The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is the visitor center at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center just a short car ride away from Orlando in Brevard County on Florida’s Space Coast on Merritt Island, Florida. It makes for a fun afternoon with the family and kids – especially most recently with the debut of the Gateway Deep Space Launch Complex and a limited time Artemis Mission Manual Scavenger Hunt.
For those who don’t know – KSC features exhibits and displays, historic spacecraft and memorabilia, shows, two IMAX theaters, and a range of bus tours of the spaceport. The “Space Shuttle Atlantis” exhibit contains the Atlantis orbiter and the Shuttle Launch Experience, a simulated ride into space. The center also provides astronaut training experiences, including a multi-axial chair and Mars Base simulator.[ The visitor complex also has daily presentations from a veteran NASA astronaut. A bus tour, included with admission, encompasses the separate Apollo/Saturn V Center.
Guests can also see real flight-flown space hardware, as well as mock-ups of equipment that will be used for the Artemis missions in the recently opened, all-new Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex. Objects include:
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- LIFE Habitat Cut-Away, a scale model of a habitat designed for four to 12 crew members for long-duration space missions
- Lockheed Martin Space Habitat, a full-scale mockup of what a habitat orbiting the Moon can look like can be explored.
- A scale model of the NASA SLS Rocket that will launch the Artemis 1 mission
- Flight-flown Orion EFT-1 capsule. The Orion spacecraft will play a key role in NASA’s Artemis missions.
The final weekend of the month-long Artemis Mission Manual Scavenger Hunt, August 5 – 7, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will host an Artemis Block Party celebration complete with street performers, DJ dance parties, and fun activities.
For more information about the Artemis adventures available this summer at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, visit https://www.
Read on to find out more about the scavenger hunt and the new exhibit from KSC:
Artemis Mission Manual Scavenger Hunt
Jul 01, 2022 – Aug 07, 2022
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
The Artemis mission manual has returned to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Start your adventure during your next visit! Explore the visitor complex and stop at six Artemis-themed education stations. There, you will see a QR code that will scan on your mobile device to view a short video. With the information found in the video, answer the related question found in the book. Each station is custom created for a segment of NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions: Explore Ground Systems, Space Launch System, Orion, Lunar Landers, Gateway, and Artemis Generation Spacesuits. Once you answer the question, place the appropriate sticker on the map to show you completed that station.
After you visit all six stations, return to Information or Space Shop on your way out to collect a prize! (It’s a neat pin!)
The Artemis Exploration Stations can be found in the following attractions:
HEROES AND LEGENDS
JOURNEY TO MARS
PLANET PLAY
OUTSIDE LEGO® BUILD TO LAUNCH (PREVIOUSLY CALLED NASA NOW)
SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS®
APOLLO/SATURN V CENTER, ACCESSIBLE VIA THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER BUS TOUR
This unique activity book can be collected at Information and Guest Services and is included with admission.
GATEWAY: THE DEEP SPACE LAUNCH COMPLEX
This bold new attraction explores the future of space travel while highlighting what is happening right now in the space program. First, see the spacecraft of today and the visionary designs paving the way of human deep space travel and discover the current cutting-edge space exploration innovations from NASA and commercial partners. Then, enter the spaceport of the future, Spaceport KSC. With your commander steering the path, launch aboard one of four unique journeys through the solar system and beyond during an immersive ride.
Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex models and artifacts include:
Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10 Upper-stage Rocket Engine
Boeing Crew Space Transporation-100 Starliner Mock-Up Capsule (full-scale engineering model)
Boeing Spacesuit
Boeing Starliner Simulator (full-scale model)
LIFE Habitat Cut-Away (scale model)
Lockheed Martin Space Habitat (full-scale mockup)
NASA Space Launch System (SLS) rocket (scale model)
Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 Capsule (flight flown)
Orion Heatshield Tiles
Sierra Space Dream Chaser (full-scale model)
Sierra Space Shooting Star (full-scale model)
SpaceX Cargo Dragon COTS-2 (flight flown)
SpaceX Falcon 9 booster, officially known as Booster B1023 (flight flown)
United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket (scale model)
United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket (scale model)
Of course we had to visit the Orbit Cafe to try some lunch – nice Cuban sandwiches, spring mix salad, and pizza!
Definitely a fun time for the whole family!
