NASA Holds Drawing to Buy Tickets for Final Space Shuttle Launch – Shuttle Atlantis STS-135

For viewers who want to get as close as they can to the final Space Shuttle launch at the Kennedy Space Center, registration for tickets is now open. Due to increased demand however not everyone who registers may get a ticket. KSC is implementing a new “lottery” system to allow those who register to purchase a shuttle launch ticket.

Space Shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-135 is scheduled to be the final launch of a Space Shuttle from NASA’s fleet. The launch is currently scheduled for Friday, July 8, 2011 at 11:40 a.m. ET. The tickets allow visitors to the space center to take a bus from the KSC Visitor Complex out to the shuttle launch viewing site on the NASA causeway.

Registration for tickets can be done online at www.ksclaunchtickets.com beginning May 30 at 9:00 a.m. ET through June 5, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. ET. KSC officials expect that the tickets will move quickly as demand for tickets has gone up due to the retirement of the space shuttle fleet.

Describing the registration process on their web site, KSC wrote, “The launch ticket opportunity process ensures a fair opportunity for those that are interested in purchasing launch viewing tickets. There is a one-week period to register for the opportunity to purchase tickets. When the registration period ends, registrants will be selected at random for the opportunity to purchase tickets at a later date. Not everyone who registers will be selected to purchase tickets.”

For those who register, a random drawing will be held once registration closes on June 5, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Those selected will receive an email including the date and time to purchase tickets. The purchasing opportunity will last for one day. Those who do not purchase during the one day window will forfeit their opportunity.

According to information from the KSC web site, here are the ticket purchase options:

•NASA Causeway: Admission ticket* to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and a Launch Transportation Ticket to view the launch from the NASA Causeway. $61 adult/$51 child (ages 3-11) plus tax.
•Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex: Admission ticket* to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex with launch viewing from the main Visitor Complex grounds. Special launch day activities. $43 adult/$33 child (ages 3-11) plus tax.
•U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame®: Admission ticket to the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame with launch viewing from the Hall of Fame grounds. Special launch day activities. $20 adult/$16 child (ages 3-11) plus tax.
* The Admission ticket to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex includes a second day free if used within seven consecutive days. Hours of operation are limited on launch days, so we encourage you to visit on a day before or after the launch to enjoy everything that is included with your admission.