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Kennedy Space Center (KSC)

The John F. Kennedy Space Center, situated on Merritt Island, Brevard County, Florida, is the NASA space vehicle launch facility and Launch Control Center (spaceport) near Cape Canaveral. It was established in 1961 as the Launch Operations Center and was given its current name after the assassination of John F. Kennedy. At present, most launch operations of the KSC are controlled from Launch Complex 39, which houses the Vehicle Assembly Building. The KSC Industrial Area, located 5 miles (8.04 km) south, features the administrative Headquarters building and other support facilities of the Center. The main points of tourist interest in and around KSC include a Mosquito Lagoon, a wildlife sanctuary, Indian River, Canaveral Seashore, and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

The KSC Visitor Complex, situated just southeast of Titusville, Florida, is one of the major tourist attractions in Central Florida. At present, this 219 sq-miles (567.2 sq-km) visitor complex is operated and owned by the Delaware North Companies. A number of bus tours and other special tours are made available to the visitors, allowing them a closer look at various restricted areas of the complex. The major attractions at the complex include the two IMAX Theaters, an observation gantry on the grounds of Launch Complex 39, the Apollo-Saturn V Center, and the International Space Station Center. The two IMAX Theaters allow the visitors to experience parts of the Apollo program by stimulating the environment during Apollo launch and the Apollo 11 landing. The observation gantry, on the other hand, offers excellent views of all of KSC property, particularly the two major launch pads. A wonderfully restructured Saturn V launch vehicle is the centerpiece at the Apollo-Saturn V Center. This large museum also features the Apollo capsule and several other space-related exhibits.

Another major attraction at the KSC Visitor Complex is the Space Mirror Memorial or the Astronaut Memorial, owned and operated by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation. The names of the astronauts who died in the line of duty are engraved on this huge black granite mirror and are constantly illuminated from behind. The Foundation’s Center for Space Education, Early Space Exploration, Debus Conference facility, Rocket Garden, Space Walk of Honor, Astronaut Encounter, Mad Mission to Mars, Exploration in the New Millennium, Robot Scouts, Space Shop, Gemini 9A Capsule, Apollo/Skylab Rescue Mission Command Module, the Astronaut Hall of Fame, and LM-9 (Apollo Lunar Module) are among the other attractions at KSC.

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex was established in 1967 as a means for the families of NASA astronauts and employees to view space center operations. Today, it has become a major tourist destination, attracting nearly 1.4 million visitors annually. The Space Center is just 45 minutes from Orlando and can be easily reached via State Road 3 from Merritt Island or Cocoa Beach. It offers an educating, entertaining, and comprehensive space program experience and is a “must-see” in Florida.

• Location: State Route 405, Titusville, FL 32899
• Telephone: (321) 449-4444
• Hours: Open daily 9 AM - 6 PM, last regular tour 3 hours before closing; closed on December 25 and on certain launch dates.
• Website: http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com

Top 5 National Parks

1. Great Smoky Mountains
2. Grand Canyon
3. Yosemite
4. Olympic
   
5. Yellowstone

All 58 national parks.