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Kennedy Space Center Facts & Worksheets

The Kennedy Space Center is the primary field center for launching human spaceflight by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It is one of the ten field centers of NASA.

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The Kennedy Space Center is the primary field center for launching human spaceflight by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It is one of the ten field centers of NASA. Located on Merritt Island, Florida, the Kennedy Space Center was formerly known as the NASA Launch Operations Center. The center is home to launch pads, astronaut training facilities, space research resources, and a visitor complex.

See the fact file below for more information about the Kennedy Space Center, or you can download our 24-page Kennedy Space Center worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

BACKGROUND

  • In 1961, President John F. Kennedy set the goal to get a crewed landing on the Moon and safely return them to Earth by 1970.
  • This mission required NASA’s existing launch operations to expand.
  • It was decided that a new Launch Operations Center (LOC) would be built on Merritt Island adjacent to Cape Canaveral, Florida, where the US military had been conducting launch operations since 1949.
  • Construction commenced in November 1962.
  • A year later, the assassination of President Kennedy shocked the nation on November 22, 1963.
  • President Lyndon B. Johnson named the LOC facility after the late President Kennedy on November 29, 1963.

HISTORICAL PROGRAMS

APOLLO PROGRAMS

  • Ten Apollo missions were launched from 1967 through 1973 — Apollo 8 to 17.
  • The Kennedy Space Center (KSC) hosted the launch of the groundbreaking spaceflight of Apollo 11 to the Moon.
  • The space mission was launched on July 16, 1969, and piloted by Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins.
  • Neil Armstrong became the first person to step on the Moon.

SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAMS

  • In April 1972, NASA announced that the Kennedy Space Center would be the launching site for the Space Shuttle.
  • One of the pioneering Space Shuttle programs was the launch of Columbia on April 12, 1981.
  • Columbia’s STS-1 mission marked NASA’s first manned launch of a vehicle that had not been tested in unmanned launches.

SKYLAB

  • Skylab, the first space station of the United States, lifted off on the last Saturn V launch at the Kennedy Space Center on May 14, 1973.

BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

  • There are over 700 buildings and structures across the 144,00 acres of land in the Kennedy Space Center.
  • One of the standout buildings in KSC is the 525-foot Vehicle Assembly Building, where NASA’s biggest rockets are stacked.
  • The Launch Control Center is where space launches are performed.
  • Astronauts live in the dormitories and get suited up in preparation for space launches in the Operations and Checkout Building.
  • The Space Station Processing Facility is a three-story factory where flight hardware, modules, the International Space Station’s structural components, solar arrays, and future spacecraft are manufactured and processed.
  • The Shuttle Landing Facility spans three miles (4.8 kilometers) and was used by the Space Shuttle for landing until July 2011.
  • NASA training jets also take off and land on the Shuttle Landing Facility.
  • Of all the buildings, the Visitor Complex is the one that is open to the public and offers thousands of experiences and tourist attractions.

THE VISITOR COMPLEX

  • The visitor complex originated from the self-guided tours set up by NASA Administrator James Webb in 1963.
  • It started with a small trailer called the Visitors Information Center.
  • Beginning July 22, 1966, bus tours hosting 40 passengers at a time were operated by Trans World Airlines.
  • Tourists became increasingly attracted to the KSC when NASA made progress in its space launch missions to the Moon.
  • By 1969, the Visitor Information Complex was the second-most visited attraction in Florida.
  • NASA’s uncrewed missions and oversees launch integration and preparation ventures.
  • The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program (GSDO) involves preparing ground support equipment and modernizing facilities and infrastructure facilities and infrastructure.
  • The GSDO is essential for assembling, transporting, and launching spacecraft. 

MORE INTERESTING FACTS

  • Over 1.5 million people visit the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex annually.
  • Kennedy Space Center is located in the middle of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, a wildlife sanctuary that hosts alligators, bald eagles, birds, bobcats, Florida panthers, manatees, otters, and sea turtles.
  • The center is also helpful in ongoing food production research.
  • The area in which the Kennedy Space Center is located has ideal conditions for electrical storms to occur.
  • In fact, Apollo 12 was struck by lightning after it took off, but the flight resumed safely.
  • As a means to protect employees, facilities, and spacecraft, lightning protection, and detection devices have been put in place.

LATEST NEWS

  • After the Space Shuttle program ended, KSC signed a 20-year lease agreement with SpaceX, a private spacecraft manufacturer.
  • Starting in 2014, SpaceX can use part of the launch complex.
  • The first SpaceX launch took place at the historic Kennedy Space Center on February 19, 2017.
  • Meanwhile, NASA is still using the remaining portion of the launch complex.
  • The Artemis 1 mission, a new program to put astronauts on the Moon, took off from the Kennedy Space Center on November 16, 2022.
  • Janet E. Petro is the current and first female director of the Kennedy Space Center; she has served in that position since June 2021.

Kennedy Space Center Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Kennedy Space Center across 24 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Kennedy Space Center. Located on Merritt Island, Florida, the Kennedy Space Center was formerly known as the NASA Launch Operations Center. The center is home to launch pads, astronaut training facilities, space research resources, and a visitor complex.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Kennedy Space Center Facts
  2. Vocabulary Review
  3. Introducing the KSC
  4. Facility Match
  5. Trivia Choice
  6. Marking Milestones
  7. Launch Collage
  8. Current News
  9. My Ideal Tour
  10. Astronaut Hall of Fame
  11. Inspiring Astronaut Quotes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Kennedy Space Center?

The Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is a major space launch facility located on Merritt Island, Florida, USA. It serves as NASA’s primary launch center for human spaceflight and is used by commercial and government entities for a variety of space-related activities.

When was the Kennedy Space Center established?

The Kennedy Space Center was established on July 1, 1962. It was originally known as the Launch Operations Directorate and was later renamed in honor of President John F. Kennedy, who played a key role in the early development of the U.S. space program.

What historic missions were launched from the Kennedy Space Center?

The Kennedy Space Center has been the launch site for numerous historic space missions, including the Apollo moon landings, the Space Shuttle program, and various satellite launches. Notable missions include the Apollo 11 mission that landed the first humans on the Moon in 1969 and the Space Shuttle launches that deployed the Hubble Space Telescope.

Can visitors tour the Kennedy Space Center?

Yes, the Kennedy Space Center is open to the public, and visitors can take guided tours to explore the facility. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers a range of exhibits, interactive displays, and educational programs. Visitors can also view actual space shuttles, rockets, and other space artifacts.

What is the Space Launch System (SLS), and how is it related to the Kennedy Space Center?

The Space Launch System (SLS) is a powerful rocket developed by NASA for deep-space exploration, including crewed missions to the Moon and Mars. The Kennedy Space Center is the designated launch site for SLS missions. It continues the center’s legacy of launching iconic space exploration missions, furthering human exploration beyond low Earth orbit.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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