A 10th Anniversary Celebration of Space Shuttle Atlantis

Kennedy Space Center in Florida offers a spectacular space-filled day out, as well as hosting various exciting events throughout the year. This month is the 10th anniversary of the last flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis and the Space Center will be celebrating this milestone on 8th July.

Special guests are turning up for the 10th anniversary for a live, in-person presentation underneath the orbiter. These special guests will be NASA astronauts who flew on Atlantis and will answer questions submitted by the public, so Kennedy visitors can hear firsthand their mission memories. You can send questions to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #Atlantis10.

The final flight of the Space Shuttle Program on 8th July 2011, concluded a program expanding more than three decades. Space Shuttle Atlantis became a part of many important and exciting missions, including Hubble Space Telescope and the International Space Station, as well as transporting astronauts to space and back. It is famous for the large number of satellites it launched into space.

Space Shuttle Atlantis Exhibit at Kennedy Space Center

A whole zone has been dedicated to Space Shuttle Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center, which is now the permanent home to the orbiter. Since arriving at the Space Center in 2012, guests have been in awe as they get a close-up view of Atlantis. It is one of three space-flown shuttles displayed in the United States and is presented as only astronauts would have seen her in space - rotated 43.21 degrees with payload bay doors open, as if it were floating in space.

Within the Space Shuttle zone at Kennedy there are more than 60 interactive exhibits, including touch-screen experiences and high-tech simulators bringing to life the people, passion and patriotism behind NASA’s 30-year Space Shuttle Program. Here's a few of the exhibits, which you won't want to miss:

• Astronaut Training Simulators: Learn about the essential functions of a Space Shuttle flight and get an insight into how astronauts train in using the complex systems and components. You’ll get a chance to pilot Atlantis within this high-tech simulator, including docking with the International Space Station and landing at Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility.

• Shuttle Launch Experience: This simulator puts you in the shoes of an astronaut to experience the sights, sounds and sensations of blasting off into space aboard the space shuttle! Upon entering you will receive a prelaunch briefing by veteran space shuttle commander Charles Bolden, before the eight-and-a-half minute ascent into orbit.

• Hubble Telescope Theater: The Hubble Space Telescope has been operating in space for more than 25 years, answering some of the most basic questions about the universe. In this show, learn about the successes, setbacks and spinoffs of Hubble, as well as a close-up look at the configuration of the telescope and its solar arrays. Visitors can also view an exact replica of the Hubble Space Telescope, which is suspended between two stories of the Space Shuttle Atlantis attraction.

Kennedy Space Center provides a fun day out in Florida for all the family, as well as being educational. If you’re looking for more educational activities in Orlando for children, take a read of our previous blog, which should give you lots of ideas for your holiday in the Sunshine State.

Image credits: Kennedy Space Center website