Space Shuttle Atlantis

Space Shuttle Atlantis is a spacecraft at Kennedy Space Center displayed at a 43-degree angle inside a dedicated building, with its payload bay doors open and robotic arm visible. The facility includes over 60 interactive exhibits with astronaut training simulators and theaters featuring films about Hubble Space Telescope missions.

The spacecraft completed 33 missions between 1985 and 2011, including the final flight of the Space Shuttle Program. After its retirement it was transported to Kennedy Space Center, where it remains on permanent display.

The spacecraft represents a milestone in space exploration history and connects visitors of all ages through hands-on learning about human spaceflight and its achievements. The way people move through the space and respond to seeing the actual vehicle shows how it continues to inspire wonder today.

The building is accessible and well-marked with resting areas and activities designed for visitors of different ages. You should plan to spend time exploring since there is much to discover and the displays encourage lingering.

At the entrance stand a real external tank and two solid rocket boosters used in actual launches, showing the full scale of what powered the flights. These components help visitors understand the enormous machinery required to send the shuttle into space.