Apollo 50^th Anniversary

Our ongoing space journey can be defined by significant eras. That’s why we’ve organized Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex into Mission Zones — grouped attractions and experiences reflecting specific periods of time and achievements. Your journey awaits!

Tales of early space inspire us to reach to the stars and beyond. That’s what you’ll find in this Mission Zone, showcasing the birth of the U.S. Space Program. Enter the exciting new Heroes & Legends experience, which celebrates pioneers of early space who dared to defy gravity. Then, walk among giants in the extraordinary Rocket Garden.

This active launch area has seen some of the most important events in history. Now, we grant you restricted access. Depending on the tour you choose, you can see the launch control center or working launch pads up close. You can even view the site from which we’ll depart for Mars. Bus tour is included with admission, and enhanced experiences are available.

A race to the moon between two world superpowers became an inspiring tale of perseverance, ingenuity and destiny. See the rocket that helped us win the space race — the mighty Saturn V — and feel the emotion of the Apollo era in an immersive, captivating collection of experiences. Prepare to be moved.

Thirty years of dedication brought us to new frontiers of human exploration. Stand within feet of an American icon — the space shuttle Atlantis. Then, prepare for liftoff at the Shuttle Launch Experience®. Full of interactive activities, this Mission Zone really brings NASA's Space Shuttle Program to life. This is a landmark experience, so don’t miss it. 

Understand where we are now and preview where we’re going next. See a breathtaking 3D movie at our IMAX® Theater, then learn about our upcoming missions to the red planet at Journey to Mars: Explorers Wanted. You can even view spacecraft that will launch us into the future, including NASA’s Orion, SpaceX’s Dragon and Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.