Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39
Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39, Launch site at Kennedy Space Center, United States
Description
Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 is a launch site in Brevard County, Florida. The facility includes two pads connected by a wide crawlerway to a large assembly building.
History
The complex began work in 1967 with Apollo 4 and served the entire Apollo program, including the 1969 lunar mission. Later, space shuttles lifted off here for over three decades before private companies took over the pads.
Culture
The name recalls President Kennedy, who championed the program, and today onlookers gather at public spots along the coast to watch scheduled liftoffs. Some families bring blankets and stay for hours while waiting for ignition.
Practical
The visitor complex opens daily around 9 AM and offers bus tours to viewing spots where you can see the pads from a distance. Some locations are several miles away, so binoculars help.
Did you know?
One of the pads was rebuilt so rockets arrive lying down and stand up on the pad itself, rather than arriving already vertical. This change allows shorter turnaround times between launches.
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