free tickets to Kennedy Space Center

[ALSBC91]

I'm all for free stuff, with a family of 5 I'm REALLY ok with free stuff...just something to keep in mind.... KSC is funded from those ticket sales.


Q. Why is there a charge at the KSC Visitor Complex?
A. The KSC Visitor Complex is not tax supported. It is self-sufficient, funded entirely through visitor revenues, and operated for NASA by Delaware North Park Services of Spaceport (DNPSS) as a commercially viable enterprise that enables the telling of the NASA story without cost to the taxpayer.

 

[Tammyepolytinkfan]

I e-mailed my senators office in Jan for June tickets and just received word back That NASA does not have enough complmentary tickes for June. I am so disappointed. It would have saved me quite a bit of money for my family. I think NASA is cutting back on cost and not as many free tickets available.Or none at all.

 

[dbarker]

what became of this? we are in Texas too, how do you find your congressmens email?

Where in Texas are you? Your "Location" says New York.

 

[dbarker]

I contacted my congressman back in July. The last e-mail from his office indicated they were looking into it.

Fastforward to November....my congressman got voted out of office.

I received a phone call from the new congressman's office a couple of weeks ago. They are going to look into getting us tickets to NASA.

We'll see what happens.

 

[MTmomma]

Just got email confirmation today from Denny Rheburgs office in MT, we requested for a weekday visit during the last week of may (before memorial day weekend obviously)

 

[tdmathews]

Sent our request two weeks ago. Someone from his office called to get all of our full names, but have not yet heard. She told me to email her again in two weeks. Our request is for an August midweek day.

 

[HallsofVA]

Just sent my request for August off to my Congressman. We'll see what comes of it!

 

[Fab5Family]

My parents are joining us on this trip, so there will be seven of us in total.

We only live about 30 miles apart, but we are in different congressional districts. So I wrote to our congressman requesting 4 tickets and my dad wrote to his requesting 3 tickets.

He has heard back that they did receive tickets, but we are still waiting. Hopefully this will come through for us, but if not we appreciate the passes we received and will just purchase tickets for the rest of our group.

Our family has previously toured the Johnson Space Center in Houston (multiple times) and the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. With his fascination with space exploration, I know that my oldest DS will equate a trip to Kennedy as completing the "Triple Crown."

 

[ranidayz]

I got the good word today that we have received our passes..or will get them on our requested tour date in May! I am SO glad I read about this. We will really enjoy this tour! This is what the email said..in case anyone needs the exact wording or contact info:

Dear Congresswomen,

Complimentary Maximum Access Tickets have been reserved for a tour of the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Visitor Complex for XXXX (dates of tour/our names have been removed)

Tickets may be picked up at the KSC Group Sales Office (located at KSC’s Visitor Center [Spaceport USA]) any time after 9:00 a.m. on the day of the tour. The Center opens at 9:00 a.m. The bus tours begin running at 9:45 a.m., and run every 15 minutes. Tour passes will be held at the Visitor Center and should be picked up as soon as possible, but no later than 2:00 p.m., to ensure that the constituents do not miss the tour. If constituents are unable to attend on scheduled day, please contact me to cancel this request. These tickets include:

• Admission to the Main Complex, including all exhibits and shows
• Bus tour, which includes the LC-39 Observation Gantry, International Space Station Center and the Apollo Saturn V Center
• Opportunity to see both IMAX Movies (i.e., Space Station 3D and Magnificent Desolation 3D)
• Visit to the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, which includes the museum of personal artifacts and interactive activity floor simulators
• Tickets are valid for two days of admission (must be used within 7 days of first use).

An interactive map of the KSC Visitor Center Complex can be found at the following Internet site: http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/html/ksc_vc.htm.

Sincerely,
Matthew Pilasky
NASA Headquarters
Office of Legislative & Intergovernmental Affairs
Outreach & Intergovernmental Affairs Division
202-358-1639 (office)

didn't this also used to include lunch with an astronaut? not complaining, just wondering....

 

[TexasDreamer]

didn't this also used to include lunch with an astronaut? not complaining, just wondering....

No, that is extra. Around $20 I think

We were just at KSC with our comp tickets this past weekend. There is a lot to see and do. We spend part of 2 days there and still didn't see everything. We got to see the shuttle launch from the ship so then my DS was super interested in everything NASA.

Good luck everyone with getting the tickets!

 

[birkner]

No, that is extra. Around $20 I think

We were just at KSC with our comp tickets this past weekend. There is a lot to see and do. We spend part of 2 days there and still didn't see everything. We got to see the shuttle launch from the ship so then my DS was super interested in everything NASA.

Good luck everyone with getting the tickets!

I wasn't aware you could purchase the lunch with an Astronaut tickets separate without purchasing an admission package. I believe it is about $68 PP for adults, about $39 PP(3-11)if you prepay over the internet and that includes the lunch. Does anyone know for sure if you can buy the lunch separate?

 

[TexasDreamer]

I wasn't aware you could purchase the lunch with an Astronaut tickets separate without purchasing an admission package. I believe it is about $68 PP for adults, about $39 PP(3-11)if you prepay over the internet and that includes the lunch. Does anyone know for sure if you can buy the lunch separate?

You are right. I didn't clarify myself very well. The regular adult admission $40ish with the lunch it is the $68 so $28 more. Since we had comp tickets I didn't pay too much attention to all the prices and we wouldn't have had time for the special lunch anyway (the bus tour alone is about 2 hours). Don't know if you can purchase the add-on lunch to a comp ticket or not.

 

[birkner]

You are right. I didn't clarify myself very well. The regular adult admission $40ish with the lunch it is the $68 so $28 more. Since we had comp tickets I didn't pay too much attention to all the prices and we wouldn't have had time for the special lunch anyway (the bus tour alone is about 2 hours). Don't know if you can purchase the add-on lunch to a comp ticket or not.

We did the opposite. GK's and rest of us did the lunch with the astronaut the first day and the second day we went back and did the tours. Highlight for us was the lunch and interaction with the astronaut.

 

[jacksmomma]

I emailed my congressman a few weeks ago and got an email back 2 days ago saying launch tickets had already been distributed (for the next launch), completely not what I had asked for. I very polietly clearified my request, we will see what they come back with. I hope we get comp. tickets, that will mean more money I can spend the the gift shop! My little astronaut has already picked out a flight jacket and space pack backpack.

 

[Princess Bette]

I have e-mailed my congressman in North Alabama tonight for tickets for our family of 3. I will let you all know how it turns out!

It has been a month now and I have not heard a word from my congressman...should I try to call him or email him again?

 

[jajomo0118]

This is my letter I sent the other day. I hope it is clear cut and directs what is needed/wanted. It would be great to get free passes.

____________________________________________________________

Subject: Complimentary passes to visit the Kennedy Space Center.

Message:
Dear Congressman Critz,

First off Thank You for your public service to the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Secondly I am aware that via your NASA liaison that NASA does offer constituents complimentary passes to visit the Kennedy Space Center (up to 4 people) through their Members offices and that requests should be submitted up to six months in advance of requested tour date.

My contact name is: ****************
Address: *************************

4 adults (2 parents, 14 and 15 year old sons)

Tour date of: November 5th 2011

Thank you for any help in this matter as it would be greatly appreciated and enjoyed by my family.

Sincerely, Christa *******

 

[ICMDGO]

Received an e-mail from one of my senators that it was against "ethics" to give away free tickets ?????

Good thing we have 2 senators, I'm going to try again with the other one.

 

[TexasDreamer]

Received an e-mail from one of my senators that it was against "ethics" to give away free tickets ?????

 

[TexasDreamer]

Just thought I'd consolidate some of the info throughout this thread. Comp tickets are available but they are very limited.

To get the Complimentary Tickets for KSC:

1. Contact your Senator/Congressman at about 6 months out.
2. If your congressman is unaware of the program, have them contact the NASA liaison office in Wash DC.
3. You should be notified at about 4 months out if the tickets are available. We didn't hear ANYTHING in the interim.
4. Good luck and have fun!

 

[Fab5Family]

I think the speed of reply may vary greatly from one congressman's office to the next.

My parents are traveling with us, and even though we live fairly close to each other we are in different congressional districts. I submitted my request to our office a few weeks before they did -- yet they received their confirmation of tickets about two weeks before we did. (So really a one month difference in response time.)

Regardless of the wait time, we are happy to have the tickets. I just wanted to let you know that some offices may have this a little more stream-lined than others. My parents' congressman was also listed earlier in this thread as one who had secured tickets before (I think it might have been you, Texas Dreamer) so that may have paved the way for them, since I did get the back and forth from my congressman's office trying to clarify what it was I was asking for.