U.S. Air and Space Museum: Rocket into fun
It's time to dust off the ol' space shoes and awaken those dreams of one day becoming an astronaut and head over to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Home to space camp and The Aviation Challenge, the center is recognized as one of the most comprehensive U.S.-manned space flight hardware museums in the world.
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center, NASA's first visitor center, opened in 1970 and has served more than 12 million visitors to date. Visitors to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center will experience Huntsville's role in the making of the moon rocket, the space race, the Apollo missions, learn about the Space Shuttle program, the International Space Station and onto the next beginnings with NASA's Constellation project.
There's something for everyone at the center, sure to entertain both the space buffs and those looking to quell their curiosity about the great beyond. The facilities include Spacedome Theater, Rocket Park, the Education Training Center, which houses NASA's Educator Resource Center and more.
Museum simulations give guest the hyper-interaction they've been craving for. The museum offers simulations such as the Space Shot, which simulates a rocket launch and the G-Force Accelerator that spins so quickly it creates three times the force of gravity.
The Davidson Center for Space Exploration is the new front door for the center's complex, housing the visitor ticketing area and a 350-seat auditorium, along with the Saturn V rocket,restored to its Apollo era readiness. Also housed in the facility is the Davidson Center 3D Digital Theatre.
The center opens at 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Adult Stars Combo tickets, which include admission to the museum and movie, are $24.95 and children's tickets are $19.95. Individual tickets for museum admission only are $20 for adults, $15 for children.
- by Leah M. Caudle , Huntsville Reporter for HelloMetro
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Leah M. Caudle Leah Caudle is a professional storyteller with experience in covering local, community and feature stories. While at newspapers such as The Tennessean in Nashville and The Lexington Herald-Leader in Lexington, Ky., Caudle also has experience in shooting and editing videos and photos to accompany stories. The Western Kentucky University graduate received degrees in print journalism and Spanish in 2007 and also has expertise in the areas of public relations, copy editing and proofreading.
