The ten-year-in-development, $60 million, 44,000-square-foot, privately-funded adventure ride at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is NASA’s first project to attract theme-park ride customers to any of their space tourist facilities. The ride involves a simulated ride to orbit above the Earth in a Space Shuttle.

The Shuttle Launch Experience ride includes a walk into a building that looks very similar to the ones at the Space Shuttle processing facilities at KSC; a strapped-in seat aboard a mockup of the Space Shuttle where riders will experience the sights, sounds, and vibrations of lift-off and launch through the atmosphere of Earth; and a magnificent view of space as they enter orbit about the Earth.

The KSC Visitors Center website declares that you will “experience firsthand one of the most stunning and dramatic events on Earth: a live NASA launch. From a Space Shuttle launch to the International Space Station to the thunderous ascent of massive rockets carrying satellites, Martian rovers and planetary explorers, there's always a mission in the works at America's busiest launch facility. Witnessing a towering Space Shuttle or rocket blaze into the atmosphere from the closest possible public viewing is like nothing you've ever experienced. Sign up for launch updates for any launches happening during your visit, because any launch is sure to be the highlight of your Florida vacation.”

Along with the SLE, new NASA KSC exhibits include NASA Central, NASA’s Interplanetary Exploration 4-D Exhibit, Visit to the International Space Station, Origins: A Journey to the Birth of the Universe, and Exploration of Our Home Planet.

About 1.5 million people visit the KSC Visitors Center each year. Admission price for the ride is $38 for adults and $28 for children.

More information about NASA’s Shuttle Launch Experience is found at the KSC Visitors Center website: http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/index.asp.

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