MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. — With NASA situated in Central Florida’s backyard, you can only imagine the impact it has had on those dreaming of becoming astronauts, engineers or technicians.

What You Need To Know

  • The training allows guests to stay for five hours and try their hand at several space adventures
  • Guests can experience microgravity, Mars virtual reality, driving on Mars and learning different space exploration jobs

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex invites guests to explore their dreams of exploring space through their Astronaut Training Experience.

The complex has built a specially dedicated facility for special training.

Guests who sign up (reservations are recommended) can spend five hours exploring several specially designed space experiences in a room with the look and feel of a sterile training facility.

Kennedy Space Center Astronaut Training Experience (Spectrum News/Randy Rauch)

Educator Ben Hedgecock says their microgravity simulation is a favorite.

“So, we are going to simulate microgravity, and we are going to work on a truss of the International Space Station,” said Hedgecock, talking to a guest preparing for the experience.

To repair a part on the International Space Station, one guest is stretched out on their back on a rolling lounge type of chair, where compressed air is pushing up through the chair and on to the astronaut, giving the feeling of weightlessness.

Another guest sits at the nearby control station, coaching the wannabe space traveler through headsets and video screens to assist in making a repair in space.

“This is just a slice that we have here that we can give people an opportunity to get a little bit closer to that experience, that most of us are never going to have,” said Hedgecock.

The Astronaut Training also includes a virtual reality Mars experience, a Mars lander, rover simulator (thrill ride) and the opportunity to be part of a team for a complete rocket launch and trip into space, exposing guests to a variety of space related jobs.

The Astronaut Training Experience last five hours and costs $175.

Alternatively, you can choose to do only one of the experiences, which costs $30 and lasts for 30 minutes.

For more information, visit the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

Kennedy Space Center Astronaut Training Experience (Spectrum News/Randy Rauch)