Vehicle Assembly Building

The Vehicle Assembly Building is an aerospace facility in Brevard County, Florida. The structure provides room for multiple work levels where large cranes lift individual components and join them in a vertical position.

Construction started in 1962 to prepare for crewed lunar missions and was completed four years later. The facility was later adapted for the Space Shuttle program and now also serves newer launch vehicles.

The building serves as the place where rocket stages and spacecraft are stacked before rolling out to the launch pad, continuing a tradition that began with the Apollo program. Visitors often notice the enormous NASA logo painted on the facade, which remains one of the largest insignias of its kind and is visible from miles away.

The building can be viewed during guided tours through Kennedy Space Center, though access to work areas varies depending on assembly activity. Visitors should arrive early in the day, as queues often form later on.

The interior height is sufficient to allow cloud formation beneath the roof, which led engineers to install air conditioning to prevent indoor rain. Each of the four entry doors weighs around 3,400 tons and takes nearly an hour to open or close fully.

Location: Brevard County

Inception: 1966

Height: 160.3 m

Length: 218.39 m

Width: 157.89 m

Part of: Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39

GPS coordinates: 28.58628,-80.65128

Latest update: December 12, 2025 21:56