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Heroes
& Legends and U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame®
to Open
at
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex November 11, 2016
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Consumers
invited to submit content for possible inclusion in the new attraction!
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Cape
Canaveral, FL – June 2016 / Newsmaker Alert / With all the drama of
an actual trip to space, guests of Kennedy
Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida will be greeted with a dramatic
sense of arrival when the new Heroes & Legends featuring the U.S.
Astronaut Hall of Fame® opens on November 11, 2016. Positioned
just inside the entrance, the attraction will set the stage for a richer
park experience by providing the emotional background and context for space
exploration and the legendary men and women who pioneered our journey into
space.
Through
engaging storytelling, guests will embark on an awe-inspiring journey that
begins with an immersive exhibit designed to spark thought and discussion
about how society defines a hero. Then, through cutting-edge technology,
interactive elements and engaging exhibits, visitors will be introduced
to the heroes of the NASA space program: the pioneers who worked together
to make space exploration possible.
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“We’ve
been focusing on a story to create what we consider a ‘launch pad’ for
our visitors that really sets the stage for their full-day experience here,”
said Therrin Protze, chief operating officer, Kennedy Space Center Visitor
Complex. “The opportunity to learn about the amazing attributes of our
heroes behind the transformative and historical events that have shaped
the way we look at space, the world and the future, will not only entertain
and inspire guests, but lay the groundwork for their interactions throughout
the rest of the visitor complex with our other attractions and space experiences.
We are here to inspire minds through a memorable space experience and this
new attraction will be a phenomenal introduction.”
Designed
by Falcon’s Treehouse, an award winning design firm based in Orlando, Florida,
the sleek architecture and sweeping ramp entrance will simulate the journey
to the stars, featuring a slingshot maneuver through the Rocket Garden.
The deliberate architectural design for the new building is meant to celebrate
spacecraft throughout history and into the future. Separated into three
distinct experiences, plus the Astronaut Hall of Fame, Heroes & Legends
will offer:
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A stunning
360-degree discovery bay, where guests will explore how society defines
heroism from a diverse group of people who explore what is at the heart
of this journey: What is a hero, who are the heroes of our time and what
does it take to be a hero? During the seven-minute presentation, the historic
beginning of the space race is acknowledged as the impetus for America’s
push to the stars in NASA’s early years and the rivalry between the United
States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
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A theater
featuring a 4-D multisensory experience during which guests will vicariously
join NASA’s heroes and legends on the most perilous stages of their adventures.
Artistically choreographed lighting and special effects such as fog, mist,
water spray and wind will be enhanced by intense, deeply resonant sound
effects and surrounding images to create the sensation of being “in the
moment” as guests are immersed in the theater on a platform overlooking
planet Earth. The seven and a half minute show takes guests on an intimate
journey with four space-age heroes to fully immerse them in the awe, excitement
and dangers of the first crewed space program missions.
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An interactive
exhibit floor taps into holograms and interactive media to change the way
that visitors interact with astronaut memorabilia and space program artifacts.
A collection of nine exhibit modules will describe attributes of a hero
– tenacious, passionate, disciplined and so on – while discovering more
about NASA’s astronauts as told through their own experiences enhanced
with memorabilia from the astronaut or the space program. Interactive features
inspire further exploration of the original Mercury Mission Control room
consoles with a periodic flashback to memorable, history-making moments,
and the Sigma 7 Mercury spacecraft as a space-suited Wally Schirra climbs
into the tiny spacecraft.
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The culminating
exhibit of Heroes & Legends will be the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.
Housed in a rotunda, the exhibit intimately connects the visitor to each
of the nearly 100 astronaut inductees through the use of state-of-the-art
interactive technology. A 365 degree video cylinder with five interactive
kiosk stations will provide access to stories about each of the Hall of
Fame astronauts. A signature element of the experience will be the ability
to capture a memento of their journey: a special photo opportunity that
allows the guests to pose with some of the featured heroes and legends.
The goal
is for visitors to leave both attractions with a renewed sense of pride
and a more in-depth understanding and appreciation of the qualities of
heroism represented by NASA’s pioneering astronauts, and why they deserve
our admiration and respect.
Heroes
come from all walks of life, and Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex wants
everyone to get involved in sharing what heroism means to them. In ways
both big and small, heroes make an unforgettable impact – and change the
world for the better. The public is invited to submit a video for possible
inclusion in the Heroes and Legends attraction by posting video on a social
media platform (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) using the hashtag #KSCHero.
Follow the guidelines for Who is Your Hero? video
submissions here.
Construction
on Heroes & Legends began in fall 2015 after the new attraction was
first announced at the 2015 U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Induction ceremony
at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
For
more information or to book a visit, go to www.KennedySpaceCenter.com.
About
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Kennedy
Space Center Visitor Complex brings to life the epic story of the U.S.
space program, offering a full day or more of fun, inspiration and educational
activities, including the Kennedy Space Center Tour featuring the Apollo/Saturn
V Center with an actual Saturn V moon rocket, Space Shuttle Atlantis®,
Shuttle Launch Experience®, IMAX® A Beautiful Planet 3D and Journey
To Space films, Astronaut Encounter, Journey To Mars: Explorers Wanted,
Science on a Sphere®, Rocket Garden, Cosmic Quest, and many other exhibits.
Opening 2016 is Heroes and Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of
Fame. Only 45 minutes from Orlando, Fla., Kennedy Space Center Visitor
Complex opens daily at 9 a.m. with closing times varying by season. Admission
is $50 + tax for adults and $40 + tax for children ages 3-11. Kennedy Space
Center Visitor Complex offers annual passes starting at $75 + tax for adults
and $60 + tax for children ages 3-11. For more information, call 877-313-2610
or visit www.KennedySpaceCenter.com.
Follow
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Facebook,
Twitter,
YouTube,
Instagram,
Google+
and Pinterest
About
Delaware North
Delaware
North is one of the largest privately held hospitality and food service
companies in the world. Founded in 1915 and owned by the Jacobs family
for 100 years, Delaware North has global operations at high-profile places
such as sports and entertainment venues, national and state parks, destination
resorts and restaurants, airports, and regional casinos. Our 60,000 employee
associates are dedicated to creating special experiences one guest at a
time in serving more than a half-billion guests annually. Delaware North
operates in the sports, travel hospitality, restaurant and catering, parks,
resorts, gaming, and specialty retail industries and has annual revenue
of about $3 billion. "Delaware North" is a reference to Delaware North
Companies Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries, including location-specific
operating entities. Learn more about Delaware North, a global leader in
hospitality and food service, at www.DelawareNorth.com.
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Contacts:
Kennedy
Space Center Visitor Complex
Andrea
Farmer
Public
Relations Manager
321-449-4318
Lauren
Eisele Walbert
410-616-8943
Sandy
Hillman Communications
for
KSCVC
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