“I Will Fly You to the Moon and Back”: Kennedy Space Center

By that time, the world had already been acquainted with matters such as space exploration and the hopes were already high. As a matter of fact, the Soviets and the Americans were competing each other for many years during the 1950’s and the 1960’s. Sometimes it was the Soviets that celebrated, like when they managed to launch the first man-made object to orbit the Earth: it was 1957 and the name given to it was Sputnik. On the other hand, the Americans launched the first Mars flyby in 1965. The game was taught, the competition was very tight. Both sides had to give it all and we shouldn’t forget that the world was under the Cold War spell during these years. However, dreadful events have been avoided and in the aftermath of this spell humanity was left with the best results that could have possibly came out of a tight competition.

In 1969, the Americans finally made it in being the first to have set their foot on the Moon. The following words, after all, summarize not only a singular and exceptional event, but this whole era of space exploration: "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind". Neil Armstrong said it and history got to be written forever after, under this motto. The thrill to watch a man stepping his foot on the moon was as big as to immortalize Armstrong’s phrase and to turn him into a symbol of the 20^th century. He made the first step in space, and the journey may now go on; next stop could even be on Mars!

Well, it might take some time though! Truth is, that space exploration isn’t as extraordinary as it used to be back in Armstrong’s days. Today, not the budget of NASA is significantly smaller than in the 60’s, but also the people’s imagination doesn’t seem to be so much captivated as before. These things change, of course. Just wait for the moment when we will land on Mars! To stress my argument even more, can you imagine what will happen if we actually find out that there might be a possibility, even the slightest one, that life exists elsewhere than on planet Earth, that there actually is a thing called extra-terrestrial life!? I only wish to be still alive, if that time ever comes!

Till then, we, the mere mortals on Earth who'd like to have a piece of it, could engage in two concrete activities: either start gathering money in order to become one of the first space tourists (but I guess that twenty million dollars are not at all an easy target) or we can simply visit the Kennedy Space Center in Florida!  Florida Attractions available at Florida Tix will make it easy for you to book your ticket without too much bother. As for what you will have the chance to visit there, well, first of all, you will experience a simulated ride into space! 

What is more, the Rocket Garden displays a number of historic rockets that once sent Americans in space. If you like going to the movies, you should know that at the Kennedy Space Center you can watch rare footage shot by American astronauts in one of the two IMAX theaters located there. In the US Astronaut Hall of Fame you will have the chance to get better acquainted with the people that took the most exciting trip that mankind has ever known: that to the Moon and back. Also, if you decide to take the NASA UP Close Tour you will surely learn a lot more about space exploration and what it involves!

The Kennedy Space Center is a place where kids and adults alike can have the time of their lives. It is a place where you learn and you are free to dream of more men changing the world the way Armstrong once did. As for the future steps of mankind in the context of this wonderful special adventure, we could only utter in enthusiasm: Mars… here we come!