Kennedy Space Center History

The Kennedy Space Center is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many visitors.

But apart from its interactive simulations, brilliant innovations and educational exhibits, the space center has a commendable history behind it.

From just being a NASA Shuttle space launch area to now being one of the most visited space centers in the world, KSC has come a long way.

Read on to learn more about the history of the Kennedy Space Center.

History of Kennedy Space Center: Timeline 

July 29: President Dwight signed the bill establishing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

October 1, 1958: NASA conducted civilian research on space flight and aeronautics.

May 25, 1961: President Kennedy announced his ambition of sending an American to the Moon before the decade ended.

September 1, 1961: NASA requested funding to acquire 80,000 acres of land at Merritt Island to support the Apollo Landing program.

This would ultimately become the Kennedy Space Center.

July 1963: Vehicle Assembly construction begins.

November 29, 1963: President Lyndon B. Johnson elected the launch of Operation Center and Station No. 1 as the John Kennedy Space Center.

May 26, 1965: NASA’s KSC headquarters is used for spaceport activities.

January 27, 1967: While practicing for the first pilot on the Apollo test flight, Ed White, Gus Grissom, and Roger Chafee were killed.

October 11, 1968: NASA astronauts successfully blast off Cape Kennedy on Apollo 7 in the first manned Apollo test flight.

December 21, 1968: Jim Lovell, Frank Borman, and William Anders went on Apollo 8, the first human-crewed test flight to go beyond Earth’s orbit.

July 16, 1969: Apollo 11 was launched from Cape Kennedy, including Commander Neil Armstrong, Command Module pilot Michael Collins, and Lunar Module pilot Edwin Aldrin.

The History of Kennedy Space Center in Detail

After going through the timeline, here is the history of the iconic center in detail.

From its creation to all its innovations, know about everything right here.

1960s

President John F. Kennedy decided to send an American astronaut to the moon by the end of the ’60s.

Jumping on this wagon, NASA decided to acquire funds to activate Cape Canaveral and build a spaceport for manned lunar launches.

During this decade, NASA activated its launch operations center, the Kennedy Space Center.

Very soon, the construction of the vehicle assembly building began.

On November 9, 1967, an unmanned Saturn B was blasted off as the first unmanned flight test for the lunar expedition.

After this, with a few failures and the success of the human-created test flight, the historic Apollo 8 was launched.

Astronauts like Jim Lovell, William Anders, and Frank Borman took off from the 39 A pad for the Apollo 8 mission.

It was the first ever human-crew Saturn V rocket and the first from Kennedy Space Center.

1970s

Skylab, America’s first space station, was launched atop the Saturn V rocket.

NASA hoped to keep Skylab for a bit longer until a space shuttle could reach it, but enormous solar activity had other plans.

Due to the activity, the station was dragged toward the upper reaches of Earth’s atmosphere.

On July 11, 1979, Skylab entered the Indian Ocean, showering debris over the sparsely populated region of Australia.

1980s

This was the decade when NASA launched its boldest creation.

On April 12, 1981, astronauts Bob Crippen and John Young boarded Columbia’s first shuttle flight.

It was a one-of-a-kind innovation that would blast off as a rocket and land as an airplane.

NASA’s first 24 shuttle missiles were quite a thrill ride for astronauts.

They would wear Buck Rogers-style jetpacks and fly away from the shuttle with zero safety.

They did this to retrieve satellites, fix solar explorers and deploy top-secret military spacecraft and communication satellites.

1990s

During this decade, NASA was responsible for significant space science and planetary exploration missions.

However, most of the military shuttle missions were classified as top secret.

Shuttle Atlantis had blasted off and headed towards the first shuttle docking of Russian space station Mir.

Ten shuttle missions were launched during the Joint U.S.-Russian Assembly of the International Space Station.

Also, NASA launch commentator Lisa Malone and the shuttle launch team sent John Herschel Glenn Jr. into space.

This was 36 years after the Project Mercury astronaut became the first American to orbit Earth.

2000s

Around this time, Discovery had become the nation’s shuttle fleet leader, and the orbiter restored the country to space after the Challenger disaster in 1986.

Also, this was when NASA was set on completing the International Space Center.

Records show Atlantis and NASA’s final four shuttle astronauts landed on Runway 15 at Kennedy Space Center.

After 30 years, the shuttle finally earned its place in history, and the space administration’s 135th and final shuttle mission ended.

Today, Shawn Quinn guides the innovations for NASA at Kennedy Space Center.

KSC Visitor Complex history

It all began with the resounding success of Alan Shepard’s historic suborbital launch on May 5, 1961.

The public and media started showing great interest in America’s space programs and launch stations.

In response to the growing demand and curiosity, NASA Administrator James Webb created a visitor program. 

Drive-Through Tours

In 1963, NASA introduced the first drive-through tour to Cape Kennedy, now called Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. 

The public could drive on a predetermined route to watch the launch pads and facilities. 

These tours gained immense popularity. An estimated 100,000 visitors took the tour.

As excitement around the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) grew, the tours expanded to include areas of KSC itself in January 1965. 

To accommodate the increasing number of visitors, the Spaceflight Committee authorized $1.2 million to create a dedicated visitor center at Kennedy Space Center.

Creating the Visitor Center

NASA developed a plan to include a Visitor Information Center (VIC) and a guided bus tour of the center and its operations.

A temporary facility was established on Highway 1, south of Titusville, serving as the starting point for public bus tours, which began on July 22, 1966. 

Two tour options were available: a tour of KSC or a tour of both KSC and Cape Kennedy Air Force Station. 

The tours were offered seven days a week and received overwhelming interest.

Nearly 100,000 visitors took the bus tour within three months, exceeding NASA’s expectations.

The Birth of the Visitor Complex

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Information Center (VIC) was inaugurated on January 1, 1967.

It covered 42 acres and featured Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo hardware exhibits. 

Moreover, it also included two theaters, concession facilities, and souvenir shops.

NASA progressed towards landing a man on the moon with a successful Apollo 8 mission.

Soon, in 1968, the complex was ranked as the second most attended attraction in the state.

Preserving History and Expanding Experiences

In 1995, the visitor center faced the challenge of preserving its NASA hardware exhibits without allocated government funds. 

National artifacts and treasures, such as an unused Apollo/Saturn V rocket—one of only three in the world—lay outdoors, exposed to sun, rain and salt that corroded and rusted.

Between 1995 and 2007, a combination of private investment and visitor-generated funds were used for physical improvements to the facility.

It also included re-establishing the Apollo/Saturn V Center from outside to inside.

Apollo/Saturn V Center 

This monumental rocket, Saturn V, was previously exposed to the elements and inhabited by bird nests.

In January 1997, the Apollo/Saturn V Center was safely sheltered indoors.

The priceless Saturn V moon rocket stretched a staggering 363 feet in length. The facility was expanded to 100,000 square feet.

It featured two dramatic theater presentations about the Apollo moon program, countless other displays, and the Moon Rock Cafe.

The Addition of New Attractions in the 20th Century

In 2000, the Astronaut Encounter program was introduced, bringing a veteran NASA astronaut face-to-face with the public every day of the year.

In September 2002, the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame became part of the experience.

In 2007, the thrilling Shuttle Launch Experience was introduced, giving visitors a realistic simulation of a space shuttle launch.

In 2012, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex cared for the authentic space shuttle Atlantis.

Over time, the center added more attractions, educational programs, and shows. 

Note: Earlier, there were separate tickets for attractions. Now, one admission ticket includes a visit to most of these attractions. 

Continuing the Journey

As NASA continues to explore and expand the boundaries of space, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex remains an integral part of this journey.

It tells people about the history of the Kennedy Space Center’s launches. 

The visitor complex continued to evolve, offering new experiences and exhibits.

It ensures that visitors comprehensively understand space exploration and NASA’s achievements.

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Featured Image: KennedySpaceCenter.com