Set in the 1960s, Fly Me to the Moon tells the fictional story of a marketing hotshot (played by Scarlett Johansson) tasked with reigniting national excitement for the space race in the lead up to the moon landing, and the ensuing romance between her and a NASA launch director (playing by Channing Tatum).
And where better to film a movie about NASA and the historic moon landing than the exact place where the real Apollo 11 launched back in 1969? That’s right, the stars of Fly Me to the Moon filmed at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for many of the movie’s scenes, featuring actual rockets, vehicles and buildings instead of creating fake props and sets!
@attractiontickets.com A Hollywood movie was filmed in Florida! 🤩🚀 ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ featuring Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, and Woody Harrelson, has just launched in cinemas worldwide. The romantic drama features many of the spectacular visual highlights of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex! Next time you visit, you’ll be able to walk the Rocket Garden, see the Saturn V Rocket, and feel like you’re in the movie as scenes were filmed right here! 🎬 Head to our website to plan your own visit to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex visit! #kennedyspacecenter #florida #flymetothemoon #moviesets #visitflorida ♬ Unwritten x New York by ALTÉGO - ALTÉGO
So if watching the movie made you want to learn more about the real space race, these are all the featured locations and artefacts at Kennedy Space Center that you can see for yourself with a ticket to the Visitor Complex at Cape Canaveral:
Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB)
Unsurprisingly, the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center is where the large components of space vehicles are assembled in preparation for launch. The building was completed in 1966 specifically for the assembly of the Apollo-Saturn V vehicle, and has been in use ever since. The VAB is the largest single-storey building in the world, and the eighth-largest building by volume. The building is so large that you could drive a double decker bus up one of the stripes of the American flag on its side!
As the VAB is still in use by NASA, you can’t actually go in the building, but when you take the Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour you’ll drive past it to get an idea of the scale of this enormous building.
Saturn V Rocket
While the Saturn V rocket on display at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex’s Apollo/Saturn V Center isn’t the exact one that launched humans to the moon in the 1960s, it is the real deal. It’s one of only three remaining Saturn V rockets in the United States and is 60 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty at 363 feet tall!
You’ll get a glimpse of it in the movie, but when you visit Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex you can really see the enormity of this rocket as you can walk underneath its full length.
The Rocket Garden
Before the Apollo mission in 1969 there were the Mercury and Gemini programs; the first two successful human spaceflight programs. These are represented in the Rocket Garden, paying tribute to the scientists and engineers that turned spaceflight into a reality.
When you visit Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, make sure to stop by for a guided tour to learn about this early history of rocket science.
Astrovan
The astrovan was used to transport astronauts from crew quarters to the launch pad, and the stars of Fly Me to the Moon were filmed sitting inside it for certain scenes. While you can’t sit inside the Astovan yourself, when you visit the Apollo/Saturn V Center you can get an up close view to see what astronauts like Neil Armstrong would have experienced in those final moments before they went into space!
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is home to hundreds of authentic artefacts that showcase the past, present and future of space exploration, so these aren’t the only attractions you can experience with your ticket. Other displays include the real Space Shuttle Atlantis, the Astronaut Hall of Fame, and a glimpse into our journey to Mars.
All of this is included in the cost of you admission, so book your Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex tickets now to experience it all yourself. Our tickets are open dated, so check the events calendar closer to your holiday, as you might even be able to visit on a rocket launch day!
