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The test flight, called Ares I-X, is NASA's first test flight for the Agency's new Constellation launch vehicle -- Ares I. The test flight will bring NASA one step closer to its exploration goals -- to return to the moon for more ambitious exploration of the lunar surface and to travel to Mars and destinations beyond. The Ares I-X flight will provide NASA with an early opportunity to test and prove flight characteristics, hardware, facilities and ground operations associated with the Ares I.
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Days Inn Florida
Days Inn hotels offer great value all over the Florida map. Whether your Florida vacation brings you to the golf courses, the amusement parks, or the sandy beaches, there is sure to be a Days Inn hotel nearby. Enjoy great savings with our Sunsational Rates at participating locations.
Click here for a select property listing to make your reservation and save even more.
USA SunWard Tours Click here for itineraries. (321) 453-0704
Melbourne is by far my most fave spot on earth! There is so many fun things to do, it is INSANE!! Disney World...90 minutes away! Kennedy Space Center....20 minutes away! Cocoa Village....15 minutes away! Then the local stuff...the Indian River, the Atlantic ocean, Brevard Zoo, the flea market on Eau Gallie and I-95...the fun never stops!!! Travel.Yahoo.com User
Online Traveler
We are not space buffs, but we thoroughly enjoyed spending a day at the Kennedy Space Center and the Astronaut Hall of Fame. We enjoyed them as much, in fact, as the WDW theme parks. I highly recommend this excursion for families, which is only 45 minutes east of Orlando. The Astronaut Hall of Fame, in particular, is very child friendly with several “rides” and lots of interactive museum-quality games that make learning fun.
Overall, this is a highly recommended attraction and is easy on the pocketbook in comparison to the Disney sites. From the KSC, we drove onto nearby Cocoa Beach and spent a nice day there, too, before returning to Orlando. TripAdvisor.com User
Online Traveler
Cocoa beach is a great beach because you have the beautiful Florida weather, a clean sandy beach and everything for everyone in the family. Its a surfers beach so no matter where you go you can be entertained by the surfers, and no matter your skill level there is a spot to surf on the beach for you. There are also many cool shops on the shore including the famous Ron Jons surf shop. And if you go at the right time you can see a shuttle launch from cape canaveral, what other beach can say that!! overall an amazing day at the beach will happen if you go to cocoa! Travel.Yahoo.com User
Online Traveler
Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral are great places to take kids to the beach. The beaches are wide and there are no rocks. Also at low tide there is a lot of space to wade, build sand castles, dig deep holes, and boogie board.
Kennedy Space Center
This is a great place to take kids. In addition to the exhibits at the center there are IMAX movies and a bus tour. I highly recommend both. The bus tour is a must. In my opinion skipping the bus tour is like going to Disney and only seeing Main Street. The bus tour takes you out to the Saturn viewing center which is very nice.
Watch the Cruise Ships Leave!
This is one of our favorite things to do on Sunday night. Carnvial, Royal Caribbean, and Disney cruise lines all leave beginning at 5:00 (it's the same on Saturday). There are three restaurants at Port Canaveral with great viewing. Also, you can go to Jetty Park and walk out on the fishing pier and get a great view of them leaving. TripAdvisor.com User
Welcome to Florida's Space Coast - Orlando's Closest Beaches
Just 35 miles east of Orlando, you'll find 72 miles of picturesque Atlantic beaches known as Florida's Space Coast. Along this impressive stretch of coastline, unspoiled nature preserves exist in perfect harmony with the space-age attractions of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Port Canaveral and the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Discover all the possibilities at Florida’s Space Coast – Cocoa Beach, Melbourne, Palm Bay and Titusville.
"Russian Classics" performed by Space Coast Symphony Orchestra
January 30, 2010
Enjoy a night with Florida's Space Coast Symphony and three stirring Russian masterpieces. Tchaikovsky’s majestic Fifth Symphony and music from Stravinsky’s exotic ballet, The Firebird, will be featured on this all Russian Program. Pianist Jamila Tekalli is sure to dazzle listeners in Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3. You can buy tickets for only $10 per performance. SCSO is a lively and passionate Central Florida orchestra comprised of professional, university level and talented young musicians. The symphony performs in a very comfortable venue at the First Baptist Church in Merritt Island. Make sure to also check out other cultural highlights of the new season!
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United States Astronaut Hall of Fame
Come live the human side of space at the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame! Experience the sights, sounds and experiences of the famous astronauts who first ventured into the frontiers of space. Here you can find exhibits dedicated to our nation's astronauts, including the world's largest collection of personal memorabilia and realistic astronaut training simulators. Explore a rare collection of astronaut artifacts and see remarkable displays, exhibits and tributes dedicated to the heroes. From Wally Schirra's Sigma 7 Mercury spacecraft to stunning glass etchings that line the Hall of Heroes, the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame celebrates the accomplishments of astronauts everywhere. This is an adventure for the entire family!
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Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge
Experience sea turtles in their natural habitat at Florida’s Space Coast. The twenty mile section of coastline from Melbourne Beach to Wabasso Beach in Florida is the most important nesting area for loggerhead sea turtles in the western hemisphere and the second most important nesting beach in the world. Twenty-five percent of all loggerhead sea turtle and Thirty-five percent of all green sea turtle nests in the United States occur in this twenty mile zone. The refuge was established in 1991 and was named after the late Dr. Archie Carr, Jr., in honor of his extraordinary contribution to sea turtle conservation.
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13th Annual Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival
January 27 - February 1, 2010
The 13th Annual Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival is already mapped out and planned in preparation for another great year! Organizers have 90+ other biologists, ornithologists, scientists, photographers, historians, naturalists lined up and several field trips which will allow participants to get a birds-eye view of the more than 200 bird species that flock to the Space Coast during the winter months. Take part and explore the plethora of wildlife and plants that make their home on Florida's Space Coast! Various events are available to attendees including: Field Trips, Workshops, Keynotes, Photo Workshops, Water Adventures or Bird Walks to Chain of Lakes.
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Sandbar Sports Grill
Sandbar Sports Grill is your piece of paradise on Florida’s East Coast. Located directly beach side in world famous Cocoa Beach, Florida the Sandbar Sports Grill is the place to fill up before or after a big day of surfing or just hanging out. Offering a full kitchen menu served until midnight, and with two bars to choose from, you’ll never have to wait in line or fight the crowd. Get rescued from boring food with the famous Fish Tacos! With daily musical offerings ranging from Surf Guitar, Reggae, to old fashioned Rock-n- Roll, live bands are sure to keep your feet moving. Or just stop by and Stop in and watch some sports on the 100 inch television screen. Welcome at the beach!
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Perfect Time for Camping
Florida’s Space Coast offers more than 2,000 scenic campground and recreational vehicle park sites. Many sites border the sun kissed Florida Atlantic shore, diverse river estuaries, protected wildlife refuges and palmetto paradises. Great locations and warm weather provide the perfect settings for picnicking, swimming, surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, boating and hiking. The Space Coast offers the ideal scene for vacationers who want to get back to nature. Bring your whole family and enjoy wonderful holidays!
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The Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival
January 21-24, 2010
Come and visit the Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival, a special taste experience! Enjoy free live entertainment and sample Frog Leg Dinners or Gator Tail. There is also a variety of food available from Sausage and Peppers to Candy Apples. Several craftsmen will be there offering shopping opportunities. Have your kids take a fun pony ride or go on an adventurous helicopter ride with beautiful views. This year the Festival Committee is planning to serve nearly 7,000 dinners and estimate more that 80,000 people attending the 4 day event. The purpose of the Festival is to continue to raise funds for the recreational needs of children in Fellsmere with proceeds also donated to volunteer organizations who work the Festival.
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Naturally Out of This World
The Space Coast is a unique place with numerous wildlife areas that dot the 72-miles of Atlantic coastline, a visitor to the Space Coast can find year-round family enjoyment that is naturally out-of-this-world. The Space Coast offers more than 250 square miles of protected wildlife refuges with spectacular landscapes and a rich diversity of rare and endangered plants and animals. The Southern Bald Eagle, West Indian Manatee, Wood Stork, White Pelican, Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin and Roseate Spoonbill represent just some of the more than 20 rare and threatened species listed for protection.
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Florida's Best Fishing
Florida's Space Coast offers some of the best fishing in the country! Few places in the world offer the variety of species found here. From big bass and crappie on the St. Johns River to giant redfish, trout and snook on the Indian River Lagoon to exciting billfish action offshore in the Atlantic, the Space Coast is hard to beat! Fishermen can decide between Deep Sea, Pier, Surf or River Fishing. There are more than half a dozen public boat ramps, 72 miles of public beaches, several public piers, several places to rent a boat for the day, week or even month and free permits for deep sea and fresh water fishing.
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Experience a unique and thrilling Florida Airboat ride adventure! Join Captain Rick's personalized, interpretive eco-tour as you look for alligators, native and migratory birds, and other Florida wild life on the St. Johns River. Climb aboard “Grasshopper”, a state-of-the-art Airboat, custom built for a comfortable and safe Florida Airboat ride, promising you an educational and fun wildlife experience. The Airboats are specially designed and custom built with the visitors in mind. Elevated seating ensures a full undisturbed view, no matter where you sit. The weather proof seat bottom and back rests are cushioned for a comfortable ride. You also have the opportunity to sample Gourmet Alligator Snacks as part of your unique Florida dining experience! Make sure to bring sunglasses, sun screen - and your camera of course!
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