Did you know the famous Florida Space Center was named after a president?
Or is sighting an alligator within the premises at the center very common?
These are all the unknown and interesting Kennedy Space Center facts that make it more exciting for visitors.
But there’s more: apart from its unique space innovation, the famous space center has a lot of exciting facts behind it.
Here’s a handy guide to all the unknown facts about the Kennedy Space Center
1. It is Named After John F. Kennedy
All the efforts taken by the Americans to send astronauts to the moon came from an appeal made by John F. Kennedy.
The appeal was made in a joint Congress session on May 25, 1961, with claims of walking on the moon within this decade.
This inspired millions of Americans, and five years later, NASA launched the unmanned Apollo mission.
2. The Space Center Includes a Visitor’s Complex
The 1961 speech invoked a new emotion among the masses, which saw an increased press and public presence in the Cape Canaveral area.
Kennedy Space Center’s demand increased so much that Texas Congressman Olin Teague, chairman of the house, asked NASA to build a visitor center there.
So, a drive-through was built for people to look at the launch pads and facilities.
The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex was officially established in April 2012.
Moreover, it featured a grand plaza and fountain, ticket booths, and voyage retail shops.
Also, between 2013 and 2015, given its popularity, it hosted the Angry Birds Space Encounter.
3. The Famous Apollo Mission was Hosted Here
One of the most interesting Kennedy Space Center fun facts is that the most iconic Apollo 11 was launched here.
Launched through the Saturn V Rocket on July 16th, 1969, it included Buzz Aldrin and Sir Neil Armstrong.
It landed on our lunar satellite on July 20, where Neil Armstrong became the first man to step on the moon.
4. It Also Serves as a Wildlife Sanctuary
The space center is in the middle of Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, next to the Canaveral National Seashore.
This wildlife preserve hosts one of the largest endangered species in America.
You can find over 300 species of birds and wildlife, including bobcats, bald eagles, otters, manatees, alligators, Florida panthers, and sea turtles.
A Kennedy Space Center fun fact is that before launching any shuttle, a special crew is assigned to clear the runway of alligators.
As alligators, sunning is a common sighting in this area.
If you wish to see the unique sight of wildlife in a space center, you can do it via the Kennedy Space Center Airboat Tour.
5. The Kennedy Space Center is Extremely Popular
One of the cool facts about the Kennedy Space Center is that it is visited by a million people every year.
It was even voted the eighth-best museum in the United States in 2016.
People worldwide are curious about NASA and space explorations and come here for a unique experience.
6. It is Actively Involved in Food Production Research
A Kennedy Space Center fun fact is its involvement in in-situ resource utilization for exploration of the earth.
This involves collecting and processing materials found at other astronomical stations, like the moon.
Then, utilize them to replace items that are used on earth.
This step is essential to reducing the cost of space exploration and encouraging more space exploration.
Also, ongoing research helps scientists grow certain types of foods in space.
7. It Consists of a 535-foot Vehicle Assembly Building
The most important and exciting fact about the Kennedy Space Center is that it has 700 structures inside it.
Situated on 144,000 acres of land, the Vehicle Assembly Building stores NASA’s largest-built rockets.
It also includes the Launch Control Center that operates space launches and the operations checkout building.
8. Kennedy Space Center is Prone to Electrical Storms
A Kennedy Space Center fact everyone should know is that its area falls under ideal conditions suitable for electrical storms.
Therefore, many lightning protection and detection devices have been set up for safety reasons.
This was done after Apollo 12 was struck by lightning after it took off from 39 A.
However, the flight was launched successfully.
9. You can Chat with an Astronaut Here
How can visitors visit a space center without chatting with an astronaut and learning about space experiences from a space expert?
Tour the space center, observe all the attractions, highlight them, and then chat with a real-life astronaut.
Learn about their experiences, stories and some inside facts about the Kennedy Space Center from a NASA astronaut.
However, you must buy a ticket for $212 to get this experience and enjoy food and beverages while talking to a real astronaut.
You can also enjoy an IMAX movie, stroll through a real-sized space shuttle, walk around the rocket garden, and much more.
FAQs
What are some fun facts about the JFK Space Center?
One fun Kennedy Space Center fact is that it has three active launch pads. They are Launch Complex 39A, Launch Complex 39B, and Launch Complex 41. Launch Complex 39A was used for all Apollo missions, including the iconic Apollo 11 mission. However, the launch pad is used by SpaceX for their Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches.
What is the Kennedy Space Center famous for?
The Kennedy Space Center has been the primary location for human space flight, research and technology since 1968. Missions like the Apollo, Skylab and Space Shuttle programs have been carried out from here.
Does Kennedy Space Center have a zero-gravity room?
Yes, there is a zero-G experience at the launch and landing of the space center. The runway is one of the longest in the world at 15000 ft, where the space shuttle landed from 1979 to 2011.
Why is it called the John F. Kennedy Space Center?
John F. Kennedy was the first president to pledge to get the first American on the moon in 1970. Due to his appeal, NASA was inspired to build and launch the Saturn V rocket, which took Apollo 11 to the moon. After his assassination in 1962, the Space Center was named Kennedy to honor him.