Along the popular tour at the Kennedy Space Center’s Visitor Complex, there are new stops, showing a view showing the nature of Florida and modern technology.
The LC-39’s gantry is open to the public at the Brevard County Attraction, part of the Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour. The area includes a four-storey structure topped with an interactive rocket design experience, introducing test fire simulations to people on the ground. Terin Protezze, Chief Operating Officer of the Visitors Complex, said it is designed to present fun and practical activities along with education.
“We’re learning about residence times and what catches children,” he said.
One point to note is the countdown of the rockets seen in the gantry and the large screen piloted by SOL, known as artificial intelligence. If hit 3-2-1 zero, the unit will swing and remove steam to the observer below. It is intended to be a fiery simulation, but don’t be afraid, it is certainly more misty than the scary hot.
These engine components are the real Apollo era J-2 rocket engines.
At the top level (accessed by stairs or elevators) there is an enclosed air-conditioned area focusing on the engineering aspects and practical buildings of virtual space vehicles.
“You can build a rocket and learn what you need for the different types of missions, the engines you choose, the amount of fuel you choose, and the payload capacity you need to make it a successful launch,” says Protze.
Dozens of design people face monitors at once in this activity, and the stools there are also intriguing. They are pistons from one of NASA’s famous crawler transporters.
Rocket Builder Activities in the Gantry of the LC-39, a new guest experience at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Thursday, July 10th, 2025 (Ricardolas Milles Bacceda/Orlando Sentinel)
Stands for launch in the gantry of the LC-39, a new guest experience at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Thursday, July 10th, 2025 (Ricardalo Mirez Bacceda/Orlando Sentinel)
Check out the Gantry on the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center Guest LC-39. This is a new experience that includes test fire simulations. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) On Thursday, July 10th, 2025, a new guest experience for visitors to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
On Thursday, July 10th, 2025, the J-2 engine features actual components of an Apollo-era J-2 rocket engine in the gantry of the LC-39, a new guest experience at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
The Earth Information Center will be seen on Thursday on a media tour of the LC-39 Gantry, a new guest experience for visitors to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
Check out the Gantry on the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center Guest LC-39. This is a new experience that includes test fire simulations. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) On Thursday, July 10th, 2025, a new guest experience for visitors to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
Gantry of the LC-39, a new guest experience at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Thursday, July 10th, 2025 (Ricardolas Milles Bacceda/Orlando Sentinel)
On Thursday, July 10th, 2025, the Gantry Earth Information Center short film of the LC-39, a new guest experience at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (Ricardalo Mirez Bacceda/Orlando Sentinel)
Mounted binoculars will provide launch pad views during the Gantry media tour on the LC-39 on Thursday. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
On Thursday, July 10th, 2025, during a media tour of the LC-39’s gantry, a new guest experience for visitors to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, the Mobile Launcher 2 is under construction as seen from the LC-39’s gantry.
Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A will be seen on Thursday, July 10th, 2025 on the LC-39 Gantry media tour, a new guest experience for visitors to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
Check out the Gantry on the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center Guest LC-39. This is a new experience that includes test fire simulations. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
Media Tour The Gantry is the LC-39, a new guest experience for visitors to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Thursday. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
A J-2 engine with actual components from the Apollo era J-2 rocket engine. Gantry’s media tour at LC-39, a new guest experience for visitors to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (Ricardalo Mirez Bacceda/Orlando Sentinel) on Thursday, July 10th, 2025
Simulated J-2 engine test in the gantry of the LC-39, a new guest experience at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, on Thursday, July 10th, 2025 (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
Stand for launch in the gantry of the LC-39, a new guest experience at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, on Thursday, July 10th, 2025 (Ricardalo Mirez Bacceda/Orlando Sentinel)
A stool made from pistons taken from one of NASA’s crawler transporters in the gantry of the LC-39, a new guest experience at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
On Thursday, July 10th, 2025, during a media tour of the LC-39 Gantry, a new guest experience for visitors to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, the Earth Information Center sign (Ricardalo Mirez Bacceda/Orlando Sentinel)
The vehicle assembly building seen from the LC-39’s gantry during the LC-39 media tour is a new guest experience for visitors to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Thursday, July 10th, 2025.
Earth Information Center’s short film on Thursday, July 10th, 2025 during a Gantry media tour on LC-39, a new guest experience for visitors to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
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Rocket Builder Activities in the Gantry of the LC-39, a new guest experience at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Thursday, July 10th, 2025 (Ricardolas Milles Bacceda/Orlando Sentinel)
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At the mid-level there is an outdoor view of the historic launch pad. In some cases there are binoculars to see nature (wild pigs and vultures), and there are complex 39-Pad B that fires the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station where the Hubble Space Telescope was sent.
The Bleacher area has been expanded to see the actual launch from the Pad 40 and 41, about 2.7 miles from the LC-39’s gantry.
At ground level there is a shady play area inspired by Florida wildlife such as crocodiles and sea turtles. Nearby is the Earth Information Center, which has four-minute film and electronic displays, containing floating Earths that reveal data on topics such as space science, ocean temperature, aerosols in the air, and fires seen from space.
The Gantry, where many space shuttle launches were once suspended only for extra ticket VIP tours. Currently, it is part of the standard tour included with regular admission to the Visitor Centre.
Guests can remain as long as they wish in the gantry area and take another bus heading to the Apollo/Saturn V Centre. There’s a lot of reads and absorption. This has lots of reads and absorption, including the fact that the crocodile enters the vehicle assembly building (thanks, automatic doors) and tests the engine at the Stennis Space Center in Southern Mississippi before NASA sends it to KSC.
“The best thing to do is explore,” Protze said. “That’s what Kennedy is all about. That’s all about space exploration.”
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Original issue: July 11, 2025 6:06am EDT
