New Out-of-This-World Experiences Set to Enthrall British Holidaymakers at Florida's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Tim Peake's six-month (December 2015 – June 2016) mission on the International Space Station has captured the imagination of the nation, and leading Florida attraction, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, is preparing to welcome British visitors seeking an out-of-this-world experience of their own, with a range of brand new exhibits.

For 2016, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, is unveiling a host of thrilling new experiences and exhibits including “Cosmic Quest” – an interactive, live action gaming experience, “Heroes & Legends” which allows visitors to vicariously experience the thrills and dangers of America's earliest missions through high-tech elements and special effects, the “Eyes on the Universe: NASA'S Space Telescopes” show, and more.

Florida continues to prove a holiday hit with Brits, having welcomed 1.6 million UK travellers in 2015, 1.1million of which were to the Orlando area (stats from Visit Florida). Both Virgin Atlantic and British Airways upped the number of flights from the UK to Orlando in 2015 and this increased capacity will continue for 2016. In addition, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex receives thousands of visitors from the UK every year with Brits representing 10 per cent of the annual guests.

Opened February 2016: Cosmic Quest

Calling the next generation of Space Explorers! The only gameplay experience in the galaxy featuring real NASA missions, Cosmic Quest, opened on 25 February 2016 at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

Its newest visitor experience is an interactive live-action game experience, which engages and inspires young guests known as “trainees” like never before by immersing them in a number of space adventures while teaching them about NASA's current and future space science and exploration endeavours. Trainees can imagine making their way to Mars in a simulated capsule with a mission to create a habitat on the planet in order to protect astronauts from poisonous dust and radiation, or assemble a launch team from a pool of NASA's best, plus many more exciting space adventures.

Arrived March 2016: Countdown Clock

It saw the launch of Apollo 12 to the moon, the 135 Space Shuttle Program launches and numerous planetary probes. Now, the official Countdown Clock will launch guests to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on their day of authentic space experiences. The clock, formerly located at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Press Site is now a fixture at the entrance to the Visitor Complex, counting down to rocket launches and the four-hourly JFK Fountain presentations. It is considered one of the world's most watched timepieces, a close second to Big Ben in London.

Opened February 2016: Eyes on the Universe - NASA's Space Telescopes

Visitors can journey through time and space to the farthest reaches of the universe at “Eyes on the Universe: NASA'S Space Telescopes,” the newest and only 3D 4K resolution show at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

During the live presentation, visitors will traverse back in time 13.4 billion years ago through the eyes of the Hubble Space Telescope to search for the origins of life. They'll be guided to discover what is yet to be seen with the next great observatory under development: NASA's James Webb Telescope, constructed by Northrop Grumman. Eyes on the Universe is designed to spark guests to ask what discoveries will be unveiled in this new era of astronomy.

Opening Autumn 2016: Heroes and Legends

A new attraction designed to touch the hearts and minds of the next generation of space explorers – Heroes and Legends, featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame®, will open in autumn 2016.

Heroes and Legends will bring to life the enthralling stories of America's pioneering astronauts. The exhibit invites guests to vicariously experience the thrills and dangers of America's earliest missions through high-tech elements and special effects, including simulated holograms and augmented reality. Inside the new U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, guests can use interactive features to learn about nearly 100 astronaut heroes.

The highlight of Heroes and Legends is a 3D omnidirectional theatre, designed to make guests feel as though they are floating in the vastness of space. Stunning images will envelope them as legendary astronauts, including Alan Shepard, John Glenn, Jim Lovell and Neil Armstrong, invite them to join in their epic journeys into the vast unknown.

 www.KennedySpaceCenter.com.