It had probably been 30 or so years since we last visited Kennedy Space Center, and wow have things changed there.  Whenever it was, the shuttles were still flying and the visitor center consisted of just a few buildings with basic exhibits and some people in space suits walking around.

Since then, the facilities have been expanded greatly.  KSC has gotten their own space shuttle – Atlantis – housed in an amazing building complete with a shuttle launch simulator, replica of the Hubble telescope and play area for kids.  It’s a real multimedia attraction and very popular.  After watching an introductory video on a nearly 360 degree screen, the screen opens to “reveal” Atlantis in her in-orbit configuration, complete with open cargo bay doors and robotic arm extended.

For me the highlight, other than Atlantis, was the Apollo/Saturn V Center, dedicated to the race to the moon in the 70s.  The Apollo era was the height of my space geekness, having been a little young for the Mercury era, interested and impressed by the Gemini period then fully engrossed during the Apollo era.  For some reason I don’t remember much about Apollo 13 but do remember the Christmas greetings from Apollo 8 and staying up all night to watch Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon.  And the Apollo/Saturn V Center captures that history in all its glory.

Getting to the Apollo/Saturn V Center requires a bus ride with reservations required but not available to make until you are on site. We arrived early enough to get an early time, spent several hours there including lunch, then returned to the main part of the center to visit Atlantis and the Heroes and Legends exhibit which includes the Astronaut Hall of Fame.  The bus ride goes past the humongus Vehicle Assembly Building, where the Saturn V rockets and the space shuttles were assembled and which is still used today.

We spent the better part of the day at the space center and barely had time to see everything.  In fact, we didn’t get to the IMAX movie or several of the smaller exhibits.  They recommend two days for a visit, which may be a bit much for most, but I could see it.  It is definitely worth the time for anyone passing through the area.

After the space center it was on to Port Canaveral for a night before our cruise!

I’ve added a gallery of more photos from Kennedy Space Center on my Adobe Portfolio website.