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| 12 Atlantis Astronauts Reunite at Kennedy Space Center to Salute Their Space Shuttle: Atlantis | Astronauts Share Highlights of Their Missions with Guests to Mark the One-Year Anniversary of Space Shuttle Atlantis (SM) | The 12 Atlantis astronauts – Clayton Anderson, Bo Bobko, John Creighton, Charlie Walker, Hoot Gibson, Fred Gregory, Ken Ham, Mike McCulley, Jerry Ross, Brian Duffy, Bob Springer and Dan Tani – participated in a first-of-its-kind Lunch with an Astronaut featuring an astronaut at each table. In addition, the astronauts appeared throughout the day in Astronaut Encounter at the Visitor Complex. Each astronaut gave a 30-minute “Mini Mission Recap” highlighting their missions aboard Atlantis. “It’s an amazing experience to be able to stand in a room with astronauts, I mean they’ve gone to space and that is, to me, the most incredible experience,” said Tonya George of Merritt Island, Florida, who was in attendance at today’s events. Veteran NASA astronaut Robert “Hoot” Gibson, one of the astronauts participating in the day’s events, spoke about space exploration saying, “With the International Space Station we’ve got American astronauts that are orbiting the Earth right now, right at this moment, every day of the year.” He added, “I think we have a bright future in exploration. The SLS, Space Launch System, is going to give us a capability to go beyond orbit.” Space
Shuttle Atlantis has become a “must-see” experience for Central Florida
tourists following its grand opening on June 29, 2013. Guests experience
the inspiring accomplishments of the U.S. space shuttle program at the
unique 90,000-square-foot attraction where visitors get nose to nose with
a real spaceflown orbiter. The Atlantis orbiter is displayed as if floating
in space, as if departing from the International Space Station – the only
space shuttle orbiter in the world exhibited this way.
 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 and educational activities, including the Kennedy Space Center Tour featuring the Saturn V Center with an actual Saturn V moon rocket, the Angry Birds™ Space Encounter, Shuttle Launch Experience, 3D IMAX® space films, Astronaut Encounter, Exploration Space: Explorers Wanted and many other interactive exhibits. The new $100 million home for Space Shuttle Atlantis (SM) opened June 29, 2013. Admission also includes the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame®, featuring historic spacecraft and the world’s largest collection of personal astronaut memorabilia, which opens daily at noon and closing times vary by season. 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. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Commander’s Club Annual Pass is $75 + tax for adults and $60 + tax for children ages 3-11. For more information, call 877-313-2610 or visit www.KennedySpaceCenter.com. About
Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts
About
Delaware North Companies
Through these companies, Delaware North manages and provides food and beverage concessions, premium dining, entertainment, lodging, and retail at many large venues and special places. These include high-profile venues ranging from sports stadiums, entertainment complexes, national parks, airports, and some of the top regional casinos in the country. Delaware North Companies has revenue exceeding $3 billion annually and 60,000 associates serving half a billion customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. For more information, visit www.DelawareNorth.com. Contacts:
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