After the space shuttle Atlantis has made its final launch two years ago, it is now being placed as a main attraction at the luxurious Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
The complex which took 18 months of construction before completion has finally opened its facilities to the curious public on Saturday. It’s a $100 million worth of privately-funded complex and is built especially to be the Atlantis shuttle’s retirement haven. Upon entering the complex, you already get that orbit-flying feeling with the ship’s tilting façade that measures 43.21 degrees.
In the past, it was only the astronauts who have enjoyed the spectacular feeling that one gets while doing a spacewalk or viewing the vastness of the universe from the space station Mir in Russia or from simply the window panels of the International Space Station.
Now, tourists and space enthusiasts can share the same feeling at the admired Visitor Complex as they are allowed to gain a standard admission in the facility. So far, there were a total of 33 flights, 4,848 orbits and 125,935,769 miles that were made in a span of 307 days that it hovered inside the massive location.
The Atlantis space shuttle appears like it is still voyaging in the universe which is made more realistic by a huge LED television display found at its rear.
The display would be showing breathtaking views of Earth, orbital sunrise, and dancing auroras.
Other attractions of the 90,000 sq. ft. facility include a replica of the external fuel tank which stands 184 feet, solid rocket boosters, pre-theater shows, a life-like Hubble Space Telescope, special theatre, 60 interactive displays, and a duplicate of the International Space Station area’s toilet and treadmill which named after Stephen Colbert, a television comedian.
Guests can also check out other attractions such as the ‘Forever Remembered’ wall, the Vehicle Assembly Building, and a steep slide that copies a returning shuttle’s re-entry slope.
The huge complex brings a truly immersive experience and allows the public to have a real sense of space exploration. This is one spot on Earth that one shouldn’t miss in his lifetime.
