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New Space Shuttle Atlantis Exhibit at Kennedy Space Center

Please welcome back guest author Jessica Floria:

atlantis-ksc-entrance

Words cannot describe the feelings that encompass you when experiencing the new Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit at Kennedy Space Center for the first time, or even the second or third time. More than 10 companies were responsible for bringing this exhibit to life. From construction of the building, moving the shuttle in and tilting it to the right angle to the cinematic pre-shows, simulators and overall lighting and sound of the building these companies worked closely together for more than a year to perfect their one common goal; presenting the story of Atlantis and displaying it with the honor it deserves. When asked what each company was most proud of, representatives of the companies did not state their role in the exhibit. Instead each glowed and gestured towards Atlantis.

atlantis-ksc-exhibit

Guest begin their experience by walking underneath a full scale, 184 foot tall, replica of the shuttle’s external tank and two solid rocket boosters. Once inside the building guests are taken into the pre-show area for two cinematic and multimedia productions that show the journey of Atlantis, from a paper shuttle to the extraordinary orbiter it became. After the two shows, Atlantis looms before you in all of its beauty and wonder. Suspended in air at a 43.21 degree angle with its payload bay doors open and its Canadarm out ready to work, guests get views of the shuttle only seen before in space. Read More »New Space Shuttle Atlantis Exhibit at Kennedy Space Center

Endeavour Space Shuttle Takes Final Flight over Disneyland

Earlier today NASA’s Space Shuttle Endeavour completed the last leg of its cross-nation tour with a low altitude flight over a few Southern California landmarks, including the world famous Disneyland Resort. Mounted atop a specially designed NASA Boeing 747 plane for its “Ferry Flight” the… Read More »Endeavour Space Shuttle Takes Final Flight over Disneyland

Video of Final Flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour Soaring over Walt Disney World

A bit of history was made in Central Florida today. The Space Shuttle Endeavour launched from the Space Coast one last time. Although it was perched aboard a specially built NASA 747, it looked just as majestic and inspiring as it always has. Before heading… Read More »Video of Final Flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour Soaring over Walt Disney World

KSC Tour Now Has Rare Access to Nasa’s Historic Launch Control Center

For the first time in over 30 years, NASA is permitting Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex guests to tour the Launch Control Center – where NASA directors and engineers supervised all of the 152 launches for the space shuttle and Apollo programs. Anyone who has ever dreamed of being an astronaut or felt hope upon seeing a rocket launch should add this unique opportunity to their schedule when visiting Central Florida.

The KSC Up-Close: Launch Control Center (LCC) Tour, the second in Kennedy Space Center’s special 50th anniversary series of rare-access tours, takes visitors inside Firing Room 4, one of the LCC’s four firing rooms and the one from which all 21 space shuttle launches since 2006 were controlled.

Giant Mural inside LCC Lobby

Inside Firing Room 4, visitors pass by the computer consoles at which engineers monitored the computerized launch control system’s thousands of system checks every minute leading up to launch. They’ll see the main launch countdown clock and many large video monitors on the walls, and enter the “bubble room,” with its wall of interior windows through which the Kennedy Space Center management team viewed all of the proceedings below.

Read More »KSC Tour Now Has Rare Access to Nasa’s Historic Launch Control Center

Mickey Welcomes NASA Astronauts to The Disney Studios for Special Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Screening

Walt Disney’s fascination with outer space has been evident since the 1955 Disneyland episode “Man In Space” and the X1 attraction at Disneyland. So it’s nice to see Disney keep up the tradition with a special space themed Mickey Mouse Clubhouse special.

Yesterday, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse welcomed NASA astronauts Chris Ferguson, Doug Hurley, Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim to The Disney Studios in Burbank, CA where they greeted kids from the East Los Angeles Boys & Girls Club and gave a special presentation on their final space shuttle mission before the kids enjoyed a preview screening of Disney Junior’s new “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Space Adventure” special premiering on Disney Channel Monday, September 12.

More photos below the jump:

Read More »Mickey Welcomes NASA Astronauts to The Disney Studios for Special Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Screening

Buzz Lightyear takes Space Shuttle to Infinity and Beyond

Buzz LightyearBuzz Lightyear’s dream of going “to infinity and beyond” will finally come true this weekend when Disney Parks and NASA send the 12-inch-tall action figure to space aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-124 launching from Kennedy Space Center on May 31 at 5:02 p.m. ET (subject to schedule changes).

The launch coincides with the opening of Toy Story Midway Mania at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s new “edu-tainment” program the “Space Ranger Education Series”. Disney, Pixar and NASA have teamed up to get school children excited about the sciences. The series, hosted at www.nasa.gov, will be available throughout 2008.

The folks at Disney are deservedly proud of this achievement. I’ve received this story from four separate sources at the Mouse House. It’s a pretty great program and hopefully will inspire many of today’s students to become tomorrow’s scientists.

A short video schools can use to highlight the program and the full press release is below the cut:

Read More »Buzz Lightyear takes Space Shuttle to Infinity and Beyond