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Information on the Kennedy Space Center
by Suzanne McCullough White
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Overview
The John F. Kennedy Space Center, located just east of Orlando, Florida, is the facility where NASA launches its space vehicles. Covering an area of approximately 220 square miles, the center also includes the Launch Control Center, a visitor center and a wildlife refuge.
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History
In 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Four years later in 1962, NASA established its Launch Operations Center near Cape Canaveral in Florida. After his assassination, the center was re-named for President John F. Kennedy, who was integral in creating the United States space program.
Dr. Werner Von Braun and President John F. Kennedy in November 1963 (photo from NASA).
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Purpose
The Kennedy Space Center has served as the launching site for all manned American space flights and hundreds of unmanned research vehicles since the inception of the United States space program in the late 1950's. The Center is also a major tourist attraction, with a visitor center attracting thousands of guests each year to tour the facilities. Because of its location on the coast of Florida, and because so much of it must remain open, the Kennedy Space Center campus is also one of the largest wildlife refuges in the state.
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Launches
Launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Apollo 11 carried Neil Armstrong to become the first man to walk on the moon on July 20, 1969, thus meeting President Kennedy's promise to have a man on the moon before the 1960's ended. Since that time, the Space Center has been integral for projects such as the International Space Station, the Hubble Space Telescope and most recently the Mars Exploration Rovers.
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Website
The Kennedy Space Center also maintains an up-to-the-minute website detailing all of the news from the Center and providing educational resources for students, teachers and anyone else interested in the space program. There are thousands of photographs of outer space and the people and equipment that make space travel possible. You'll also find multimedia resources such as movies, simulations and webcasts. Visit the website at: http://www.nasa.gov/home/index.html.
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Visiting
Located very close to the Disney theme parks in Orlando, the Kennedy Space Center is among the top tourist destinations in Florida. Visitors are able to tour the launch facilities, experience what astronaut training is like, meet astronauts and even view a launch. There are several museums on the facility, as well as the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame and two IMAX theatres. The Kennedy Space Center is open every day of the year except Christmas Day and certain launch days.
The visitor complex at Kennedy Space Center.
