the coast...and at WDW? Where is Titusville? :confused3
We are going to be at WDW May 20-26, and on the 26th, we hop the Disney Wonder. Maybe we'll be lucky enough to view it? We have lots of ressies made, so we won't be making a special trip to KSC, but if we can see it from WDW or the coast, that would be awesome!

[leebee]

HiHo- go to yahoo, click on "maps" and get driving directions from MCO to Titusville. BASICALLY, KSC is located on an island (Merritt Island?), with the Banana River running N/S along the western border of the island. If you head east from WDW and eventually go north on 95, you'll find the Titusville exit(s). There is a state highway that runs right along the Banana River, and that is where the Holiday Inn is located, which is where we watched the last launch from. This puts you ~8 miles from the launch pads, which are directly across the river. You will see the lights/flames/plume from launch from this location, which you WON'T see from the KSC visitor's complex (only tickets avail for on-site at KSC are dinner with an astronaut, which has launch viewing from the KSC visitor's complex). Even though you are a bit further away in Titusville, you will see the entire launching, not just what can be seen once the shuttle clears the tree line (which is what you'll see at the visitor complex, according to the website). Bring your binoculars for spectacular viewing from Titusville. We were able to see a Delta rocket launce from the beach at Cocoa Beach last June, so you definitely should be able to see the shuttle launch from this location, but it'll be "up"...definitely won't see it lift off. I was apprehensive last time about going to Titusville, not sure where to stop, if we could park along the road, etc., so we stayed overnight at the Holiday Inn the night before (10AM launch time). Totally not necessary! Hundreds of folks parked in the hotel parking lots, any parking lot available, and along the edge of the roadway (although I wouldn't with a rental car!), and just walked over to the "backyard" of the hotel, along the river, etc. I personally wouldn't buy a ticket if I could only view the launch from the KSC visitor center- I'd go to Titusville.

New thought...what's over on the east side of the Island? Any viewing spots from the water's edge on that side (not from Cocoa Beach)?

[ikarei]

FYI for those those anticipating the May launch, NASA is seriously considering pushing it back to a July launch. It doesn't seem like a May launch is likely anymore due to some problems found during testing..though the problems found are relatively minor, they would have to rollback the shuttle to the VAB to repair them.

http://cbsnews.cbs.com/network/news/space/current.html

(only tickets avail for on-site at KSC are dinner with an astronaut, which has launch viewing from the KSC visitor's complex).

This is true, though when I went to the ticket website to view how many more tickets they had in stock, the link to buy the tickets for that package leads to nowhere, which why I am guessing that it isn't sold out yet. The tickets to view the launch from the causeway sold out the first day they went on sale and it took a few weeks to sell out the other tickets.

[ikarei]

FYI for the May Launch, looks like NASA has decided to do a rollback of the shuttle to the VAB and the launch will be delayed to July:

http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-04-29T011837Z_01_N28124854_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-SPACE-SHUTTLE-DC.XML

Bummer, I was really looking forward to seeing it soon! Good thing I did not have plans set in stone.

[trypnotic]

That's a huge bummer! I was hoping to see it on the pad :( I had decided to do the up-close tour but maybe I should wait for another time?? Unless I'd get to see the shuttle bits in the VAB - it'd still be pretty neat.

Again, its a bummer that they're delaying the launch but we certainly don't want to see another Columbia disaster :(

[mulanrouge]

Does anyone know how long of a drive it is from Orlando to KSC? Just wondering how much time to schedule for driving there. Thanks

[keishashadow]

FYI, target launch date for shuttle now July 13, with window thru July 31st. Tickets to view launch still available as per e-mail I received from KSC today.

[ikarei]

Does anyone know how long of a drive it is from Orlando to KSC? Just wondering how much time to schedule for driving there. Thanks

About 45 minutes to 1 hour

FYI, target launch date for shuttle now July 13, with window thru July 31st. Tickets to view launch still available as per e-mail I received from KSC today.

It looks like all the tickets to view from the visitors center are sold out. They now put out a new ticket package to view from the Astronaut Hall of Fame.

http://www.ksctickets.com/kennedyspacecenter/ltt.html

[snod911]

If anyone has any maximum access launch tickets that they can't use for sale, I'm interested in 2. I'm checking now to find out whether they're transferable. Please let me know if you're interested in selling any. Thanks!

John

[gjw007]

If anyone has any maximum access launch tickets that they can't use for sale, I'm interested in 2. I'm checking now to find out whether they're transferable. Please let me know if you're interested in selling any. Thanks!

John

I sent you an email.

[Trish100]

Honestly, do you need to be really into space and stuff to enjoy KSC? I have to admit I'm not all that fussed on going but I have a sneaky feeling in the back of my mind that I might be missing out. Anyone who wasn't a space fan been and enjoyed it more than they thought they would??

[trypnotic]

mispost

[trypnotic]

Honestly, do you need to be really into space and stuff to enjoy KSC? I have to admit I'm not all that fussed on going but I have a sneaky feeling in the back of my mind that I might be missing out. Anyone who wasn't a space fan been and enjoyed it more than they thought they would??
I'll have to let you know about my wifes experience after we get back. She's not very at all interested in going. We'll be there on May 9.

[strmtroopr96]

Honestly, do you need to be really into space and stuff to enjoy KSC? I have to admit I'm not all that fussed on going but I have a sneaky feeling in the back of my mind that I might be missing out. Anyone who wasn't a space fan been and enjoyed it more than they thought they would??


:wizard: I went about 10 years ago with my Mom. It was a spur of the moment trip while vacationing at WDW. It was great!! :goodvibes I want to go back one day to see more. There is just so much to see.

:wizard: What prompted me to go was the fact that one of the astronauts lost on the Challenger was from our small hometown. It was such a great and interesting day trip! :flower: Rebecca

[dreams4disney]

We are thinking of visiting Kennedy Space Center when we visit Fl in June. Our boy's will be 10,8,6, and almost 3. Will turn 3 about two weeks after our trip. Do you think it wil be to much for our youngest? Is there an age limit? I really want my older boy's to be able to visit I know they would love it but I am not sure if it would be to much for the baby. Any thoughts?

[ikarei]

That's a huge bummer! I was hoping to see it on the pad :( I had decided to do the up-close tour but maybe I should wait for another time?? Unless I'd get to see the shuttle bits in the VAB - it'd still be pretty neat.

They have not set a rollback date to the VAB yet and they want to do a lot of work on the pad, so it may still be there when you visit or you could be lucky enough to see it rollback to the VAB. I know that they are waiting for some things to arrive and conduct the test launch countdown first, so it will be there at least until May 6th.

[Aevalin]

How much were the maximum access tickets going for ?
:confused3
I wonder what the odds are of tickets going on sale now that the launch date has changed and some people aren't able to go?

[leebee]

Well...DH learned today that there is a new grant, he'll have funding for another year with a substantial raise, AND the shuttle launch is postponed so I won't have to take DD out of school. YEEEHAH! It looks like we'll get to "return to flight" after all! Sorry to celebrate when so many of you are diasppointed, but we sooooo wanted to go, especially after seeing the Columbia launch and then the awful aftermath. I am psyched!

Regarding taking a 3yo to KSC, I would say that as long as he can be reasonably quiet during the bus trip so others can hear the tourguide, you should be fine. Every 3 seats or so there are TV monitors so you can hear the tour. At the visitor's center, the observation gantry, and the saturn V hall there is plenty of space for him to roam thru and investigate, so I think he'd be fine.

[ikarei]

That's a huge bummer! I was hoping to see it on the pad :( I had decided to do the up-close tour but maybe I should wait for another time?? Unless I'd get to see the shuttle bits in the VAB - it'd still be pretty neat.

The shuttle will be on the pad when you go, May 9th. They aren't going to be rolling back to the VAB until probably later next week. Hope that helps, might want to inquire when you get there.

[jennz]

Love this post! DD, 7, has a challenge from school to become a "space expert" and she's very excited about and has been doing a lot of research. We'll be in Orlando 5/28 - 6/11 and are planning a trip to Kennedy. I was going to enroll her in space camp but decided against it - next year if she wants to.

I'm trying to decide about lunch with an astronaut - has anyone done this?

Thanks!!

[golfgal]

Love this post! DD, 7, has a challenge from school to become a "space expert" and she's very excited about and has been doing a lot of research. We'll be in Orlando 5/28 - 6/11 and are planning a trip to Kennedy. I was going to enroll her in space camp but decided against it - next year if she wants to.

I'm trying to decide about lunch with an astronaut - has anyone done this?

Thanks!!

I would like to know about Lunch with an Astronaut, too. We are thinking about doing that as well. I can't decide if we should go on a Sunday or Monday in June. Will it make a difference in crowd level? Does anyone know?