Kennedy Space Center

Kennedy Space Center is NASA’s primary launch site on Florida’s Atlantic coast, located on Merritt Island adjacent to Cape Canaveral. The center supports vehicle integration, launch operations and a public Visitor Complex with spaceflight exhibits.

The Visitor Complex presents major exhibits such as the Space Shuttle Atlantis display, rocket and engine exhibits, and bus tours that travel to historic launch pads and the Vehicle Assembly Building. Guests can see displays about Apollo, Shuttle and contemporary commercial crew and cargo programs, plus educational demonstrations and IMAX films.

KSC was developed by NASA during the early 1960s to support the U.S. human spaceflight program and has since supported Apollo, Space Shuttle and modern launch operations in partnership with commercial providers. The facility continues to be an active launch site and operations center.

The center occupies Merritt Island between the Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean, adjacent to Cape Canaveral in east-central Florida; the Visitor Complex is the public access point for tours and exhibits.

• Visitor access: Public bus tours from the Visitor Complex are the usual way to see restricted launch areas and pad complexes; some areas remain off-limits without special permission.
• Launch viewing: Active launch operations can alter visitor access and schedules; check the launch calendar in advance as launches offer unique viewing opportunities from designated areas.

What to See #

• Visitor Complex: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex with exhibits including the Space Shuttle Atlantis, Rocket Garden, and the Apollo/Saturn V Center.
• Launch Complex 39: Launch Complexes and launch pads, including the historic Launch Complex 39 area which contains Pad 39A and 39B used for Apollo and modern launches.
• Vehicle Assembly Building and pad-area facilities: The Vehicle Assembly Building, a large vertical assembly hall adjacent to the launch pads that served Apollo, Shuttle and Saturn programs.