On Friday, May 29, 2015, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex broke ground on a new attraction designed to touch the hearts and minds of the next generation of space explorers –Heroes and Legends, featuring the U. S. Astronaut Hall of Fame®.
Opening in 2016, Heroes and Legends will not only bring to life the enthralling stories of America’s pioneering astronauts, but also invite guests to vicariously experience the thrills and dangers of America’s earliest missions.
The highlight of the experience is a 3D omni-directional theater, designed to make guests feel as though they are floating in the vastness of space. Stunning images will envelope them from every direction, as legendary astronauts including Alan Shepard, John Glenn, Jim Lovell and Neil Armstrong invite them to join in their epic journeys into the vast unknown.
Early space artifacts from the Mercury and Gemini programs, such as the original Mercury Mission Control room, will be brought to life by high-tech, interactive show elements and special effects, including simulated holograms and augmented reality. Inside the new U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, guests may get to know each of the 91 heroes and legendary astronauts who have been inducted through 2015.
Ultimately, the stories of NASA’s space heroes will resonate with guests as they find parallels in their own challenges and triumphs.
Transforming the space previously occupied by Early Space Exploration, the new Heroes and Legends, will be incorporated into the Rocket Garden, giving guests a new and elevated perspective of the towering collection of historic rockets.
Check back for more updates on Heroes and Legends, featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, opening 2016 at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.