Children's Museums
Space Shuttle Atlantis
📍 405 Nasa Pkwy W, Merritt Island, FL 32953🕐 Hours
| Monday | 9 AM–5 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 9 AM–5 PM |
| Wednesday | 9 AM–5 PM |
| Thursday | 9 AM–5 PM |
| Friday | 9 AM–5 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–5 PM |
| Sunday | 9 AM–5 PM |
Quick Facts
- Attraction
- Space Shuttle Atlantis
- Type
- Science Center
- Best For
- All ages
- Highlights
- 60+ interactive exhibits, shuttle simulators, spacewalk simulators, re-entry slide
- Shuttle Stats
- 33 flights, 126 million miles, 4,848 orbits (1985-2011)
💡 Did You Know?
- Space Shuttle Atlantis is displayed at a 43.21-degree angle with payload doors open and Canadarm extended, allowing visitors to experience the spacecraft from all angles in a way never before possible in a museum setting
- The exhibition features interactive displays exploring all 135 Space Shuttle missions ever flown, making it a comprehensive archive of the entire shuttle program's history
- The Space Shuttle Atlantis building includes a Forever Remembered memorial dedicated to the 14 astronauts lost in the STS-51L Challenger and STS-107 Columbia disasters
- The attraction features 60+ interactive and immersive exhibits including shuttle piloting simulators with docking and landing scenarios, spacewalk simulators, and a re-entry slide experience
- Visitors can walk barefoot between mockup ISS modules (Destiny and Unity), providing an immersive hands-on experience of International Space Station environments
💬 What Visitors Say
- Save the Space Shuttle Atlantis building for last in your Kennedy Space Center visit - its massive scale and comprehensive exhibits wrap up the experience perfectly and leave a lasting impression
- Plan to spend at least 3-4 hours in this building alone. Visitors consistently report arriving with limited time but staying much longer than expected due to the extensive interactive exhibits and 135 mission displays
- Don't skip the upper gallery next to Atlantis - it contains crucial interactive mission exploration stations and provides different angles to experience the shuttle that many visitors miss
- Prioritize the re-entry slide experience and shuttle piloting simulators early in your visit, as these hands-on interactive exhibits tend to draw crowds throughout the day
- Check the daily astronaut meet-and-greet schedule when you arrive - retired astronauts touring the facility provide insider knowledge and stories that significantly enhance the educational experience
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