at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Editor’s Note:
Click here to download hi-def .mov Broll of ‘Holidays in Space,’
including sound bites
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Dec. 10, 2014) – KENNEDY SPACE CENTER — Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is treating guests to an out-of-this-world holiday experience with an all new Holiday Rocket Garden Light Show, part of the attraction’s annual “Holidays in Space” celebration.
The new Holiday Rocket Garden Light Show takes place daily through Jan. 4 in the ever-popular Rocket Garden, a Visitor Complex hallmark. The outdoor garden features a majestic collection of real and replica capsules and rockets, soaring 80, 90, and 100 feet into the sky, demonstrating how manned space flight progressed through the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo eras.
The Visitor Complex also is adorned for the holiday season with a stunning array of decorations including a 41-foot Christmas tree, a giant NASA “meatball” ornament, garlands, lights, ribbons, bows and more.
“Coming here for the holidays was absolutely amazing, we really, really enjoyed it. There was a lot to do, it was beyond my expectations and we'll definitely come back,” said James Devon of Jersey, United Kingdom. “ Well, we haven't really got anything like this back in England, so it's something new. Obviously there are a lot of other attractions in Florida and this one of them, it was something I've always wanted to see.”
“Walking down the sidewalk and seeing the rockets lit up, that was amazing,” said Rebecca Lagare of Petersham, Massachusetts. “I'm glad that they did something like that.”
“Many astronauts have told us that they have felt no greater sense of peace and hope for humankind than when looking down on the blue marble of Earth from space,” said Therrin Protze, chief operating officer of the Visitor Complex. “Through this truly unique celebration, we hope to share that incredible feeling with all our guests this holiday season.”
A second element will be added to Holidays in Space Dec. 22 through Dec. 30 when a 3D projection mapping presentation will be shown on the side of the 223-foot-long Saturn 1B rocket. Also called spatial augmented reality, this technology is used to project images onto irregularly shaped objects, such as bridges, buildings, and now, a rocket. This remarkable presentation, a first at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, features custom animation blended with historic footage of actual launches and awe-inspiring views of Earth from the ISS. The show takes guests on a walk through NASA history, from the first moon launches, through the 30-year Space Shuttle Program and the assembly of the ISS, and onto the surface of Mars, thanks to actual images captured by NASA’s robotic exploration rovers.
From Dec. 26-Dec. 31, a Holiday Laser Light Spectacular will be added to the festivities, featuring an incredible music and laser light show that will be visible in Orlando and throughout Central Florida. The green rays from the laser show may even be bright enough for crew aboard the International Space Station to see.
All holiday activities are included with Visitor Complex admission; no advance reservations are required. Light shows begin at dusk each day. The Visitor Complex is open 365 days a year, including Christmas Day, Dec. 25.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex’s holiday hours of operation are:
Nov. 28-Dec. 21: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Dec. 22-Jan. 4: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.*
*The Visitor Complex closes at 6 p.m. on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25.