Space Shuttle Atlantis, Merritt Island

Pretty impressive exhibit. Really enjoyed the video about history of shuttle design and creation. Atlantis is the centerpiece of the exhibit along with displays of the elements of the shuttle such as cockpit, engine and even toilet. Exhibit has a touching tribute to the crews of 2 perished shuttles. Really enlightening experience.

Great experience at the Kennedy Space Center! This is located at the northeast corner of the Kennedy Space Visitor complex. It is just north of the bus drop-off and east of the outdoor memorial. It is hard to miss since it has the Space shuttle External tank and solid rocket boosters standing outside the front of it. This building has many exciting features for visitors to see. It has an introductory movie experience, a real space shuttle, interactive experiences, a slide for kids, a shuttle simulator, a memorial, and a gift shop. The visuals throughout the building are very well done. The introductory preshow that explains how the shuttle idea started is very well done and explains the challenges that the idea went through to become a reality. It leads to a novel viewing experience that leads out into the large bay where the real shuttle is displayed with bay doors open and robotic arm outstretched. We took the guided tour that was available and Bart did a wonderful job of explaining details about the shuttle program and the shuttle. We chose to pay our respects in the memorial to the Columbia and Challenger Shuttle astronauts that are located on the bottom floor next to the exit. Overall, this is a must-see at the Space Center complex.