Sneak Peek Inside The Gantry at LC-39 | THE GANTRY OBSERVATION TOWER

Discover the namesake gantry at the heart of The Gantry at LC-39 and its four floors of excitement. From augmented reality to scavenger hunts, each activity brings you a little closer to the action happening at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral.

Starting from the ground up, the gantry’s first experience sets the tone in a big way – three stories high.

Begin by placing a toy rocket on a designated launch platform in the center of the gantry, and when you’re ready, press a button to trigger your launch countdown. Then watch as your rocket soars up one – two – three floors through the center of the gantry.

It’s dynamic, fun, and competitive, with the perfect amount of playfulness that both kids and adults can find amusing. And if you or your little ones can’t get enough of it, you can buy a full stomp rocket kit to take home at Gantry Gifts or The Space Shop.

One of the exciting aspects of The Gantry at LC-39 is its unique proximity to numerous active launch pads. From the second floor, you can enjoy a new perspective and find answers to many of your questions about these launch pads, especially the burning question: “What is that? – And what is that?”

With this question already in mind, graphics identify the launch pad infrastructure and relate them back to the launch process, helping you understand the key factors and steps needed for a successful launch.

You might have played “I spy…” before, maybe in a car or while waiting in line somewhere. But we can bet you’ve never played it at a spaceport before. Now here’s your chance!

As you ascend the gantry, the views of the surrounding launch pads get even more magnificent, and more details come to light. Set up in strategic spots across the third floor, three binoculars offer up-close views of Launch Complexes 39A and 39B, as well as Space Launch Complexes 41, 40, and 37.

Curious minds can use them to explore the launch pads at their leisure; but for a more whimsical approach, we challenge you to find specific, identified items at and around the launch pads through a binoculars game designed for the whole family. It gives a playful glimpse into life at NASA and deeper insight into the objects on the pads.

The highlight of the Gantry, the fourth floor offers unparalleled views of Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral’s active launch sites. Here, you can explore NASA’s landscape even closer and learn about important launch pad landmarks using augmented reality (AR) viewers.

In the center of the room is an interactive experience you won’t want to miss: the Rocket Builder. Using the real Kennedy Space Center spaceport as your backdrop, your task is to design, build, and test a rocket for a mission-specific simulated launch.

With three different missions to choose from and rocket customization options ranging from science-specific (like payload and fuel) to entertainment-specific (like colors), the possibilities are endless. Will your rocket successfully blast into space and land on the Moon with all its supplies in tow? Or will it sputter on the launch pad and then simply fall over? To help you, NASA has assigned Sōl, an Artificial Intelligence assistant, to provide you tips and guidance, as well as serve as Launch Commentator for your rocket’s countdown.

The possibility of failure opens the door to reiteration and innovation, allowing you to adjust your designs and try again. Welcome to rocket science.

The Gantry at LC-39 opens summer 2025 as an exciting new experience on the Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and is included in the standard admission ticket.

It is included with the standard admission ticket and features outdoor play areas, historical artifacts, premier launch viewing, and an immersive Earth Information Center, simulated full-sized rocket engine static test fire, and four-story gantry with interactive experiences – all just 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) from an active launch pad.

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