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In tributes unique among NASA’s field centers, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex preserves the feats of the nation’s astronauts. The U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame is part of the Legends and Heroes exhibit. In addition, a vast collection of astronaut memorabilia and the stunning black granite Space Mirror Memorial honor their service and sacrifices.
An area that once focused primarily on launching rockets has developed into a tourist mecca and major cruise ship port, not to mention a center for manufacturing and hi-tech.
For the uninitiated, celebrating Christmas in Florida is a lot different than celebrating it in northern climes.
Instead of sleigh rides and strolls through snow-covered villages, we have things like boat parades and surfing Santas.
A reusable laboratory flown on the space shuttles, Spacelab’s launch from the Kennedy Space Center on Nov. 28, 1983, paved the way for the International Space Station.
Emblazoned with the American flag and NASA logo, the Vehicle Assembly Building looms suddenly into view as visitors approach the Kennedy Space Center. The landmark that helped put Brevard County on the world map has more than earned its distinction as a symbol of America’s space program since its completion in 1966.
Ever since I was a preteen growing up in South Florida in the 1960s, I have been fascinated by the space program. Aside from wanting to be an astronaut like many kids, I wished I lived close to the space center where I could watch the rocket launches first hand.
It began with a bold idea.
Speaking before a joint session of Congress on May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced the ambitious goal of sending an American to the moon by the end of the decade. The announcement came just six weeks after Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space and four years after the Soviet Union shocked and embarrassed the United States by launching Sputnik, the Earth’s first artificial satellite.
It happened 60 years ago come July 1. Merritt Island was officially designated the U.S. space program’s Launch Operations Center — which a year later would become known as the Kennedy Space Center — under NASA.
May 25, 1961 – President John F. Kennedy announces before a joint session of Congress his ambitious goal of sending an American to the moon before the end of the decade….
While Brevard County enjoys one of the most diverse economies in the country, it will always remain intrinsically connected to the economy of the space program and the Kennedy Space Center, which has significantly impacted the county’s ups and downs since its start in 1962.
With rockets launching almost every week, there is a renewed interest in America’s space program. People line the beaches and roadways surrounding Kennedy Space Center in Florida to watch rockets launched from pads 39A and 39B, and the adjoining Canaveral Space Force Base pads. Since the opening of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center 60 years ago, large crowds have been coming to Brevard County for a firsthand experience as the race for the moon heated up. For a comprehensive look at the space program, tourists can head to KSC’s visitors complex.
All types of birds, alligators, snakes and wild boars can be found in the large wildlife sanctuary that is a good portion of NASA’s field center on Merritt Island. Only about 9% of the 144,000 acres that comprise the John F. Kennedy Space Center has been developed. NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building, at 525 feet tall, is visible from quite a distance.
Jean Hopkins was born and raised in the Cocoa area and had a 30-year career in the space industry
