Hey Thrill Seekers,
It’s Interview Tuesday (still not a thing) and today we’ve got a good one with Phil from Kennedy Space Center. If you met Phil you’d like him, he’s one of those guys. A top bloke and what he doesn’t know about Kennedy isn’t worth knowing.
Lets get to know him;
Name: Philip Britton
Company: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Position: UK Account Manager
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
If you could have an endless supply of any food, what would you get? Walkers Salt & Vinegar……….simply the best there is!
If you were an animal, what would you be and why? Elephant…..Gentle, caring, intelligent and loves roaming around, playing and a good swim!
If someone made a movie of your life would it be a drama, a comedy, a romantic-comedy, action film, or science fiction? Part 1 would be an action film (aged 1 – 25), part 2 a drama (26 – 50), and then in part 3 (51-nutil the end!) life becomes a comedy!
Complete the sentence; I was once mistaken for . . . Gary Lineker
If you had your own talk show, who would your first three guests be? Glenn Hoddle followed by Kylie Minogue and then an Astronaut!
WORK
What was the highlight of 2016 for your company?: KSC had a great year in the UK as interest in Space Travel really hit the headlines. Tim Peake’s Mission to the International Space station was fantastic and we look forward to his return. Watching the new private space companies re land a rocket back on the launch pad at Kennedy after it had released its payload was an amazing feat of engineering. KSC itself opened Heroes & Legends, a new walk through interactive attraction that combines the Astronaut Hall of Fame and is simply stunning.
What can we expect from your company in 2017?: More Space related News and Press to Flow from Florida. 2017 will see NASA move closer to launching the first test flight of the rocket which will hopefully one day be able to take a man to Mars, called the SLS (Space Launch System) it will be the most powerful rocket ever built and hopefully will fly in 2018. There is still a long way to go then, the technology required is hugely advanced and there will be many tests before we finally reach the red planet in many, many years’ time!. Meanwhile at the visitor complex the exhibitions will evolve, the world’s only back to back IMAX screens will keep showing wonderful space films, one is entitled “A Beautiful Planet” and shows us hundreds of spectacular images of Earth taken from the International Space Station…… Simply amazing!
Make a 2017 prediction…: 2017 will be a challenging year but Florida will not shut down because of Brexit, the exchange rate or politics. As a nation, we continue to regard Florida as a great destination and the weather, the parks and the thrill of it all will keep drawing us back. Kennedy is just an hour’s drive from Orlando, it’s a fantastic day out, standing underneath the Saturn V rocket, one of which took Man to the moon or gazing in awe at Space Shuttle Atlantis which made 33 missions into space are memories that will never be forgotten. 2016 was a record year for Brits at the Visitor Complex and we hope the our fascination with Space will draw even more of us this year. Maybe a future British Astronaut will pass through the gates!, KSC is where many dreams are made…..
Best Theme Park ride/attraction of 2017?: At KSC we have an experience called the “Space Shuttle Launch Experience”. Designed by NASA astronauts it gives the feeling of a real Space Shuttle launch, strap in for the sights, sounds and excitement of what it was really like to reach 17,000mph and head towards Space. It’s an adrenaline filled rush that should not be missed!.
Best Theme Park/attraction food of 2016?: Space Ice Cream!….. NASA has designed hundreds of different foods to give the astronauts the opportunity to experience the types of food we have here on earth. Space food is very different, but one is very popular, Space Ice Cream and sells by the scoop load in the Space Shop at KSC……! Try it, it melts in the mouth!
Best Theme Park/attraction tip?: Any visit to Kennedy isn’t complete without taking the “Lunch with an Astronaut” optional upgrade. Where else can you actually sit down and dine and hear space stories from a former NASA astronaut?, It’s a superb addition to any visit, includes a picture with the astronaut of the day and a 3 course buffet lunch, an experience not to be forgotten!
Best kept secret in Florida?: There continues to be many rocket launches each year from KSC, satellites and payloads to the International Space Station are always being sent up!. Why not check out the launch time table on the Kennedy Space Center website and see if your visit to Florida co-indices with a launch. They are spectacular events and can be seen from many miles away or up close (Well a few miles back!) at KSC!
Thanks Phil for taking the time out of your busy schedule to chat to us. Remember Kennedy Space Center Admission tickets adult prices are currently on offer at the same price as child tickets, so take advantage while you can.
You can read other interviews in the series here;
Eat & Play Card
Fun Spot
Kids Eat Free Card
Gatorland
WonderWorks
Smiles included…
Jamie
