Kennedy Space Center Facts

The fact about Kennedy Space Center is that it was the site of the historic Apollo 11 launch in 1969, which sent the first humans to the moon. This historic American spaceflight was a result of President John F. Kennedy's proposal to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade. Piloted by Buzz Aldrin and with Sir Neil Armstrong onboard, Apollo 11 launched from Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida, on July 16, 1969, at 13:32 UTC. It successfully landed on the moon on July 20th, 1969, at 20:17 UTC, making Neil Armstrong the first person to step on the moon's surface.

One of the interesting Kennedy Space Center facts is that it was President John F. Kennedy who inspired the effort to send astronauts to the moon with his speech during a special joint congress session on May 25th, 1961. He believed in achieving the goal of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth, and this idea was embraced by Americans. Five years later, the first unmanned Apollo mission took place, thanks to the hard work of international scientists, engineers, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Today, Kennedy Space Center is a symbol of America's scientific and technological achievements and a hub for space exploration and research.

The Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex is a great place to learn about Kennedy Space Center's history and to witness historical launches from Cape Canaveral. In 1961, the Texas Congressman Olin Teague requested NASA to create a visitors’ program after the successful launch of Apollo. A drive-through was established to allow the public to catch a glimpse of the launch pads and facilities.

The Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex, which opened in April 2012, offers a grand plaza, fountain, ticket booths, and retail shops. It has hosted numerous temporary exhibits such as Angry Birds Space Encounter between 2013 and 2015. Visitors can explore the history of space exploration, see real rockets, and even meet an astronaut.

Kennedy Space Center facts is that it serves not only as a launch site, it also serves as a wildlife sanctuary. The center is located in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, next to Canaveral National Seashore, which is one of the largest wildlife preserves in Florida. The refuge is home to over 300 species of birds and various wildlife such as bobcats, bald eagles, otters, manatees, alligators, Florida panthers, and sea turtles. A crew is assigned the task of clearing the runway before any shuttle launches, as it is common to see alligators sunning themselves. The Kennedy Space Center is a unique blend of technology and nature conservation.

One of the fascinating Kennedy Space Center facts is that Millions of people visit the Kennedy Space Center annually, making it one of the most visited destinations in the United States. In 2016, it was voted the 8th best museum in the country. The Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex welcomes over 1.5 million visitors every year who come to learn about the center's rich history and future explorations.

One of the lesser-known Kennedy Space Center facts is that it is situated in an area that experiences frequent electrical storms. To protect the structures, spacecraft, and employees from lightning strikes, lightning protection and detection systems are installed. In November 1969, during the launch of Apollo 12, lightning struck the spacecraft soon after takeoff from pad 39A. However, the crew continued with the mission safely. The most severe lightning strike occurred on August 25th, 2006, at LC-39B when shuttle Atlantis was being prepared for STS-115. In October 2005, the Kennedy Space Center also sustained damage from Hurricane Wilma.

The Kennedy Space Center is involved in research related to food production in space. As part of their in-situ resource utilization program for space exploration, the center collects and processes materials found in other astronomical spaces like the moon, to replace items that would have to be brought from Earth. This helps to reduce the cost of space exploration and promotes further exploration. Scientists are conducting ongoing research to enable the growth of certain types of food in space, as a crucial step towards sustaining life beyond Earth.

The Kennedy Space Center is an iconic facility for space exploration and serves as NASA's primary launch center for human spaceflight since 1968. It is located in Cape Canaveral, Florida, and has hosted the launching operations of several manned space missions including Apollo, Skylab, and Space Shuttle at the Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39. The Kennedy Space Center has played a pivotal role in several NASA missions, and its launch pads have been witness to some of the most significant moments in space exploration history.

The Kennedy Space Center is a massive complex spread over 144,000 acres of land, comprising over 700 structures and buildings. One of the most prominent structures is the 535-foot Vehicle Assembly Building, which is used to stack NASA’s largest rockets. The center also houses other important facilities such as the Launch Control Center, responsible for conducting space launches, and the Operations and Checkout Building, which is used for suiting up and housing astronauts in dormitories

Kennedy Space Center offers the Kennedy Space Center and Space Camp, a weeklong and overnight program for both kids and adults. The program includes motion-based space simulations, team-building space exploration activities, and Q&A sessions with astronauts, all led by trained and certified teachers and educators. These programs aim to encourage young people to explore space and get involved in space exploration.