United States
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and Delaware North Parks and Resorts have broken ground on the future home of the space shuttle Atlantis, which will be located at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
NASA selected Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to permanently display space shuttle Atlantis in April 2011.
10 Year Master Plan
Costing US $100 million, the 65,000 square-foot Atlantis exhibit will be the most important aspect of the Visitor Complex’s 10 year master plan proposed by Delaware North Parks and Resorts, which has operated Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for NASA since 1995.
The exhibit will provide guests a unique vantage point to view Atlantis up close, while telling the story of the 30 year Space Shuttle Program through a number of hands on, interactive and immersive mediums. The grand opening of the showcase facility is slated for summer 2013.
US Space Programme
“This is an incredible day for our nation’s space programme,” said Bill Moore, Chief Operating Officer, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, during the ground breaking ceremony on 18 January 2012.
“Today marks the start of a new era in which this magnificent ship, Atlantis, which has traveled to space and back an astounding 33 times, will remain docked in her home port, displayed in all her glory with a new mission to uphold — to inspire a new generation of space explorers who will take us to even greater heights.”