Kennedy Space Center facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
John F. Kennedy Space Center

Clockwise from the top: Vehicle Assembly Building, Shuttle Landing Facility, Launch Control Center, Launch Complex 39, KSC Headquarters Building, and the Visitor Complex
KSC shown in white; CCSFS in green
Abbreviation	KSC
Named after	John F. Kennedy
Formation	July 1, 1962; 63 years ago (1962-07-01)
Type	NASA facility
Location	Merritt Island, Florida
Owner	NASA
Director	Janet E. Petro
Budget	US$2.074 billion (2023)
Staff	13,253 (2023)
Formerly called	Launch Operations Center

The John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is a very important place for space travel. It's located on Merritt Island, Florida. KSC is one of ten main centers for NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Since 1968, KSC has been NASA's main place for launching American spacecraft. It's also a hub for space research and new technology.

Many famous missions launched from KSC, like the Apollo Moon missions, the Skylab space station, and the Space Shuttle flights. KSC is right next to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS). Both places work closely together, sharing resources and facilities.

Even though early space flights like Project Mercury and Project Gemini launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, KSC managed these launches. After a rocket took off, control would usually switch from KSC's Launch Control Center to the Mission Control Center in Houston.

Today, KSC also helps launch robotic missions and commercial crew missions. They even research how to grow food and use resources found in space for future exploration. Since 2010, KSC has been working to become a "multi-user spaceport". This means different companies can use its facilities. They even added a new launch pad, LC-39C, in 2015.

KSC has about 700 buildings spread across its 144,000 acres (583 km²). Some unique buildings include the 525-foot (160 m) tall Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). This is where NASA's biggest rockets are put together. There's also the Launch Control Center, which handles all the launches. The Operations and Checkout Building is where astronauts get ready for their missions. KSC also has a factory for Space Station parts and a 3-mile (4.8 km) long Shuttle Landing Facility runway. You can even visit the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to learn more!

How KSC Was Formed

Since 1949, the military had been launching rockets from what is now Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. In 1959, the Department of Defense gave 5,000 people and a special lab to NASA. This became the Launch Operations Directorate under NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy set a big goal: to land humans on the Moon by 1970. This meant NASA needed much bigger launch facilities. So, on July 1, 1962, the Launch Operations Directorate became its own center, called the Launch Operations Center (LOC).

Cape Canaveral wasn't big enough for the huge Saturn V rocket. This rocket was 363 feet (111 m) tall and would be built upright in a giant hangar. Then, it would be moved to the launch pad on a special platform. So, NASA decided to build a new LOC site right next to Cape Canaveral on Merritt Island.

NASA started buying land in 1962. They bought 131 square miles (339 km²) and worked with Florida to get another 87 square miles (225 km²). Construction began in November 1962. President Kennedy visited the site several times before his death in November 1963.

On November 29, 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson officially named the facility the "John F. Kennedy Space Center." This name included both the civilian LOC and the military Cape Canaveral station. Later, NASA clarified that "Kennedy Space Center" only referred to the LOC. The Air Force renamed its launch site "Cape Kennedy Air Force Station."

Where KSC Is Located

KSC is on Merritt Island, Florida, right on the Atlantic Ocean. It's about halfway between Miami and Jacksonville. It's also east of Orlando. The center is about 34 miles (55 km) long and 6 miles (9.7 km) wide, covering 219 square miles (567 km²).

KSC is a very popular place for tourists in central Florida. It's about an hour's drive from the Orlando area. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers tours of KSC and the nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Amazing Space Programs at KSC

Apollo Program

A Saturn V carrying Apollo 15 rolls out to Pad 39A in 1971 on Mobile Launch Platform 1.

From 1967 to 1973, 13 Saturn V rockets launched from KSC. These included the last ten Apollo missions. The first rocket launch from KSC was Apollo 4 on November 9, 1967. This was an uncrewed test flight.

The first crewed Saturn V launch was Apollo 8 on December 21, 1968. This mission orbited the Moon. Then came Apollo 9 and Apollo 10, which tested the Lunar Module.

Apollo 11 launched from Pad A on July 16, 1969. This mission made history with the first Moon landing on July 20. The crew included Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin. About 650 million people watched the launch on TV! Apollo 12 followed four months later. The Apollo program finished at KSC with missions 13 through 17 from 1970 to 1972.

Skylab

On May 14, 1973, the last Saturn V rocket launched from Pad 39A. This rocket put the Skylab space station into orbit. After this, Pad 39B was changed to launch the smaller Saturn IB rockets. It was used for three crewed missions to Skylab that year. It also launched the final Apollo spacecraft for the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project in 1975.

Space Shuttle Program

Shuttle Discovery launching from Pad 39A on STS-60, February 3, 1994

The Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-129) is seen on launch pad 39A at the NASA Kennedy Space Center shortly after the rotating service structure was rolled back on November 15, 2009.

When the Space Shuttle was being designed, NASA looked at other launch sites. But KSC had many benefits. It already had facilities and was located on the Intracoastal Waterway. Its southern location also helped rockets get into orbit faster.

In April 1972, NASA decided to use KSC for the Space Shuttle. The Shuttle could not land itself, so the launch of Columbia on April 12, 1981, was a big step. It was NASA's first crewed launch of a vehicle that hadn't been tested with uncrewed flights first.

In 1976, the VAB had a display for the U.S. Bicentennial. The U.S. flag was painted on the VAB's south side. In the late 1970s, Launch Complex 39 was updated for the Space Shuttle. Two Orbiter Processing Facilities (hangars) were built near the VAB. A third was added in the 1980s.

KSC's 2.9-mile (4.7 km) Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) was the main landing site for the Space Shuttles. The first KSC landing was on February 11, 1984, when Challenger completed STS-41-B. Before that, shuttles landed in California. The SLF is one of the longest runways in the world.

Artemis Program

Artemis 1 Launch

On November 16, 2022, the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket launched from Complex 39B. This was part of the Artemis 1 mission. The Artemis program aims to send humans back to the Moon.

Space Station Processing

Node 2 being hoisted by overhead cranes in the Space Station Processing Facility

In the early 1990s, KSC began preparing for the International Space Station (ISS) modules. KSC worked with other NASA centers and international partners. They used their experience from processing 22 Spacelab missions. This helped them design the Space Station Processing Facility (SSPF), which started being built in 1991.

From 1997 to 2007, KSC tested and checked station modules on the ground. They found and fixed many problems that would have been very hard to fix in space. Today, KSC still prepares ISS parts from all over the world for launch. They also develop experiments to be done on the station. The planned Lunar Gateway space station would also be built and processed at the Space Station Processing Facility.

Current Programs and Projects

Artemis I ICPS at Kennedy Space Center

SAGE III at Space Station Processing Facility

NASA scientist, observe ground control experiments in the Veggie Lab at NASA's Kennedy Space Center

Here are some of the exciting things happening at Kennedy Space Center right now:

• Commercial Crew Program: Working with private companies to send astronauts to space.
• Exploration Ground Systems Program: Designing the powerful SLS rocket for future human spaceflight.
  • On December 5, 2014, NASA launched the first uncrewed test flight of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle. This spacecraft will carry humans to the Moon and Mars.
• Launch Services Program: Managing the launch of NASA and NOAA robotic missions.
• Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa): Helping universities and schools launch small satellites called CubeSats.
• Research and Technology: Developing new space technologies.
• Artemis program: NASA's plan to return humans to the Moon.
• Lunar Gateway: A planned space station that will orbit the Moon.
• International Space Station Payloads: Preparing experiments and supplies for the ISS.
• Camp KSC: Fun educational camps for kids in spring and summer, focusing on space, aviation, and robotics.

Amazing Facilities at KSC

KSC industrial area

The KSC Industrial Area is where many of the center's support buildings are. It's about 5 miles (8 km) south of Launch Complex 39. This area includes the Headquarters Building, the Operations and Checkout Building, and the Central Instrumentation Facility. Astronauts used to stay in the O&C building before missions.

KSC also had its own 17-mile (27 km) short-line railroad until 2015. This railroad helped move heavy equipment around the center.

Preparing Spacecraft and Payloads

Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building

Pre-made ISS modules in the Space Station Processing Facility

Blue Origin's manufacturing facility near KSC visitor complex

• The Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building (O&C) is a historic building. It was used to prepare parts for the Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab programs. Astronauts would get ready here and then take a special van to the launch pad.
• The Space Station Processing Facility (SSPF) is a huge, three-story building. It has two large areas for preparing spacecraft parts. It's kept super clean to protect sensitive equipment. Opened in 1994, it's the biggest factory building in the KSC industrial area.
• The Vertical Processing Facility (VPF) has a huge door (71 by 38 feet or 22 by 12 meters). Payloads that need to be processed upright are brought in here. Large cranes can lift up to 35 tons.
• The Hypergolic Maintenance and Checkout Area (HMCA) has three buildings. They are separated from other areas because they handle dangerous materials.
• The Multi-Payload Processing Facility is used for preparing the Orion spacecraft and other payloads.
• The Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF) has a large service bay and a payload airlock. It's kept at a steady temperature of 70°F (21°C).
• The Blue Origin rocket manufacturing facility is located near the KSC visitor complex. It opened in 2019 and is where the company builds its New Glenn rockets.

Launch Complex 39

The Vehicle Assembly Building (center) in 1999, with the Launch Control Center jutting out from its right, and Pads A and B in the distance

Closeup photo of the VAB

Launch Complex 39 (LC-39) was first built for the Saturn V rocket. This was the biggest and most powerful rocket until the Space Launch System. LC-39 was used for the Apollo Moon landings. Since 1972, LC-39 has launched every NASA human space flight. This includes Skylab (1973), the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project (1975), and the Space Shuttle program (1981–2011).

All launches since December 1968 have been from launch pads A and B at LC-39. Both pads are right on the ocean, about 3 miles (4.8 km) east of the VAB. From 1969 to 1972, LC-39 was the "Moonport" for all six Apollo Moon landing missions.

The complex includes:

• The Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB): A massive hangar that can hold four Saturn V rockets. When it was finished in 1965, it was the largest building in the world by volume.
• A crawler-transporter: A giant vehicle that can carry 5,440 tons. It moves rockets along a special road called a crawlerway to the launch pads.
• The Launch Control Center: This is where engineers and flight controllers manage the launches.
• A news media facility: Where reporters and photographers watch the launches.

Launch Complex 48

A rendering of Boeing's XS-1 Phantom Express launch vehicle on LC-48

Launch Complex 48 (LC-48) is a new launch site being built for smaller rockets and spacecraft. It will be located between Launch Complex 39A and Space Launch Complex 41. LC-48 is designed to be a "clean pad," meaning it can support different launch systems.

Commercial Partnerships

KSC works with private companies to promote space industry growth. They lease some of their properties for commercial use. Here are some examples:

• Exploration Park: Leased to many different companies.
• Shuttle Landing Facility: Leased to Space Florida, which then lets private companies use it.
• Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF)-3: Leased to Boeing for their CST-100 Starliner spacecraft.
• Launch Complex 39A: Leased to SpaceX for their rocket launches.
• O&C High Bay: Leased to Lockheed Martin for processing the Orion spacecraft.
• Land for a solar energy center: Leased to Florida Power and Light (FPL).

Visitor Complex

Gate to the KSC Visitor Complex in 2006; Explorer, a Space Shuttle mock-up, is in the background

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is a fun place to visit. It has many exhibits, artifacts, and displays about spaceflight history and the future. You can take bus tours of KSC from here. The complex also includes the Apollo/Saturn V Center and the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame. About 1.5 million people visit each year.

In 2015, the Astronaut Hall of Fame exhibit moved to a new spot within the Visitor Complex. A new attraction called "Heroes and Legends" opened in its place in 2016. In 2016, the famous countdown clock was moved to the complex's entrance. This clock was built in 1969. In 2019, NASA celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Apollo program.

Historic Locations

NASA has listed several historic districts at KSC. Each district has many important facilities. Some of these include:

• Launch Complex 39: Pad A and Pad B Historic Districts.
• Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) Area Historic District.
• Orbiter Processing Historic District.
• Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) Disassembly and Refurbishment Complex Historic District.
• NASA KSC Railroad System Historic District.

There are also 24 other historic properties outside these districts. These include the Space Shuttle Atlantis, the Vehicle Assembly Building, the Crawlerway, and the Operations and Checkout Building. KSC has one National Historic Landmark and many other sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Other Facilities

• The Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility (RPSF) prepares solid rocket booster segments. These segments are then transported to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The RPSF was built in 1984. It was used for the Space Shuttle program and will be used for the Space Launch System (SLS) in the future.

Weather at KSC

A Mercury Redstone rocket on display at Gate 3 was toppled by Hurricane Frances on September 7, 2004.

Florida is known as the "lightning capital of the United States." This is because of its shape and the temperature differences between land and ocean. This means KSC needs strong lightning protection and detection systems. These systems protect people, buildings, and spacecraft on the launch pads.

On November 14, 1969, Apollo 12 was struck by lightning right after liftoff from Pad 39A. Luckily, the mission continued safely. The strongest lightning strike at KSC happened on August 25, 2006. It hit LC-39B while shuttle Atlantis was being prepared for STS-115. NASA was worried, but Atlantis was not damaged.

On September 7, 2004, Hurricane Frances hit the area directly. Winds reached 94 mph (151 km/h). The Vehicle Assembly Building lost 1,000 outside panels. This exposed a large part of the building. The shuttle's Thermal Protection System Facility was also badly damaged. Several rockets on display were knocked over. Hurricane Wilma in October 2005 caused more damage to KSC.

Scientists estimate that KSC will experience 5 to 8 inches (13 to 20 cm) of sea level rise by the 2050s. Launch Complex 39A, where Apollo 11 launched, is most at risk of flooding.

KSC Directors

Dr. Kurt Debus, first director of KSC

Since KSC was formed, ten NASA officials have been directors. Three of them were former astronauts.

See Also

In Spanish: Centro espacial John F. Kennedy para niños

• Air Force Space and Missile Museum
• Astronaut beach house
• Launch Complex 34 – used for the smaller Apollo Saturn I and Saturn IB rockets
• Launch Complex 37 – used for the smaller Apollo Saturn I and Saturn IB rockets
• Mobile launcher platform
• NASA Causeway
• Solar eclipse of August 12, 2045 (Kennedy Space Center will be in the path of totality)
• Swamp Works
• Crawler-transporter