VIDEO: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Kicks Off Summer of Mars Experience Tour

By  //  June 30, 2017

first stop in Atlanta, RETURNS TO KSC in August

ABOVE VIDEO: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex kicked off the Summer of Mars on June 5 with Astronauts Scott Kelly, Jon McBride and the reveal of the Mars Rover Concept Vehicle.

BREVARD COUNTY • CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA – A car trip on I-95 this July and August might bring with it more than just the usual sights.

Passers-by could be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of an extraterrestrial convoy, as a massive Mars rover concept vehicle, commissioned by Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, makes it way on a custom-trailer up and down the East Coast for tour stops in select cities.

The vehicle will make its first stop in Atlanta for a three-day stay at the Sun Trust Stadium beginning July 14, and will then make its way to Washington, D.C., Jersey City, and New York City, returning to Cape Canaveral in late-August.

A highlight of the Summer of Mars campaign at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, the Mars rover was designed as a traveling exhibit to inspire the public about space exploration and interplanetary travel.

The 5,500-pound, nearly 11-foot tall rover will be on display at the visitor complex through the end of June, at which point it will begin its East Coast tour.

The 5,500-pound, nearly 11-foot tall rover will be on display at the visitor complex through the end of June, at which point it will begin its East Coast tour.

“At Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, we create immersive space experiences for our guests,” said Therrin Protze, chief operating officer, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

“The Mars rover will give guests a front row seat to NASA’s Journey to Mars and bring the future of space exploration to life for the generation that will first step foot on Mars, as they see and learn what it will take to travel the landscape of the Red Planet.”

In addition to the Mars rover, the free Summer of Mars Experience will include interactive games that allow consumers to learn about plant life and habitats on Mars, virtual reality which will transport visitors to the Red Planet, periodic pump rocket launches, photo opportunities, premium giveaways and more.

WATCH: SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Launch From KSC Set Sunday, Window Will Open at 7:36 p.m.Related Story:
WATCH: SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Launch From KSC Set Sunday, Window Will Open at 7:36 p.m.

Tour dates are as follows; for specific information and times, visit www.kennedyspacecenter.com

  • July 14-17, 2017 The Battery Atlanta at Sun Trust Park, Atlanta, Ga.
  • July 21-23, 2017 National Air & Space Museum, Washington, D.C.
  • July 29-30, 2017 Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, N.J.
  • August 2-6, 2017 Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, New York, N.Y.
  • August 12, 2017 North Point Mall, Alpharetta, Ga.

CLICK HERE FOR SPACE NEWS FROM NASA