Cape Kennedy Space Center is located on Merritt Island, near Cape Canaveral, Florida. It is the mid point between Jacksonville to the north and Miami to the south. The property is the space vehicle launch facility for NASA and a wild life sanctuary for a variety of native species.

The facility was originally called the Launch Operations Center. It was renamed for President John F. Kennedy after his assassination in 1963. There is a lot to see when you visit the Space Center. There are museums, two IMAX theaters and a variety of other attractions.

Things to See at Cape Kennedy Space Center

A bus tour is included in the price of admission. The tours take you closer to the restricted areas. You will see the launch pads for the space shuttle. Other things to see on the tour include the vehicle assembly building and Apollo/Saturn V Center. The budding astronauts in your family will love this tour. Tours depart every fifteen minutes from the Visitors Complex.

Other tours are available at an additional cost. The NASA Up Close tour is very popular and tends to sell out many days of the year. If you want to take this tour, consider making a reservation in advance. This tour gives the closest view possible to the Space Shuttle launch pad. The Cape Canaveral Then and Now tour allows you to see the first satellite launched into space. You will see some of the active rocket program and the Air Fore Space and Missile museum.

The Visitors Complex is where you will start your tour of the center. There are a variety of exhibits and shows here. You will see the past, present and future plans for our space program. There is memorabilia from the early days of space exploration. You will see a capsule from the Gemini program on display.

For more history of the space program, visit the Rocket Garden. This is an outdoor display of unused missiles and rockets from all phases of the space program. There are real test rockets and replicas. The garden is home to a full size replica of the space shuttle. You can walk through this replica and get a feel for how the astronauts spend their time in the shuttle.

Consider visiting the center during a shuttle launch. You can find launch information on NASA’s website. There is nothing like seeing the blast off in person. If you are in the area during a scheduled launch time, you won’t want to miss this. Be aware that schedules frequently change due to weather or mechanical issues.

Meeting Astronauts at Cape Kennedy Space Center

There are a few opportunities to see and meet real astronauts during your visit to the center. The Astronaut encounter is a very popular attraction. You will get to see and listen to stories told by a real NASA astronaut. They tell of their experiences in the program and take questions from the audience.

If you want more interaction with an astronaut, consider having lunch with an astronaut. You will get to meet an astronaut and hear stories of space exploration while enjoying a meal. Autographs are signed during lunch. You will need a reservation for this, as it is a very popular feature. This is offered daily at lunch time. For true space nuts, this is the highlight of the day.