Atlantis STS-132
Courtesy: NASA Archives

We know Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is on the other side of the state from where we currently live in Florida but it is really tempting for space nuts like us. The Launch Director Tour of Space Shuttle Atlantis with Mike Leinbach gets you an inside look at the shuttle program with its risks, rewards, and failures. Mike Leinbach, the last launch director of Atlantis, will share his first-hand account of the shuttle program and his time as the head of the Columbia reconstruction mission after the orbiter broke up during re-entry.

You will, of course, get to see Atlantis on display. The shuttle went on 33 missions spending a total of 306 days, 14 hours, 12 minutes, 43 seconds in space. Another interesting Atlantis fact: when it was built, NASA ordered duplicate parts of every part of the shuttle. The Endeavour, which was assembled to replace the Space Shuttle Challenger after it exploded after liftoff, was made from all the duplicate parts. It’s essentially a clone of Atlantis.

Mike Leinbach was the final Space Shuttle Program Launch Director at KSC. He was responsible for overall shuttle launch countdown policy, planning, and execution activities for the final eleven years of the program.

If you would like to take part in this program it runs through the summer.

May 30, 2019 | 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM

Jun 13, 2019 | 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM

Jun 27, 2019 | 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM

Jul 11, 2019 | 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM

Jul 18, 2019 | 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM

Aug 08, 2019 | 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM

Aug 29, 2019 | 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM

Ticket Information:
Price: $65 for adults, in addition to daily admission
Space is limited to 30 participants, so reserve your space early!