Though most folks know the Space Coast was named for the fact that the Kennedy Space Center is located here, they seem to know little about the facility itself beyond the rocket launches.
For starters...the size of KSC itself is incredible! It is 34 miles long and about 6 miles wide...covering approximately 219 square miles! To give you a reference point Manhattan Island (NYC) is 22.7 square miles and about 13.4 miles long and 2.3 miles wide (just over 1/10th the size of KSC). Only about 9% of the land is public access land...the rest is restricted.
All U.S. manned rocket launches since 1968 have taken off from KSC. Every trip to the Moon, every shuttle launch, and every trip to the International Space Station from U.S. soil has departed from a launch pad at KSC. Today many private enterprises are positioning themselves to use the facilities at KSC including Boeing and Space X.
KSC was chosen by the U.S. Government to conduct NASA rocket launches for many reasons. The weather allows for winter rocket launches (with average winter high temps in the 70's). The enormous area of KSC gives a great sound buffer (if you have never been to a launch...they are incredibly loud). The two nearby Air Force bases (Cape Canaveral and Patrick AFB) helped the Govt. make the decision to choose this area (remember...NASA was originally a military program).
KSC is now a large tourist attraction. Many people come to see the center itself or come for one of our many rocket launches...and yes...despite what you have heard the Space Center is open and running with many rocket launches (although no manned launches are scheduled).
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