| Student group travelers should plan on spending a | | | | and land every NASA Space Shuttle. |
| day exploring this fascinating attraction where | | | | Using the madcap antics of Professor Pruvitt and his |
| exhibits and inspiring shows immerse them in the | | | | wacky colleagues, "Mad Mission to Mars 2025" |
| past, present, and future of the space program. | | | | transforms students into the world of an astronaut |
| Exploration of NASA's launch headquarters covers an | | | | trainee. The show includes hands-on fun and 3-D |
| amazing area that includes towering launch pads, | | | | computer animation as guests take an educational |
| huge rockets, history-making technology, and vast | | | | voyage through the cosmos. |
| stretches of Florida wildlife. | | | | The Space Mirror Memorial, designated as a national |
| For a deeper experience into the operations of the | | | | memorial in 1991, honors the 24 U.S. Astronauts who |
| Kennedy Space Center, student group travelers | | | | gave their lives for space exploration. Emblazoned on |
| should join the NASA Up-Close Tour or The Cape | | | | the monument's black granite surface are the names |
| Canaveral: Then & Now Tour. The Up-Close Tour | | | | of fallen astronauts from Columbia, Challenger, and |
| examines how the space shuttle is assembled and | | | | Apollo, as well as astronauts involved in training and |
| where astronauts prepare and train for their missions. | | | | commercial airplane accidents. The names on the |
| During the tour, students visit the Kennedy Space | | | | Space Mirror Memorial appear as if to be projected |
| Center's headquarters, and get the closest view | | | | into the heavens. |
| possible of the Space Shuttle launch pads. Visitors | | | | In the Astronaut Hall of Fame, student group |
| also visit the Shuttle Landing Facility and NASA's | | | | travelers can live the human side of space exploration |
| gigantic Crawler Transporters. | | | | in the Astronaut Adventure room, with an interactive |
| Paving the way for today's space exploration, the | | | | experience that provides a taste of space, including |
| Cape Canaveral: Then and Now Tour takes students | | | | the G-Force Trainer that allows students to feel the |
| back in time to the original sites of the Mercury, | | | | pressure of four times the force of gravity. In the |
| Gemini and Apollo programs. Visitors relive the launch | | | | Hall of Heroes, visitors become acquainted with those |
| of America's first satellite at the Air Force Space and | | | | astronauts inducted into the Hall of Fame. |
| Missile Museum. Other stops include the launch pad | | | | One of the most popular programs at the Kennedy |
| complex where astronaut Alan Shepard began | | | | Space Center is "Lunch with an Astronaut." The |
| America's first human spaceflight, as well as the | | | | program provides students with a one-of-a-kind |
| Apollo Launch Pad 34, the site of the tragic Apollo 1 | | | | experience to meet a member of NASA's Astronaut |
| fire. | | | | Corps and get their autograph. Held once daily, |
| The Kennedy Space Center Tour, departing every 15 | | | | astronauts share personal stories while guests enjoy |
| minutes from the Visitor Complex, takes students to | | | | a delicious meal. Past participating astronauts have |
| the International Space Station Center, a fascinating | | | | included John Glenn, Jim Lovell, and Jon McBride. |
| facility that offers a glimpse into the actual structure | | | | Additionally, each day at the Visitor Complex, guests |
| where NASA prepares components for the | | | | have a unique opportunity to meet a member of |
| International Space Station. The Habitation Module | | | | NASA's Astronaut Corps. The daily briefings allow |
| contains facilities similar to those that space station | | | | time for guest interaction and an answer and |
| crew members use for living, sleeping, and working. | | | | question period. |
| An elevated observation room overlooks the actual | | | | The newest Kennedy Space Center attraction, the |
| processing bay where each space station component | | | | Shuttle Launch Experience, stimulates a journey of |
| is checked out, processed, and readied for its trip | | | | the space shuttle's rush to earth's orbit. Visitor crew |
| into space. Also included on the tour is a visit to the | | | | members are guided by veteran Space Shuttle |
| LC 39 Observation Gantry, a 60-foot-tall complex | | | | Commander Charlie Bolden as he takes them through |
| that provides 360-degree views of the two giant | | | | the launch sequence. As video screens spring to life, |
| Shuttle Launch Pads. A theater presentation and | | | | sound and lighting effects dramatize the moments |
| interactive room at the gantry's base provide a | | | | before the launch. |
| behind-the-scenes briefing on what it takes to launch | | | | |