| Entertainment |
| Friday, 28 June 2013 10:50 |
By Peter Covino
Lifestyles Editor
The Kennedy Space Center has got itself an “E” ticket attraction.
In the competitive world of theme parks, with Harry Potter at Universal, and Disney’s New Fantasyland grabbing all the headlines, how does the home to America’s space program compete? They bring in the Space Shuttle Atlantis.
Years in the making, this new “theater” setting for Atlantis is as dramatic as it is breathtaking. And as of this weekend, it is open to everyone.
Atlantis is the focal point of a $100 million, 90,000-square-foot attraction containing four multimate media and cinematic productions and more than 60 interactive experiences. But the thing you will remember, is that first view of Atlantis, floating in the sky, so close, you can almost touch it.
Central Floridians are fortunate. There are only three space shuttles on exhibit in the world and the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is one of those places.
Shimmering in orange and gold, just lke the fiery glow of Atlantis’ reentry into the atmosphere, the giant building housing Atlantis can be see looming in the distance, long before you reach the gate to the space center.
At the entrance, guests are greeted by a full-scale, 184-foot-tall vertical replica of the space shuttle’s external tank and two solid rocket boosters.
Inside, there is, as every theme park fan expects, the preshow. This one is an informative look at the 30-year space shuttle program and the thousands who made the five space-flown shuttles — Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour possible.
Finally, the screen disappears and in one of the most dramatic reveals you will ever see, the Atlantis appears, and it is the real thing.
Even former NASA Astronaut James Reilly, who flew in Atlantis and has logged more than 853 hours in space, including 5 spacewalks was amazed at the dramatic setting. Reilly and other astronsauts will also be on hand Saturday for the public grand-opening of the new attraction.
“It is really impressive,” said Reilly.
The astronaut said he was particulary moved when he first looked up and saw the sun rise across a giant screen that helps with the illusion that Atlantis is still up there, flying in space.
“It really brought back memories,” of an Atlantis spacewalk where Reilly said he actually had the time to look up at the Earth as Atlanis orbitted around the slowly spinning planet.
The actual orbital experiene takes about every 90 minutes in space, but in the Atlantis theater, is is recreated every 12 minutes of the 20-by-110-foot LED backdrop to the spacecraft.
It is almost a 360-degree look at Atlantis as visitors can view the shuttle from above and winding downward, from below as well.
The view of Atlantis is one that only an astronaut in space would have had, Atlantis tilted on its side, its payload bay doors open and robotic arm extended as if it had just undocked from the International Space Station.
Walking down the ramp, the underside view shows in detail, the burned tiles from Atlantis’s reentry into the atmosphere.
Earlier this week, when some center visitors were surprpised with a sneak preview of Atlantis, it was already mission accomplished for Tim Macy, the director of development and construction for the massive project.
“I knew what we did was working when I heard a kid say this morning, ‘I didn’t know space could be so cool.’”
In addition to the the dramatic centerpiece, Atlantis itself, guests can find hours of exhibits and hands-on things to do including:
The International Space Station Gallery where guests can climb aboard a replica of the ISS modules and experience the sensation of floating in space.
The Shuttle Launch Experience where guests can get vertical and experience the sights and sounds of a space shuttle launch.
The Astronaut Training Simulators, another place where future astronauts can try out their skills in areas such as landing the orbiter and docking to the ISS.
And the Re-Entry Zone where visitors can see if they have what it takes to land the orbiter as a high speed glider, creating sonic booms.
As with all attractions, a good ending includes a gift shop and the Shuttle Express Gift Shop does not disappoint with lots of unique items from t-shirts and snow globes to scale models of Atlantis.
Astronaut Reilly was kind of whistful looking at Atlantis in its new permanent home.
“It’s bittersweet,” he said.
Atlantis was built to fly 100 missions, but when it was decided to cut short the shuttle missions, Atlantis had only flown 33 times.
But Reilly is hopefully the Atlantis exhibit will be an inspiration for all Americans to go back to space, particularly youngsters.
The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has a full slate of activities scheduled to today (Saturday) for the grand opening, scheduled for 9:30 a.m.
Other grand opening highlights include:
*An Orion Command Module and Service Module atop a KAMAG industrial transporter. Orion has been designated as NASA’s multi-purpose crew vehicle for deep space missions.
*A 1:3 scale model of the Sierra Nevada Dream Chaser, a concept being tested by Sierra Nevada Corp. based on NASA designs. Once ready, Dream Chaser will carry up to seven people to the International Space Station. It will launch vertically upon an Atlas V Rocket and then, like the space shuttle orbiter, land on a runway horizontally.
*A Space X Merlin engine, which powers the Falcon 1 first stage. The engine was developed internally at Space X using concepts and designs from the Apollo program for the Lunar Excursion Module.
Atlantis is included with the regular admission price to the space center.
The complex is open daily at 9 a.m. Admission is $50 plus tax for adults and $40 plus tax for children ages 3-11. The Commander’s Club Annual piss is $63 plus tax for adults and $53 plus tax for children. For more information call 877-313-2610 or visit the website www.kennedyspacecenter.com.
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Friday, 28 June 2013
Atlantis soars again in space. Space Center has stellar attraction with the opening of Atlantis shuttle exhibit
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