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NASA
Now Attraction at
Kennedy
Space Center Visitor Complex
Provides
an Insider Look at the Future
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Guests Can View
Displays of Spacecraft
on Loan From
NASA, Commercial Partners
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Cape
Canaveral, FL – August 2017 / Newsmaker Alert / A
visit to the NASA
Now attraction at Kennedy
Space Center Visitor Complex provides visitors unprecedented access
to the past, present and future. Offering an up-close look at the most
recent vehicles to have traveled to space, as well as vehicles destined
for future visits and those designed to further exploration and development,
NASA Now continues to grow its collection, most recently with the addition
of a Boeing full-scale engineering model of its CST-100 Starliner crew
vehicle.
Built
in 2010, the Boeing Starliner mock-up brings the spacecraft from computer-aided
design drawings to tangible reality. The Starliner is currently seen with
its hatch open, offering visitors a glimpse inside America’s new crew capsule.
This fall, visitors will be able to look inside and see how the spacecraft
will be configured to carry astronauts to and from the International Space
Station beginning in 2018. Also, while on display at the visitor complex,
the mock-up allows Boeing engineers access to a physical model for testing
the design for astronauts and cargo as well as performing engineering verifications.
A gallery
that houses temporary displays of spacecraft on loan from NASA and partners
including Boeing® and SpaceX, NASA
Now is located inside the IMAX Theater and is quickly becoming a favorite
for visitors to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Visitors are in awe
of the special collection of spacecraft, some space flown, which have been
created for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and Commercial Resupply Services
(CRS) transportation to the International Space Station (ISS) and NASA’s
Space Launch System (SLS), the future for deep space exploration. Other
highlights include:
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Orion
EFT-1, the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle designed to launch aboard SLS
for deep space exploration. Though SLS testing does not begin until 2019,
this vehicle was launched aboard a Delta IV heavy rocket in December 2014
from Kennedy Space Center’s historic Launch Complex 39B. Displayed next
to Orion is a scale model of the upcoming SLS rocket, currently being designed
as Orion’s launch vehicle.
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The COTS-2
Dragon, on loan from SpaceX, has not only been to space, but the vehicle
is also the first commercial spacecraft to rendezvous with the ISS. COTS-2
launched in May 2012 for its historic maiden flight test-run to low Earth
orbit (LEO) and to dock at the ISS. Visible scorch marks from the Dragon’s
atmosphere reentry are not just on the surface. They also mark the debut
of NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services, where commercial partners resupply
the ISS, to pave the way for the Commercial Crew Program scheduled to begin
testing in 2018.
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Pressure
vessel for Starliner, also on loan from Boeing, represents the development
and progression of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program as testing continues
on this crew vehicle designed to transport astronauts to the ISS. The pressure
vessel is an important initial step in the creation of spacecraft that
travel from Earth’s atmosphere to the vacuum of space.
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A scale
model of the Dream Chaser cargo vehicle designed by NASA’s most recent
CRS partner, Sierra Nevada Corporation. This upcoming vehicle is currently
being tested at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center and will launch
aboard ULA’s Atlas V rocket. Unlike the other capsule vehicles, Dream Chaser
Cargo System is a lifting-body designed to glide back to Earth after delivering
cargo to the International Space Station.
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A scale
model of ULA’s Atlas V rocket. Atlas V configurations include the Atlas
V 400 and 500 series currently launching satellites into Earth orbit for
Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Services Program and Orbital ATK’s Cygnus
cargo vehicles for ISS resupply missions. Atlas V will also launch Dream
Chaser and CST-Starliner on their journeys to the ISS.
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A Vector-R
rocket from Vector Space Systems, which is dramatically suspended overhead.
The Vector-R is a simple two-stage rocket designed for smaller payloads
and is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Launch
Complex 46.
For more
information, visit www.KennedySpaceCenter.com.
About
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Kennedy
Space Center Visitor Complex brings to life the epic story of the U.S.
space program, offering a full day or more of fun, inspiration and educational
activities, including its newest attraction, Heroes & Legends, featuring
the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame®, presented by Boeing, which opened
November 11, 2016. Other highlights include the Kennedy Space Center Tour
featuring the Apollo/Saturn V Center with an actual Saturn V moon rocket,
Space Shuttle Atlantis®, Shuttle Launch Experience®, IMAX®
A Beautiful Planet 3D and Journey To Space 3D films, Astronaut Encounter,
Journey To Mars: Explorers Wanted, Science on a Sphere®, Rocket Garden,
Cosmic Quest, and many other exhibits. Only 45 minutes from Orlando, Fla.,
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex opens daily at 9 a.m. with closing
times varying by season. Admission is $50 + tax for adults and $40 + tax
for children ages 3 – 11. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers annual
passes starting at $75 + tax for adults and $60 + tax for children ages
3 – 11. For more information, call 877-313-2610 or visit www.KennedySpaceCenter.com.
Follow
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Facebook,
Twitter,
YouTube,
Instagram,
Google+
and
Pinterest
About
Delaware North
Delaware
North is one of the largest privately-held hospitality and food service
companies in the world. Founded in 1915 and owned by the Jacobs family
for more than 100 years, Delaware North has global operations at high-profile
places such as sports and entertainment venues, national and state parks,
destination resorts and restaurants, airports, and regional casinos. Our
thousands of employee associates are dedicated to creating special experiences
one guest at a time in serving more than 500 million guests annually. Delaware
North has annual revenue of about $3 billion in the sports, travel hospitality,
restaurants and catering, parks, resorts, gaming, and specialty retail
industries. Learn more about Delaware North at www.DelawareNorth.com.
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Media
Contacts:
Lauren
Eisele Walbert
Sandy
Hillman Communications
Office:
410-616-8943
Mobile:
443-683-0294
Rebecca
Shireman
Assistant
Public Relations Manager
Kennedy
Space Center Visitor Complex
321-449-4273
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