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Kennedy Space Center Inducts New Members to Hall of Fame
 Once a year, Kennedy Space Center holds a special event where more than 20 astronauts gather to honor their own, and this year, guests at the Visitors Complex were able to join in on some of that fun. This past Saturday, May 2, at 3 pm, the eighth group of space shuttle astronauts were inducted in to the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, and everyone visiting the Visitors Complex was welcome to help mark the occasion. During the public ceremony, veteran space shuttle astronauts George “Pinky” Nelson, William Shepherd, and Jim Wetherbee joined an elite group of space heroes like Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, Alan Shepard, Sally Ride, and John Young. Each inductee brings his own chapter of space history to the Hall of Fame. Nelson, for example, is one of only six astronauts to fly the Manned Maneuvering Unit untethered in Space, Shepherd is commander of the first crew to live aboard the International Space Station, and Wetherbee is commander of the longest docked shuttle-Mir mission. These new inductees bring the number of space explorers in the Hall of Fame to 73. Attending the ceremony to honor the latest inductees were famous astronauts like Scott Carpenter, Buzz Aldrin, Jim Lovell, Bob Crippen, Al Worden, and Walt Cunningham. And as part of the weekend celebrations, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex featured special bus tours guided by Hall of Fame astronauts such as Cunningham, Robert “Hoot” Gibson, Fred Gregory, and Rick Hauck. In addition, autograph sessions, book signings, and public presentations with Hall of Fame members occurred all weekend long. On Saturday, the first book signing took place from 10:30 am to 11:30 am with Apollo 16 and Hall of Fame Astronaut Charlie Duke; the second took take place from 1 pm to 2 pm with Apollo 13 and Hall of Fame Astronaut Jim Lovell. The astronauts signed their own books (one for each person), which were then available for sale at the Space Shop. Then on Sunday at 10:45 am, 2:45 pm, and 4 pm, there were presentations from John Blaha, five-time space shuttle and Hall of Fame Astronaut. All book signings and presentations took place at the Astronaut Encounter Theater. Admission to the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame induction ceremony was included with admission to the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex, which you can get for discount prices right here at OrlandoFunTickets.com. Labels: Kennedy Space Center, Kennedy Space Center Events
Watch Atlantis Soar into Space at Kennedy Space Center
 The Orlando, Florida area offers some incredible experiences you can not find anywhere else; theme parks adventures at Walt Disney World and Universal Studios are among them, of course, but one of the more incredible ones is viewing a launch at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Launches at the NASA facility are getting rarer and rarer these days, but next month will see a historic launch as the STS-125 Space Shuttle Atlantis gets sent into space in order to service the Hubble Space Telescope. Tickets went on sale April 3 for the launch, which will take place on Tuesday, May 12. The viewing will take place in the main Visitor Complex Rocket Garden. This will be the fourth and final mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope. Veteran astronaut Scott D. Altman will command the mission with Retired Navy Captain Gregory C. Johnson serving as pilot. STS-125’s crew also includes mission specialists John M. Grunsfeld and Michael J. Massimino, as well as first-time space-fliers Andrew J. Feustel, Michael T. Good, and K. Megan McArthur. Upon arriving at the Hubble Telescope, the crew will make various repairs over the course of five back-to-back spacewalks. They’ll install a wide field camera, a spectrograph, a full set of batteries, six new stabilizing gyroscopes, a new fine guidance sensor, new insulation, and they’ll repair two other instruments that are currently inactive. All these measures will keep the telescope in top shape through at least 2014. On the ground, those at Kennedy Space Center will be able to watch from a safe distance as the shuttle goes through its pre-launch procedures, which include the launch platform being drenched with 300,000 gallons of water to protect the orbiter from damage by acoustical energy and rocket exhaust. Then, six seconds before launch, those in the garden will be able to hear and see the main engines ignite and the water on the platform flash into a large amount of steam. If all systems are go, the shuttle will take off, trailing an amazing plume of fire behind it. On launch day, a large video screen at the Rocket Garden will broadcast live NASA TV launch coverage, and there’ll be astronaut appearances and launch briefings as well. For those who plan on seeing the launch, we highly recommend paying a visit to the KSC’s Visitor Complex afterwards. There, guests can put themselves in the shoes of an astronaut inside the space shuttle with the Shuttle Launch Experience. A wild ride that incorporates all the sights, sounds, and sensations of a real space shuttle launch, the experience features astronaut testimonials and a step-by-step recreation of the launch sequence made all the more real with sound and lighting effects and brilliant imagery on video screens. Other great attractions at the KSC include Astronaut Encounter, IMAX Films, the US Astronaut Hall of Fame, tours of the facility, and more. Those wanting to be on hand for Atlantis’ incredible ascent into space can get tickets for the launch on the Kennedy Space Center website. But for tickets to the KSC Visitors Complex, you can save by checking out discount Kennedy Space Center tickets on OrlandoFunTickets.com. Whichever way you go about it, you’ll definitely want to turn your head to the Orlando skies on May 12, and if you’re at Kennedy Space Center on that day, you’ll see a sight you’ll never forget. Labels: Kennedy Space Center, Kennedy Space Center Events
See Angels Soar at Kennedy Space Center Space and Air Show
 Just in time for the 50th birthday of NASA ,earlier this month, the Space and Air Show will be coming to Kennedy Space Center for the second time, hot on the heels of the Kennedy Space Center Fall Concert Series. On November 8th and 9th, aircraft of all shapes and sizes will take to the skies over the NASA Causeway. The show will begin at 12:30 pm and last until 4 pm, and it will feature precision pilots and veteran astronauts performing some of the most incredible aerial stunts to the delight of all. Be sure to catch the Navy’s elite flight demonstration squadron the Blue Angels in action. They will undoubtedly be the stars of the show, as this will be the second time the Angels have ever performed at KSC, their last visit being over 30 years ago. Other highlights of the show will include military aircraft demonstrations by the F-16 Fighting Falcon, a compact, extremely maneuverable multi-role fighter aircraft; the F/A-18 Super Hornet, the nation’s first true strike-fighter capable aircraft; and the A-10 Warthog, a single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft designed exclusively for close air support. There’ll also be a 920th Rescue Wing water rescue demonstration, as well as performances by Mike Goulian, a racer in the Red Bull Air Race World Series, and the Air Force Reserve biplane show. Getting to the show no later than 12 pm is strongly recommended in order to get through security and arrive at the air show site on time. The demonstrations will happen over the north side of the NASA causeway with the shuttle launch pads in the background. Since the causeway is not accessible to private vehicles, visitors will be transported to the viewing site by bus from the Visitors Complex (if you purchase regular KSC admission, transportation to the air show will cost an additional $15 per person). Visitors will catch all the in-air action from an open grassy field, so be sure to bring blankets and collapsible chairs for extra comfort. Beach umbrellas and coolers are not allowed, but food and souvenirs will be sold at the viewing site. And when you’re not having fun watching the skies, there’ll also be aircraft displays and space-related exhibits along the air show viewing area. One of the exhibits includes NASA’s Exploration Experience Trailer featuring a virtual model of the moon. Or, take a ride back to the Kennedy Space Center for the Astronaut Autograph & Memorabilia Show featuring astronauts from the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle programs. Visitors to the KSC will have the opportunity to meet and spend time with astronauts, be guided by an astronaut on a tour of exclusive KSC areas, view special exhibits available only that weekend, and acquire rare astronaut memorabilia at the 6th annual Astronaut Scholarship Foundation Auction. And at the end of the day, visitors can even have dinner and drinks with legendary astronauts at Cocoa Beach. Admission to the Astronaut Autograph Show is additional, and is available in multiple packages for prices ranging from $5 for admission to the show to $350 for the full VIP package. And of course, you can take advantage of all the usual KSC exhibits, rides, and attractions if you haven’t had enough fun at the air show. So grab your discount Kennedy Space Center tickets here at OrlandoFunTickets.com, along with some seat cushions, and get ready for an air spectacular that will knock your socks off – and probably your hat, too. Labels: Kennedy Space Center, Kennedy Space Center Events, Orlando Attractions, Orlando Events, special events
Fall Concert Series at Kennedy Space Center
 Kennedy Space Center is known for many things. It is the home of the NASA Space Shuttle program and one of the only places where humans have been launched into space. It is also the site of the Vehicle Assembly Building, the fourth largest building in the world by volume and the place where the space shuttle is assembled and stored. What Kennedy Space Center may not be known for, however, is music. But that is all about to change with the Fall Concert series at the KSC Visitor Complex, kicking off on October 18th in celebration of NASA’s 50th anniversary celebration. Three acts with hits from the 60's, 70's, and 80's are coming to the iconic Rocket Garden stage of Kennedy Space Center. The live, festival-style, outdoor concert series will feature Survivor, performing on October 18th at 7 pm, The Guess Who, performing on October 25th at 5 pm, and Rick Springfield, performing on November 1st at 5 pm. Survivor is an iconic rock band known for their 80's smash hit “Eye of the Tiger.” Their hits have been featured in classic films such as Rocky III and The Karate Kid. The Guess Who is a superstar Canadian rock band known for hits such as “American Woman” and “These Eyes.” They released a DVD album in 2007, Shakin’ in Las Vegas, which featured four new songs. Rick Springfield is a Grammy award winner and 80's icon who is known for the #1 single “Jessie’s Girl” as well as his role as Dr. Noah Drake on ABC’s daytime soap General Hospital. The Fall Concert Series is occurring this year for the 2nd time; musical acts Kansas, Josh Gracin, and Lou Gramm performed on the Rocket Garden stage last November. This year’s concert series comes at the end of NASA’s first half-century, which fell on Wednesday, October 1st. Also commemorating NASA’s birthday will be the Space and Air Show on November 8th and 9th, which will feature Blue Angels from the US Navy and other military aircraft. Admission to any one of the fall concerts is included with regular admission to the Space Center Visitor Complex, and it’s free to Commander’s Club Annual Passholders. If you’re a regular visitor to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, there’s no reason not to plan a trip again to enjoy this one-of-a-kind concert series. And if you’ve never visited before, there’s certainly no time like the present – you can catch one of the concerts after taking advantage of the Space Center’s multiple attractions, such as the Apollo/Saturn V Center, the IMAX theaters, the guided tours into exclusive NASA areas, and the space flight simulators at the Astronaut Hall of Fame. In order to rock to the sounds of the space exploration era, order your discount Kennedy Space Center tickets today at OrlandoFunTickets.com and get ready for a concert that’s out of this world! Labels: concert series, Kennedy Space Center, Kennedy Space Center Events, special events
Disney and NASA Send Toys to Space
 Disney favorite Buzz Lightyear blasted to infinity and beyond recently aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery, which soared toward the International Space Station from Kennedy Space Center in a picture perfect late afternoon launch on Saturday, May 31. The much-loved Space Ranger is spending several months at the Space Station as part of the NASA’s “Toys In Space” educational program. Buzz’s fellow Toy Story companion Woody was on hand at the Kennedy Space Center when the Shuttle Discovery blasted Buzz back into the sky, but space travel wasn’t the only exciting news at the Walt Disney World Resort. Woody also took the opportunity to begin celebrating the official opening of the Toy Story Mania! attraction, which opened to guests at Disney Hollywood Studios on May 31. “Toys in Space” is part of the “Space Ranger Education Series,” an effort by NASA to make studying science, technology and math (the STEM subjects) more fun and appealing to young students. Buzz’s trip “beyond” is meant to enhance the program developed by NASA and Disney to make space travel more accessible to school kids. “Toys in Space” offers downloadable classroom materials and online learning games to help teachers create a fun atmosphere in which to teach student about space and technology. Buzz will be floating around at the ISS for several months, and during his stay he will be conducting experiments in zero gravity as well as appearing in video downlinks from the Space Station. There will no doubt be another space-tastic celebration when Buzz Lightyear makes his return trip back to earth. Kennedy Space Center is open to the public, and you can get a close-up look by getting a Kennedy Space Center ticket right here at OrlandoFunTickets.com. We are the number one source on earth for cheap Orlando attraction tickets, and we can get you into Kennedy Space Center and Walt Disney World with just a couple of clicks. If you want to see a space shuttle launch for yourself, there are two more space shuttle launches scheduled for this year at Kennedy Space Center. The Shuttle Atlantis is on the calendar for an October 8 launch, and the Shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to blast off on October 16. A Kennedy Space Center ticket is not required to view a space shuttle launch, as there are many amazing viewing sites close to the Kennedy Space Center campus. Labels: Discount Disney Tickets, Kennedy Space Center, New attractions, shuttle launch
Orlando Vacation Happenings May 2008
 Orlando is a really busy place with the Walt Disney World Resort the Universal Orlando Resort Sea World Busch Gardens Discovery Cove and now Aquatica by SeaWorld it seems the action is never ending. Well, no matter what Orlando theme park you’re interested in, we have the scoop. We have the best discounts on Orlando theme park tickets too. Since you don’t want to worry about missing any special events going on during your trip to Orlando, here are some important happenings for May: Space Shuttle Discovery is set for launch at the end of MayKennedy Space Center is already preparing for the anticipated launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery scheduled for May 31. You can get your discount Kennedy Space Center tickets here today and head over to Cape Canaveral to check out the excitement surrounding a Space Shuttle launch. If you are planning your Orlando vacation for the end of May, consider watching the actual launch. Seeing the Space Shuttle blast into orbit from the Kennedy Space Center is truly an awe-inspiring, once-in-a-lifetime experience. You can also spot the shuttle launch from many roadways leading to Cape Canaveral, and for this equally fantastic opportunity a Kennedy Space Center ticket is not required. Are they here yet? Are they here yet? Are they here yet?
The long-awaited appearance of America’s funniest family at the Universal Studios Florida theme park is finally in sight. The Universal Orlando Resort announced the grand opening of The Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios Florida for May 15. Our Universal Studios spies report that The Simpsons Ride is doing a soft opening right now, so get your Universal tickets today and be one of the first to share the Simpson’s Orlando vacation. Aquatica by SeaWorld is a splashing good timeAquatica is the newest wave in the Orlando theme park ocean, and it has opened to rave reviews. Aquatica combines the latest and greatest in water park fun with unique and extraordinary marine mammal interactions, and the result is the most spectacular animal park – water park experience in the world. Whether you are taking an Orlando vacation this month or next year, Aquatica should be on your list of Orlando theme parks to visit. Best of all, you can get your Aquatica tickets right here along with your Universal tickets and Kennedy Space Center tickets too! Labels: Aquatica by SeaWorld, discount aquatica, Discount Discovery Cove, Discount Flex Tickets, Discount SeaWorld Tickets, Discount Universal Tickets, Kennedy Space Center, The Simpsons Ride
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