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Heroes
& Legends Featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame®
Presented
by Boeing Opens at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
November
11, 2016
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Cape
Canaveral, FL – November 2016 / Newsmaker Alert / A blast of colors
lit up the sky Friday (November 11) at Kennedy
Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida above the new Heroes &
Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame presented by Boeing.
But not because of a rocket launch!
A spirited
pyrotechnics display marked the opening of the new attraction, which was
attended by more than 25 veteran and current NASA astronauts, including
revered Gemini and Apollo space program astronauts Buzz Aldrin, James Lovell
and Thomas Stafford. They were joined by the adult children of the late-astronauts
Alan Shepard and Neil Armstrong, as well as representatives from NASA,
The Boeing Company and Delaware
North.
Hundreds
of park guests also attended the ceremony, which was held on Veterans Day
to honor all military heroes, including the many astronauts who are also
military veterans.
Designed
to be the first stop upon entering Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex,
Heroes
& Legends uses the early years of the space program to explore
the concept of heroism, and the qualities that define the individuals who
inspired their generation. The 37,000-square-foot, retro-fitted building
marries cutting-edge technology with mesmerizing special effects, priceless
artifacts and thought-provoking exhibits.
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Representatives
of NASA, Boeing and Delaware North, which operates Kennedy Space Center
Visitor Complex for NASA, are joined by 25 Hall of Fame astronauts from
the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle programs to celebrate the
opening of Heroes & Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame
presented by Boeing.
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“The
opening of Heroes & Legends marks a true milestone for Kennedy
Space Center Visitor Complex,” said Therrin Protze, chief operating officer.
“And it is such an honor to have so many astronaut heroes here with us
to share in the celebration. We are so grateful that they can personally
experience this living tribute to their sacrifices, determination and achievements.
“Heroes
& Legends offers 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. It will not
only entertain and inspire guests, but lay the groundwork for their interactions
throughout the other amazing attractions to create memorable space experiences,”
Protze said.
Through
engaging storytelling, guests embark on an awe-inspiring journey through
Heroes
& Legends that begins with an immersive exhibit designed to spark
thought and discussion about how society defines a hero. Cutting-edge technology,
interactive elements and engaging exhibits work together to introduce visitors
to the heroes of the NASA space program: the pioneers who made space exploration
possible.
The
deliberate architectural design for the new building is meant to celebrate
spacecraft throughout history and into the future, and features a 30-by-40-foot
bas-relief sculpture of the seven Mercury astronauts on its facade. A dramatic,
sweeping ramp entrance simulates the journey to the stars, and features
an elevated slingshot path through the Rocket Garden.
Heroes
& Legends is separated into three distinct experiences, plus the
U.S.
Astronaut Hall of Fame:
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In the
stunning 360-degree discovery bay, What is a Hero?, guests explore
how society defines heroism through diverse perspectives. Each examination
of heroism starts with the following questions: 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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Through
the Eyes of a Hero is a custom-built theater featuring a multisensory
4-D experience during which guests vicariously join NASA’s heroes and legends
on the most perilous stages of their missions. Artistically choreographed
lighting and special effects are enhanced by intense, deeply resonant sound
effects and surrounding images to create the sensation of being “in the
moment.” The seven-and-a-half-minute show takes guests on an intimate journey
with four space-age heroes – Alan Shepard, Neil Armstrong, John Glenn and
James Lovell – to fully immerse them in the awe, excitement and dangers
of the first crewed space program missions.
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The third
experience, A Hero Is…, offers interactive exhibits that highlight
the nine different attributes of our history-making astronauts: inspired,
curious, passionate, tenacious, disciplined, confident, courageous, principled
and selfless. Through the use of holograms and augmented reality, visitors
will be able to interact with space program artifacts in a way never before
possible.
A collection
of nine exhibit modules explores each aforementioned attribute through
the actual experiences of NASA’s astronauts and memorabilia. Their stories
are enhanced with real artifacts from the astronaut and the space program,
including a Gemini IX capsule featuring a realistic projection of astronaut
Gene Cernan climbing out of the tiny spacecraft. Other interactive features
inspire further exploration of the original Mercury Mission Control room
consoles, with a periodic flashback to the tense moments preceding the
landing of Freedom 7 by astronaut John Glenn. Rounding out the collection
of authentic artifacts is a Sigma 7 Mercury spacecraft, which is paired
with a Mercury-Redstone rocket, and Gus Grissom’s Mercury spaceflight suit.
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The culminating
exhibit of Heroes & Legends is the U.S. Astronaut Hall of
Fame. Housed in a majestic 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 signature element of the
experience is the ability to capture a memento: a special photo opportunity
that allows guests to pose with one of the Mercury astronaut 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
admiration and respect,” Protze said.
Heroes
& Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame®
presented Boeing was developed in collaboration with NASA by Delaware North,
one of the largest privately-held hospitality companies in the world. Delaware
North has operated Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for NASA since
1995, also developing Space Shuttle Atlantis®, the Apollo/Saturn V
Center and other attractions at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The
facility is completely funded by ticket sales, with no contributions from
taxpayer dollars.
About
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Kennedy
Space Center Visitor Complex brings to life the epic story of the U.S.
space program, where NASA made history and where it’s still being made.
Experience a full day or more of fun 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 3D
films, Astronaut Encounter, Journey To Mars: Explorers Wanted, Science
on a Sphere, Rocket Garden, the new Cosmic Quest and many other interactive
exhibits. Opening Nov. 16, 2016, is Heroes
& 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 more than 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 500 million guests annually. Delaware
North has annual revenue of about $3 billion in the sports, travel hospitality,
restaurants and catering, parks, resorts, gaming, and specialty retail
industries. Learn more about Delaware North at www.DelawareNorth.com.
Connect
with Delaware North on Facebook
/ LinkedIn
/ Twitter
Contacts:
Kennedy
Space Center Visitor Complex
Andrea
Farmer
Public
Relations Manager
321-449-4318
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