Space News
space history and artifacts articles

Messages
space history discussion forums

Sightings
worldwide astronaut appearances

Resources
selected space history documents

  collectSPACE: Messages
  Space Places
  KSC Visitor Complex: KSC Up-Close Explore Tour

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   KSC Visitor Complex: KSC Up-Close Explore Tour
Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 02-20-2014 07:01 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Beginning Feb. 24, 2014 and taking the place of the former KSC Up-Close Mega Tour (ending Feb. 23), the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has announced the new KSC Up-Close Explore Tour.
KSC Up-Close Explore Tour

Experience the space program's past and future on the KSC Up-Close Explore Tour, where visitors get an insider's view of Kennedy Space Center's role in space exploration.

Led by a trained space expert, the KSC Up-Close Explore Tour includes views of launch pads, the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and the Shuttle Landing Facility. The tour stops in between the Kennedy Space Center launch pads for a close-up photo opportunity, in front of the VAB, and on the NASA Causeway where guests are awarded a panoramic view of rocket launch sites at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Along the way, visitors see other space program icons including the countdown clock at NASA's Press Site, a mobile launcher used to move Apollo moon rockets and space shuttles to the launch pad, and the Operations and Checkout building, the departure point for astronauts traveling to the launch pad on the day of their mission.

All of this, as well as Kennedy Space Center's amazing ecosystem full of wildlife, make the KSC Up-Close Explore Tour the perfect way to experience the history and exciting future of space exploration.

This bus tour concludes at the Apollo/Saturn V Center.

Tour Length: 2 hours

KSC Up-Close Explore Tour Cost

  • Adults: $25 per person, plus tax, in addition to daily admission
  • Children (age 3 - 11): $19 person, plus tax, in addition to daily admission

p51
Member

Posts: 1642
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted 02-20-2014 09:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for p51   Click Here to Email p51     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'm glad to hear this as I was going to miss all the other tours when I go again this fall, but this sounds like a slightly-expanded version of the normal tour. They mention 'views' of things but the only stop that the normal bus tour doesn't make and it appears to take you is somewhere near the 39 area. I'll take the tour, no question, but the description doesn't feel like a replacement for the other tours that are being stopped this month...

pupnik
Member

Posts: 114
From: Maryland
Registered: Jan 2014

posted 02-20-2014 04:57 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for pupnik     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'll be down there in a week and a half. I'll try to make this one and report back on it.

sts205cdr
Member

Posts: 649
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Jun 2001

posted 02-20-2014 08:16 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for sts205cdr   Click Here to Email sts205cdr     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Lee, let's definitely check this out for our KSC visit!

pupnik
Member

Posts: 114
From: Maryland
Registered: Jan 2014

posted 03-08-2014 07:03 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for pupnik     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I took it the past week. We drove out onto the Banana River causeway and had a stop at the viewing area just on the otherside of the bridge where all the unmanned launch sites were pointed out. Drove back up and along the crawlerway, around 39A and stopped at an old generator bunker along the beach roughly between the two pads. Then drove around 39B and back down the crawlerway stopping outside the fence for the VAB. Then drove to the runway at the control tower, although this wasn't a stop and the bus only drove through the parking lot there and back out, and then on to the Saturn V center. This will become the prime tour once the launch pad and firing room tours end.

Speaking of which... I also took the pad tour which several guides think may end as soon as this month. It all depends when the pad is handed over. Took the LCC tour as well and I'm not sure how much longer that may last as they are still working on the room (the horseshoes are all gone). I guess it could still be a tour even if all the fixtures are removed.

Chariot412
Member

Posts: 156
From: Lockport, NY, 14094
Registered: Jun 2011

posted 03-08-2014 09:47 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Chariot412   Click Here to Email Chariot412     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Ironically, I took the Launch Control tour yesterday. It was a $25 add on. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and a wonderful speaker. Over the last 38 years, I've toured most of the add-on sights, but never the Launch Control Rooms. I really enjoyed it. We also stopped by pad 39A and a few other spots. Better tour than I thought it would be.

MrSpace86
Member

Posts: 1618
From: Gardner, KS, USA
Registered: Feb 2003

posted 09-11-2014 10:21 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for MrSpace86   Click Here to Email MrSpace86     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I will be visiting Kennedy Space Center and have not been there since 2007. What is the best tour, in your opinion, that would upgrade my view of KSC and would provide a great experience to a person that has never been there?

Editor's note: Threads merged.

4allmankind
Member

Posts: 1043
From: Dallas
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 09-11-2014 12:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for 4allmankind   Click Here to Email 4allmankind     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'd vote for the Then & Now. I'm always hearing rumors that it will be the next to expire so I keep opting to take it year after year and have never been disappointed (other than the odd tour guide once or twice).

This is assuming you are a Mercury, Gemini and Apollo fan.

If your primary interest is shuttle, I doubt you could go wrong with either option.

Ronpur
Member

Posts: 1211
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012

posted 09-11-2014 10:52 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ronpur   Click Here to Email Ronpur     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I love the Then and Now tour as well, but I never did get to take the LCC Tour or the new tour they have. I took the Mega Tour last year and getting inside the VAB was amazing, but it has been discontinued.

If possible, try to spend more than one day. The tours take a lot of time and you will want to just sit and stare at Atlantis for hours!

MrSpace86
Member

Posts: 1618
From: Gardner, KS, USA
Registered: Feb 2003

posted 09-25-2014 03:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for MrSpace86   Click Here to Email MrSpace86     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I guess I have another quick question: anything I should keep an eye out for? What I mean by that is if there are any "hidden" artifacts or cool things that most tourists miss or things the guides don't mention. Filed Guide to American Spacecraft just highlights the actual spacecraft but wondered if there was anything else that I could keep an eye out for? Thanks!

JasonB
Member

Posts: 1091
From:
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 11-05-2014 08:44 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for JasonB   Click Here to Email JasonB     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Is there any way to see the crew quarters and the walk out area? I took this tour a couple years ago and they simply droce by it without stopping and said "There it is!". I'd love to see the inside or at leasr the walk out area but assumed maybe that's not possible? Thanks.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 11-05-2014 08:49 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The general public, and historically with only a few exceptions, the media, are not allowed in the crew quarters. I'm not aware of a tour that views the doorway used for crew walkouts.

p51
Member

Posts: 1642
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted 11-05-2014 10:52 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for p51   Click Here to Email p51     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I took both this and the LCC tour when I was there in October. If you take the LCC tour, you pretty much get the same sights for the most part. The only difference was we got to see the stuff over on the USAF side and saw the Orion Test Flight stack being assembled, from across the river.

All times are CT (US)

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:

Contact Us | The Source for Space History & Artifacts

Copyright 2020 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved.


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47a





advertisement