Florida’s Kennedy Space Center has officially launched its newest attraction, bringing its off-site Hall of Fame into the visitor complex as part of its new Heroes and Legends exhibition.

The Hall of Fame, previously located in Titusville, Florida, now moves to the centre, having previously been managed as a satellite facility from 2002.

Operated by Delaware North – the company which runs the visitor complex – Heroes and Legends brings to life the stories of the US astronauts, using hi-tech elements, such as augmented reality and advanced hologram technology, to immerse visitors in the stories coming to life in front of them. The Falcon’s Creative Group-designed attraction will allow guests to learn about the nearly 100 astronauts inducted to date, with space for additions as more are honoured.

“I think the job that the astronauts do and what Heroes and Legends will do for our future youth and youth of today and leaders of tomorrow is to inspire them to do the things that I got to do,” said NASA veteran Jon McBride, speaking to Attractions Management.

“When you walk through Heroes and Legends, you walk out feeling like you too can come down and fly the spacecraft of the future - maybe be that first man or woman that walks on Mars.”

Speaking on the importance of NASA and the similar programmes to promote STEM subjects using space, McBride said that concept was at the centre of the entire development.

“STEM is one of the most important acronyms in today’s society,” he said. “I was inspired by the early guys at NASA and John Kennedy, who I got to meet while he was campaigning for President. These things stuck in my mind the whole time I was in college. It changed the course of my life and if you’re talking science, technology, maths and engineering, it really helps to inspire the youth. That’s our primary target - to get these young men and women to go off and do some good things.”

The new addition, which represents a US$23m investment by the institution, broke ground in 2016 with services being supplied by Falcon’s including concept design, schematics, design development, media production and executive production. Aviation and aerospace specialists BRHP also worked on the expansion, with the designers working across the Kennedy Space Center to repurpose old buildings for new purposes. Electrosonic supplied audio visual systems and Orlando-based The Nassal Company looked at theming elements. Florida-based construction firm HW Davis were construction engineers.