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Associated Press
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Summer 2025 Special Events and Deals at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
A Season of Authentic Experiences, Historic Celebrations, and Bundled Savings at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex CAPE CANAVERAL, NJ, UNITED STATES, June 2, 2025 / / -- This summer, guests are invited to Discover Something Real at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, where the original stories, legendary artifacts, and immersive experiences offer an authentic journey into the past, present, and future of space exploration. From June through August, visitors will experience a season of stellar savings, exciting events, and extraordinary encounters – all while exploring the original universe. Bundle and Save From June 2 through August 17, guests can enjoy a delicious deal, receiving $10 off regular, one-day adult or child admission with the purchase of a $20 meal voucher, redeemable at Orbit Cafe and Moonrock Cafe. Available for pre-purchase through the Call Center and online from June 2 through August 17, 2025, all tickets must be redeemed on or before Sunday, December 14, 2025. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit A Summer of Real Space Adventures Throughout the summer, a robust lineup of themed events will bring space to life in exciting and engaging ways: • Astronaut Week: June 9–15 Where else on Earth is there the chance to meet a real astronaut every day? During Astronaut Week at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, visitors will have a blast with all things astronauts, including the chance to win prizes during Astronaut Trivia and Astronaut Bingo and hands-on kids' activities under Space Shuttle Atlantis. The daily Astronaut Encounter engages participants with captivating tales shared directly by the inspirational space explorers who have journeyed beyond our atmosphere. And last but not least, guests can capture the moment with selfies and autographs. All Astronaut Week events are included with Admission. For more information, visit • July Fourth Weekend Activities: July 4–7 Celebrate Independence Day with classic games like mini golf, cornhole, and giant Four-in-a- Row at the Atlantis Pavilion. • Moon Fest/Vintage Chic Days: July 18–20 Celebrate the 56th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing in retro style! Apollo 11 launched on July 16, 1969, then landed on July 20 on the moon and splashed down on July 24. During the weekend of July 18 – 20 guests can celebrate Apollo 11 in their finest vintage threads during Moon Fest 2025. Whether a seasoned space enthusiast or a curious explorer, Moon Fest 2025 promises an unforgettable experience for all ages. Weekend activities will include: o Performances by The Vocalists, a period acapella group, and Astro and Orbit, a space comedy duo o 'Apollo to Artemis' presentations from a Visitor Complex expert o An Apollo 11 short film o Photo ops with the lunar rover at Apollo/Saturn V Center o Crafts for kids, such as creating tin foil hats and splashdown capsules For additional information, visit • Discovery Day: July 26 Commemorate the 20th anniversary of the STS-114 mission, the shuttle program's triumphant return to space. o Hear firsthand accounts from astronauts, Mike Mullane, Bruce Melnick, William 'Bill' Shepherd and Tony Antonelli, who flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery (location TBD) o Explore Atlantis and learn about the Shuttle Program • Aviation Weekend: August 1–3 Soar into the world of aeronautics beneath one of the most famous gliders in history, Space Shuttle Atlantis®, during Aviation Weekend. Visitors will have the chance to meet with engineers, designers, and pilots, color their own NASA aircraft, and stop by a special photo booth to get their own pilot picture. In addition, a special showing of 'Blue Angels 3D' will air in the IMAX® theater daily from August 1-8. (Check the daily schedule for show times.) Also not to be missed: Tales from the Flight Deck, during which astronauts and pilots join a special panel discussion to talk about their careers in the aviation industry. Guests will be able to ask questions and panel participants will be available for photo ops post-event. The weekend will also feature a solar-powered DJ block party outside Space Shuttle Atlantis with games and music from noon to 4 p.m. daily. For more information, visit • Kennedy Under the Stars: August 30, 6:30–10 p.m. Kennedy Under the Stars, a celestial after-hours experience at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, returns on August 30, 2025. For a perfect end to Summer, the visitor complex is turning back the clock 25 years for some Y2K nostalgia. Participants can look forward to: o Video DJ in the Rocket Garden, featuring the best early 2000s music videos o Techno DJ dance party that will light up NASA Central o Cosmic Glow Miniature Golf beneath the massive Saturn 1B rocket o Multisensory science experiments with the innovative STEAM Team o Glowing bar and lounge areas o The chance to mingle with veteran NASA astronauts o Live entertainment throughout the night Guests can also join the Ortega Observatory of Florida Tech for a journey through the cosmos, using state-of-the-art telescopes, to witness breathtaking views of celestial wonders while hearing fascinating insights. This immersive stargazing experience brings the universe closer, sparking curiosity and wonder for all ages. In addition, several visitor complex top attractions will remain open, providing extra time to explore without daytime crowds. Tickets, which will go on sale June 5, are $65 plus tax for all ages. To purchase tickets and learn more information, visit About Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Go beyond imagination and into something real at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Get up-close to real flight flown artifacts, meet a veteran NASA astronaut, feel the rumble of a rocket launch and so much more. Just 45 minutes from Orlando, Fla., Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex opens daily at 9 a.m. with closing times varying by season. The popular, two-day ticket, which can be used for up to six months from purchase and averages a cost of less than $45 per day, is now available for $89 per adult and $79 per child. Single-day admission is $75 per adult, $65 per child. For more information, call 877-313-2610 or visit Liz Feldman KO Public Afffairs +1 443-683-0917 [email protected] Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook YouTube X Other Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Two NASA astronauts inducted into U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, one preparing for Axiom launch
Two veteran astronauts were inducted May 31 into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame — and one of them had to miss the induction ceremony as she's preparing to launch on yet another mission. Organized by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, the annual ceremony was held under Space Shuttle Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The new inductees are Bernard Harris and Peggy Whitson, bringing the total number of astronauts in the Hall of Fame to 111. Harris flew on two space shuttle missions. He served as mission specialist on STS-55 and as payload commander on STS-63, accumulating 438 hours in space. During his second mission in 1995, Harris became the first African American to perform a spacewalk. Harris was 13 years old when inspired by the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969. While astronauts at that time were traditionally white test pilots, it did not stop Harris from dreaming. "I had that black-and-white television that I talked about - I could turn one channel and see some of the greatest accomplishments of human beings at that time, and then turn the channel and see Blacks fighting for their right to vote, or to exist depending depending on what part of the country they were in," Harris told FLORIDA TODAY. "I decided if I didn't see someone like me, I'd be the first." It would be nearly another decade before African Americans and even women became astronauts. As for being the first African American to perform a spacewalk, Harris told FLORIDA TODAY that while he had already become an astronaut, being the first in this regard was not even on his mind. "As a mission specialist, an aspiration for me was to do a spacewalk," said Harris. Going into his second mission, he did not even have a spacewalk assigned until into the mission. Harris was thrilled to not only perform a spacewalk, but helping to set the foundations for the ISS. "In truth, I didn't know I was the first African American until I got back inside and I got the call from President Clinton," said Harris. "The EVA (spacewalk) didn't scare me as much as 'now I got to talk to the president'," said Harris. Being an astronaut is not the only thing on Harris' list of accomplishments. He's also served as a research scientist and flight surgeon. According to the Visitor Complex's website, Harris conducted research on how the human body adapts to space, leading to the development of in-flight medical devices which assist astronauts with lengthy trips to space. Harris also founded the Harris Foundation, which works to ensure students from all backgrounds receive quality education. He also is involved in numerous education initiatives. As for Whitson, Harris had positive words for her. "I'm really honored to be inducted with her. She is a remarkable person," Harris told the crowd at the Visitor Complex. Whitson had to miss Saturday's ceremony as she's currently in pre-mission quarantine with her three other crewmates. She's preparing to fly to space for the seventh time. However, a prerecorded video was presented during her recognition, during which Whitson spoke of growing up on a farm in rural Iowa and being inspired by the moon landing. "Since there were no female astronauts at the time at the lunar landing, I focused my efforts on making enough money for flying lessons," said Whitson. After graduating with her Ph.D. in Biochemistry, and the space shuttle flying astronauts of all backgrounds, Whitson applied to become a NASA astronaut. It took Whitson four times of applying before she was finally selected in 1996 - yet the wait paid off as she went on to shatter records with NASA and now Axiom Space. Already, Whitson holds the record for the most time accumulated in space by an American astronaut — 675 days. On June 8, she is set to command the Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station. Whitson will lift off in a SpaceX Crew Dragon atop a Falcon 9 rocket. Axiom Space is a private company which has sent three previous multinational missions to the ISS. The company is working to build the space station which will replace NASA's ISS when it retires no earlier than 2030. Whitson's previous missions include STS-111, Expedition 5, STS-113, Expedition 16, Expedition 50/51/52, and Axiom Mission 2 in 2023. Whitson joined Axiom Space after retiring from NASA in 2018. According to the Visitor Complex's website, Whitson has served as NASA's Chief of the Astronaut Office, twice as Commander of the ISS, Chair of NASA's Astronaut Selection Board, NASA Operations Branch Chief, NASA Deputy Division Chief for both Medical Sciences and the Astronaut Office, and co-chair of the US/Russian Mission Science Working Group. When is the next Florida launch? Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, Axiom, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral To get named to the Astronaut Hall of Fame, here are the basic requirements the candidates must meet: Their first flight was at least 15 years before the induction. The last day eligible for a NASA flight assignment was at least five years before the candidate's nomination. Candidate must be a U.S. citizen. The candidate must have served as a NASA-trained space shuttle commander, pilot, mission specialist, International Space Station commander, or flight engineer. The candidate must have orbited Earth at least once. Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@ or on X: @brookeofstars. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Two astronauts inducted into U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Kennedy Space Center inducts two into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame
The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation has revealed the 2025 inductees to the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Veteran NASA astronauts Bernard Harris and Peggy Whitson will join the 109 astronauts already in the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Both Harris and Whitson extended their careers with NASA after their time as astronauts, with Harris dedicating 10 years and Whitson 37 years. Currently, Harris is involved in the venture capital sector, while Whitson pursues her passion for space and exploration as an astronaut and the director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space. The U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame welcomes two exceptional and trailblazing veterans of the space program who contributed significantly to NASA's mission and and Whitson continue to serve as exemplary role models in their post-NASA careers. What a tremendous honor to induct them into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Curt Brown, Astronaut Scholarship Foundation Chairman Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Overnight SpaceX rocket launch in Florida. What time is Cape Canaveral liftoff, what to know
A rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, is on the horizon — and when this 'so Florida' thing occurs, it's very Instagram-worthy. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will potentially launch a batch of Starlink satellites. Though rockets here blast off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, people beyond the Space Coast can sometimes see this phenomenon. Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, a rocket launch from Florida's Space Coast could be visible from Jacksonville Beach and Daytona Beach to Vero Beach and West Palm Beach (see videos and photo gallery with this story). When there's a launch window in the middle of the night or very early morning, there's an opportunity for unique photos — the rocket lights up the dark sky and the contrail after makes for a great photo. Below is more information on rocket launches in Florida and suggestions on where to watch them. Rocket launch tally: Here's a list of all 2025 missions from Cape Canaveral, Florida (psst, there's a lot) For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Rick Neale at rneale@ or Space Reporter Brooke Edwards at bedwards@ For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit Mission: SpaceX will launch the next batch of Starlink internet satellites, a National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency navigational warning shows. Launch window: 12:57 a.m. to 5:28 a.m. EDT Monday, June 2, 2025 Launch location: Launch complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida Trajectory: Southeast Live coverage starts 90 minutes before liftoff at : You can watch live rocket launch coverage from USA TODAY Network's Space Team, which consists of FLORIDA TODAY space reporters Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards and visuals journalists Craig Bailey, Malcolm Denemark and Tim Shortt. Our Space Team will provide up-to-the-minute updates in a mobile-friendly live blog, complete with a countdown clock, at starting 90 minutes before liftoff. You can download the free FLORIDA TODAY app, which is available in the App Store or Google Play, or type into your browser. Tom Cruise and untitled SpaceX project: 'Mission: Impossible' star who lives in Florida may shoot a film in outer space Shown is the National Weather Service-Melbourne radar, which shows conditions in real-time for the Space Coast, Brevard County, Orlando and other parts of Florida. The current date and time show up on the bottom right of this radar embed; otherwise, you may need to clear your cache. Pretty much anywhere in Brevard, you'll get a view of the rocket launch − in certain areas, you can get an amazing view of SpaceX rocket boosters returning to the pads. The best view to watch a rocket launch from the Space Coast is along the beach. However, visibility will depend on weather conditions and people should make sure not to block traffic or rights of way on bridges and to follow posted rules at beaches. If you are viewing the launch along the Indian River in Titusville from Space View Park or Parrish Park, look east directly across the river. If you are farther south along the Indian River, look northeast. Playalinda Beach or Canaveral National Seashore is the closest spot to view liftoff because it is almost parallel to Launch Pad 39A. On the beach, look south along the coastline, (you can even see the pad from some spots). Some hotspots to check out: Jetty Park Beach and Pier, 400 Jetty Park Road, Port Canaveral. Note, there's a charge to park. Playalinda Beach, 1000 Playalinda Beach Road, Canaveral National Seashore. Note, there's a charge to park, and access to Canaveral National Seashore isn't always granted depending on capacity and time of day. Max Brewer Bridge and Parrish Park, 1 A. Max Brewer Memorial Parkway, Titusville. Note, parking is available on both sides of Max Brewer Bridge. Space View Park, 8 Broad St., Titusville Sand Point Park, 10 E. Max Brewer Causeway, Titusville Rotary Riverfront Park, 4141 S. Washington Ave., Titusville Riverfront Park at Cocoa Village, 401 Riveredge Blvd., Cocoa (just before State Road 520 Causeway) Cocoa Village, near the parks and shops or near the docks Various parks on Merritt Island Rotary Park, 1899 S. Courtenay Parkway, Merritt Island Kiwanis Park on Kiwanis Island Park Road on Merritt Island Port Canaveral, with ships from Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean at port Alan Shepard Park, 299 E. Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach. Note, there could be parking costs. Cocoa Beach Pier, 401 Meade Ave. Parking fee varies. Lori Wilson Park, 1400 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Lori Wilson Park has a dog park, by the way. Sidney Fischer Park, 2200 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Note, there could be parking costs. Downtown Cocoa Beach, along Minutemen Causeway Tables Beach, 197 SR A1A, Satellite Beach The Tides on SR A1A in Satellite Beach Various parks, including the Pelican Beach Clubhouse, in Satellite Beach Pineda Causeway Eau Gallie Causeway Front Street Park near Melbourne (U.S. 192) Causeway and U.S. 1 in Melbourne Indialantic boardwalk at Melbourne Causeway and SR A1A Paradise Beach Park, aka Howard Futch Park, 2301 SR A1A, Melbourne (this is a beachside park) Sebastian Inlet Park, 9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach (there is a cost to enter) This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Florida SpaceX rocket launch: What time is liftoff from Cape Canaveral
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
321 Launch: Space news you may have missed over the past week (May 26)
Scrub recap: Live updates from the rare SpaceX rocket abort on Monday, May 19 from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 40. With just over two-and-a-half minutes to go, SpaceX saw an auto abort Monday night. The Falcon 9 first stage is brand new, however a reason was not provided for that auto abort. SpaceX states the payload and rocket are in good condition. The next launch opportunity is 11:18 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20. Read the full story here. Launch recap: Live updates from the Starlink 12-15 mission, which launched at 11:19 p.m. on May 20 from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40. Read the full story here. A SpaceX Falcon 9 booster with a clean slate took to the sky Tuesday night, as it lofted a batch of internet satellites to orbit. The mission was referred to as Starlink 12-15, and was the latest set of 23 SpaceX Starlink satellites. Starlink provides internet service to customers in some of the most remote places on Earth. Read the full story here. NASA, with the urging of many politicians, has been racing to get astronauts back to the moon — before the Chinese land taikonauts on the lunar surface. But what's the rush to return to a place the United States has already been and left 53 years ago? Especially when Mars looms as an enticing option for interplanetary travel. Read the full story here. An undisclosed aerospace company wants to invest $247 million establishing a major development near NASA's Kennedy Space Center, creating about 1,000 jobs "at industry average wages," a Space Florida memo shows. This mystery company is identified as the secretive Project Beep in Space Florida agenda materials, and only scant details have been publicly released. Read the full story here. In a Memorial Day weekend liftoff, SpaceX is targeting the sunny afternoon of Saturday, May 24, to launch another Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, per the Federal Aviation Administration. The 4½-hour launch window will extend from 1:19 p.m. to 5:50 p.m. SpaceX has yet to publicly confirm this Starlink 12-22 mission or announce a target liftoff time. Read the full story here. With rocket launches on the rise, Cape Canaveral condominium resident Lilian Myers worries that window-clattering liftoffs may already be inflicting structural damages to her fourth-floor condo and surrounding 35-unit building. Looking ahead, SpaceX seeks to increase annual Falcon 9 rocket launches from 50 to 120 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station alone. And soon, SpaceX will bring massive Starship rockets and Super Heavy boosters — the most powerful rocket system in history — to Florida's Space Coast. Read the full story here. Launch recap: Scroll down to review live updates from the Saturday, May 24, liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral on the Starlink 12-22 mission. Read the full story here. A Texas brewery known as Starbase Brewing is expanding onto the Space Coast, and Brevard residents can now get a taste of what the brewer hopes will someday be the first beer on Mars. Nate Argroves, who founded the brewery, has high future hopes for the product, aiming to get it onboard SpaceX's Starship en route to Mars someday. But for now, the brewery is focused on entering the first market outside of its homebase in Texas. And, of course, that market is Cape Canaveral. Read the full story here. A future pair of modular buildings for STARCOM personnel is slated for construction at Patrick Space Force Base in a grassy field west of The Tides Collocated Club, environmental permitting records show. STARCOM — or Space Training and Readiness Command Headquarters — is in the midst of moving to Patrick from its former home at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs. Read the full story here. For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit Another easy way: Click here to sign up for our weekly Space newsletter. Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at Rneale@ Twitter/X: @RickNeale1 Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: 321 Launch: Space news you may have missed over the past week (May 26)
