Early peak at Atlantis inside retirement home

Although the new $100 million facility to showcase the space shuttle Atlantis won't be finished and opened to the public until next July, tourists can get a "sneak peak" of the retired orbiter this week parked inside the exhibit hall at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

The viewing opportunity is available through next Sunday during daily windows of 2 to 5 p.m., when construction work will not be occurring.

You can access the area to see Atlantis through the gift shop at the Shuttle Launch Experience attraction. "Sneak-a-Peek" is part of regular admission to the Visitor Complex, officials said.

"We are excited to offer this rare opportunity for Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex patrons," said Bill Moore, chief operating officer of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. "We know they will cherish seeing Atlantis in this unique setting before construction is completed and the exhibit is unveiled to the world next July."

In the next few weeks, Atlantis will be removed from the 76-wheel transporter that hauled the shuttle to the Visitor Complex last Friday, wrapped in a protective covering to keep dirt and dust off the spacecraft and raised 36 feet above the ground and tilted 43.21 degrees to its final display orientation for support pedestals to be brought into place. Erecting the final wall of the building and establishing air conditioning should be finished early next month.

See our coverage of Atlantis' delivery.

Photo credit: Walter Scriptunas II/Spaceflight Now

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