Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex remains open despite federal government shutdown

The Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Visitor Complex remains open despite the federal government shutdown.

“Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is operated for NASA by Delaware North and is not supported by government or taxpayer funding and therefore we are able to remain open,” the KSC Visitor Complex said on X Wednesday morning to assure tourists not to cancel their upcoming plans.

All of the KSC Complex’s exhibits and attractions are still open, the organization confirmed.

The federal government shut down at midnight Wednesday after gridlock between Republicans and Democrats over health care funding. Health care subsidies from the Affordable Care Act are going to be ending soon for millions of people, which will make insurance premiums rise nationally. 

With the federal government shut down, about 750,000 federal employees are expected to be furloughed. Some could permanently lose their job, as President Donald Trump’s administration is considering firing them, The Associated Press reported.

Trump threatened to target Democrats’ priorities and warned about “cutting vast numbers of people out, cutting things that they like, cutting programs that they like,” according to the AP.

The full impact of the federal government shutdown is unclear.

At least for people heading to see the Saturn V rocket or the retired Atlantis, their trips won’t be spoiled.

Kennedy Space Center has become a must-see tourism destination during the revival of regular rocket launches on the coast. SpaceX and Blue Origin and other private companies are taking off in the skies, drawing visitors to witness rocket launches.

KSC is on track for at least 100 launches this year. But the most anticipated launch is scheduled for 2026, as Americans look to return to the moon in Artemis II.

KSC Visitor Complex recently added a new stop onto its popular bus tour and regularly holds special ticketed events, like the upcoming Taste of Space.