Question about Kennedy Space Center late arrival, and a free tour tip

[GetGlowing]

Not sure how widely known this tour is ... a friend and I are scheduled to take this tour next week mainly for access to the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse.

Free tours are offered of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station every Wednesday & Thursday.

Copied from their information page at
http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-110909-079.pdf

The three-hour tour includes a visit to the Air Force Space and Missile Museum, active and retired launch pads, and the historic Cape Canaveral Lighthouse. The tour begins at 9 a.m. at the History Center of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Participants should meet at the AF Space and Missile History Center no later than 8:30 a.m. for check-in and security checks. Reservations are highly encouraged and seating is limited, walk-ins will be accommodated if seating permits. Bus and most facilities are NOT handicapped accessible. Tours are subject to cancellation due to mission requirements.

I have been to KSC many times, but my friend has not. This Cape Canaveral Air Force Station tour sounds like it covers many of the same types of sites that a KSC tour would (launch pads & rockets), except this is more unmanned space flight, whereas KSC focuses on manned missions. Also, you don't get to see the Saturn V rocket or shuttle launch sites (aren't both the Shuttle launch pads dismantled now?)

So my question is, after this Cape Canaveral Air Force Station tour & lunch, we wouldn't arrive at KSC until probably 2:00. I know the last KSC tour bus departs ~2:45. That being the case, would we even have time to get off the bus at any of the stops to see the sites and exhibits? Or would it be a whirlwind tour? My inclination is to skip KSC and save the $40/pp for just a couple hours of time there.

The last time I visited, much of KSC was free to visit and browse. I understand that you can't see much now without paying for the tour. Is that the case? What can you see without taking the tour?

Thanks!!

 

[DCTooTall]

It sounds like the "free Tour" covers a lot of the stuff in the "Then and Now" tour from the KSC Visitor's complex. Basically, a Tour of the Cape Canaveral AFB facilities.

Depending on how much time you have to spend in the area, You might also want to consider getting the AP for the KSC. It's only $58 (vs $45 for a single day) and you can get discounts on merch purchased there, as well as the KSC: Up Close and Personal tour if you wanted to do that one as well. (The tour that takes you to the VAB and the Shuttle/Saturn V pads). You can also upgrade to the AP if you find you wanted to do more than your 1/2 day allowed.


Oh... and the Shuttle pads are still technically there. The only thing is they have been pretty much returned to their original Apollo Era configuration. (The "Sound Suppression System" from the Shuttle Era is still intact, and they've added Several Lightning rods around the perimeter of the launchpad). During Apollo the entire launch stack including Tower were brought to the pad via the Crawlers. With the Shuttle they cannibalized portions of the old Apollo Launch Towers to create the Fixed Service Structure / Launch Tower as a fixed structure at the pads with the Crawlers only bringing the Shuttle from the VAB.

 

[GetGlowing]

Thanks. I do know that the KSC "Then & Now" tour covers part of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. I like the free option better.

We sailed on the Dream last September and noticed the lightening rods up around the launch pads. Spent a while discussing them. I don't follow NASA current affairs very closely, I'm afraid.

Per the KSC website, they have a special offer for $50 annual passes now through Dec. 31. It's a great deal, but we'll only be there the one day.

Somewhere, at my parents house, there are photos from our 1981-ish visit. The first Shuttle on the launch pad, only a few weeks away from its maiden flight. I've been a couple times since then, but that's my favorite memory. Never got to see a launch, though.

 

[DCTooTall]

I never got to see the shuttle go up either. I do remember getting to watch a Titan go up once while on Cocoa Beach as a kid though.

Honestly... for only $5 more than the one day pass, it might be worth it just for the merch discounts.

And don't feel bad. The only reason I know as much about the current pad status and the tours is because I spent a couple days down there last November when they first opened up the VAB for tours. It was the first time it had been opened to the public in my lifetime. (last time it was opened was between the Apollo program and Shuttle program, and it was then closed since 77) I just had to make sure I got a chance to see inside that sucker since there was no telling how long it would be tourable and if Id ever get to do it again