Kennedy Space Center

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Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is NASA's primary launch facility for human spaceflight, located on Merritt Island, Florida, near Cape Canaveral. It was established in 1962 and has played a crucial role in the history of space exploration, serving as the launch site for every manned space mission by NASA since 1968. The center covers 144,000 acres and includes various launch complexes, including the iconic Launch Complex 39, from which the Apollo missions, Skylab, Space Shuttle, and Artemis missions have been launched.

One of the most significant missions launched from Kennedy Space Center was Apollo 11 in 1969, which landed the first humans on the Moon. The Space Shuttle program was also based at KSC, with the first shuttle, Columbia, launching in 1981. The facility includes the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), where rockets are assembled before being transported to the launch pad. The VAB is one of the largest buildings by volume in the world and a key feature of KSC operations.

Kennedy Space Center is also home to Launch Complex 39A, used by NASA and commercial partners such as SpaceX for missions including crewed and cargo flights to the International Space Station. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets frequently launch from KSC, along with the Crew Dragon spacecraft. The center also supports non-human space exploration, such as the launch of Mars rovers and space telescopes like the Hubble Space Telescope.

In addition to being a launch site, Kennedy Space Center features the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, a public attraction that provides insight into space exploration through exhibits, historic spacecraft, and educational programs. The complex includes the Astronaut Hall of Fame and a full-scale replica of the Space Shuttle Atlantis. KSC is an active spaceport, continuing to support NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and eventually send astronauts to Mars.