Progress continues on Space Shuttle Atlantis SM, opening on June 29, 2013. Atlantis had been enclosed in 16,000 square feet of protective plastic shrink wrap since its Nov. 2, 2013 move from Kennedy Space Center to the Visitor Complex and into the 90,000-square-foot attraction, which has been under construction for 15 months. On April 26, 2013, the Kennedy Space Center unwrapped Atlantis space shuttle from the protective shrink wrap. The payload bay doors will be opened next, a process estimated to take three to four weeks.
For parents who want their kids to do something during summer break, Camp Kennedy Space Center day camp provides young people with a week of space activities. Camp KSC campers are encouraged to pursue science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) through educational activities. Participants can experience and interact through space shuttle mission simulations, tours of Kennedy Space Center and the chance to witness firsthand the daily routine of astronauts. Camps run weekly from June 10 through Aug. 5, 2013.
Visitors can also experience the lift-off of a 191-foot-tall Atlas V rocket as it launches into the sky on May 15, 2013 during a launch window of 5:39 to 5:58 p.m. ET at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
Veteran NASA astronauts will also meet with visitors at Astronaut Encounter:
• Space Shuttle Astronaut Mark Lee, May 2
• Space Shuttle Astronaut Wendy Lawrence, May 3-9
• Space Shuttle Astronaut Bruce Melnick, May 10-11
• J.R. Reilly, May 12-15
For more information, visit www.KennedySpaceCenter.com.