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KENNEDY SPACE STATION

(1) What is this place?
The John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is the U.S. government installation that manages and operates America's astronaut launch facilities. Currently serving as the base for the country's three space shuttles, the NASA field center also conducts unmanned civilian launches from adjacent Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

(2) Where is this place?
It is located on Merritt Island, Florida, the center is north-northwest of Cape Canaveral on the Atlantic Ocean, midway between Miami and Jacksonville.

(3) Why do tourists visit this place?
People visit Kennedy Space Center as they can have many new, exciting, and enriching experiences. People from all ages can enjoy and learn about space. Tourists can go for KSC Tours and Astronaut Encounter as well as visit places like U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame®, Rocket Garden, Apollo / Saturn V Center, LC 39 Observation Gantry, International Space Station Center, Space Shuttle Plaza, Astronaut Memorial, Children’s Play Dome, Early Space Exploration, Hubble Telescope Exhibit and IMAX® Films.
Here is some information about one of the most popular attractions of the space center.

-NASA Educator Resource Center
The NASA Educator Resource Center (ERC) at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex provides expertise and facilities to help educators access and utilize science, mathematics, and technology instructional products. These products are based on NASA's unique mission and are aligned with the national and state standards. The educational resources available include videos, slides, lesson plans, publications and lunar & meteorite samples.

-Astronaut Encounter: Meet Famous Astronauts
Fewer than 500 men and women – of the Earth’s six billion people – have ever flown in space. But each day at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, guests get the rare opportunity to meet veteran astronauts from NASA’s Astronaut Corps. The daily Astronaut Encounter briefings allow plenty of time for discussion.

-United States Astronaut Hall of Fame
Come live the human side of space at the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, complete with the sights, sounds and experiences of the famous astronauts who first ventured into the frontiers of space. Experience exhibits dedicated to our nation's astronauts, including the world's largest collection of personal memorabilia and realistic astronaut training simulators.

Explore a rare collection of astronaut artefacts and see remarkable displays, exhibits and tributes dedicated to the heroes. From Wally Schirra's Sigma 7 Mercury spacecraft to stunning glass etchings that line the Hall of Heroes, the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame celebrates the accomplishments of astronauts everywhere.
After you see the Hall of Fame, it's your turn to take the controls with hands-on activities and simulators, where you can suit up, strap in and blast off into an interactive experience that gives you a true taste of space. From the G-Force Trainer that lets you feel the pressure of four times the force of gravity, to the space shuttle landing simulator and riding a rover across the rocky Martian terrain, you can test your skills – and your nerve.

-Shuttle Launch Experience
It’s 3... 2... 1... launch as guests take their own exciting journey of the Space Shuttle’s rush to Earth’s orbit. On Shuttle Launch Experience, visitors strap in to the sights, sounds and sensations of a real Space Shuttle launch.
The journey begins as passengers enter the Shuttle Launch Simulation Facility, a looming six-story structure that looks like the actual Space Shuttle facilities at Kennedy Space Center. As crew members ascend along the gantry, veteran shuttle astronauts share testimonials, setting the stage for the experience to come.
Entering the heart of Space Shuttle operations for the pre-launch briefing, crew members are guided by veteran Space Shuttle Commander Charlie Bolden as he takes them step-by-step through the shuttle launch sequence. Brilliant video screens spring to life on shuttle-like robotic arms. Anxious moments arise as atmospheric sound and lighting effects dramatize the moments before your space shuttle launch.

4) What are the sources of information for this place?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennedy_Space_Center#Visitor_Complexnedy'
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/history/index.html
http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/imax-films.aspx
http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/shuttle-launch-experience.aspx
http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/astronaut-hall-of-fame.aspx
http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/astronaut-encounter.aspx
http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/buy-tickets.aspx
http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/driving-directions.aspx

( 5) Kennedy's Rich History )
On July 29, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed Public Law 85-568 , creating the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, also known as NASA. In July 1962, the agency established its Launch Operations Center on Florida's east coast, and renamed it in late 1963 to honour the president who put America on the path to the moon.

NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has helped set the stage for America's adventure in space for more than four decades. The spaceport has served as the departure gate for every American manned mission and hundreds of advanced scientific spacecraft. From the early days of Project Mercury to the space shuttle and International Space Station, from the Hubble Space Telescope to the Mars Exploration Rovers, the center enjoys a rich heritage in its vital role as NASA's processing and launch center . As the nation embarks on a new chapter in space exploration, Kennedy will continue to make history.

( 6) How do we get there? )
-Kennedy Space Center Directions
Using MapQuest or MSNMaps, use the city "Orsino," and the state "FL." Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is located just to the west on 405, between Range Road and East Avenue SW.

-From Orlando on State Road 528
Travel east on SR 528 to the SR 407 exit to Kennedy Space Center and Titusville. Take SR 407 until it dead ends into SR 405. Turn right (east) onto SR 405 and follow the signs for Kennedy Space Center. You will travel approximately nine miles on SR 405. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is located on your right.

-From Orlando on State Road 50
Travel east on SR 50 until you pass under the I-95 overpass. At the next intersection, turn right (east) onto SR 405 and follow the signs for Kennedy Space Center. You will travel approximately 11 miles on SR 405. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is located on your right.

-From Daytona Beach on Interstate 95
Travel along I-95 to Exit #215 (SR 50). Turn left (east) onto SR 50, then turn right (east) on to SR 405 and follow the signs for Kennedy Space Center. You will travel approximately 11 miles on SR 405. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is located on your right.

-From Miami on Interstate 95
Travel along I-95 to Exit #212 (SR 407). Head east/north on SR 407 until it dead ends into SR 405. Turn right (east) on SR 405 and follow the signs for Kennedy Space Center. You will travel approximately nine miles on SR 405. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is located on your right.

Park Hours / Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is open year round, except December 25 and certain launch days.
Current operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (The U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame is open from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.)
Tours begin at 10 a.m. and depart continuously every 15 minutes. The last tour departs at 2:15 p.m. Each bus tour runs approximately 2 hours

done by, Lee Sae Yun4D, Lim Yi Xian4D

Qn. 1: What is this place?

The John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is the U.S. government installation that manages and operates America's astronaut launch facilities. Currently serving as the base for the country's three space shuttles, the NASA field center also conducts unmanned civilian launches from adjacent Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (operated by the 45th Space Wing). KSC has been the launch site for every U.S. human space flight since 1968. Its iconic Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) is the fourth-largest structure in the world by volume.

Qn. 2: Where is this place?

Kennedy Space Station is located on Merritt Island, Florida, the center is north-northwest of Cape Canaveral on the Atlantic Ocean, midway between Miami and Jacksonville.

Qn. 3: Why do tourists visit this place?

From 1969–1972, LC-39 was the departure point for all six Apollo manned moon landing missions using the Saturn V, the largest and most powerful operational launch vehicle in history.

There is a visitor center and public tours, as KSC is a major tourist destination. KSC an important wildlife sanctuary; Mosquito Lagoon, Indian River, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore are other features of the area. Center workers can encounter bald eagles, alligators, wild boars, rattlesnakes, panthers and manatees. KSC is one of ten major NASA field centers, and has several facilities listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (formerly known as Spaceport USA), operated by Delaware North Companies, has a number of exhibits and displays. There is the Shuttle Launch Experience; a simulation ride into space; two IMAX theaters; and a range of bus tours.

There is tour-bus transportation to the Apollo-Saturn V Center and an observation platform at Launch Complex 39, which provides unobstructed views of both launch pads and the surrounding KSC property. The Apollo-Saturn V Center is a large museum built around its centerpiece exhibit, a restored Saturn V launch vehicle, and features other space related exhibits, including an Apollo capsule. Two theaters allow the visitor to relive parts of the Apollo program. One simulates the environment inside an Apollo firing room during an Apollo launch, and another simulates the Apollo 11 moon landing. The tour also includes the Space Station Processing Facility (SSPF) where modules for the International Space Station are tested.

The Visitor Complex includes two facilities run by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation. The most visible of these is the Space Mirror Memorial, also known as the Astronaut Memorial, a huge black granite mirror through-engraved with the names of all astronauts who died in the line of duty. These names are constantly illuminated from behind, with natural light when possible, and artificial light when necessary. The glowing names seem to float in a reflection of the sky. Supplemental displays nearby give the details of the lives and deaths of the astronauts memorialized. Elsewhere on the Visitor Complex grounds is the Foundation's Center for Space Education, which includes a resource center for teachers, among other facilities. Visitors can also see several flight-used or flight-ready spacecraft at KSC.

Qn. 4: What are the sources of information for this place?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennedy_Space_Center

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/index.html

http://www.clarionspacecenter.com/

http://goflorida.about.com/od/capeportcanavera/ig/Kennedy-Space-Center/Children-s-Play-Dome.htm

(Qn. 5: How the natural processes affect this place?)

The central Florida area receives more lightning strikes than any other place in the USA, causing NASA to spend millions of dollars to avoid strikes during launches. On November 14, 1969, Apollo 12 was struck by lightning just after lift-off from Pad 39A, but the flight continued safely. The most powerful lightning strike recorded at KSC occurred at LC-39B on August 25, 2006 while shuttle Atlantis was being prepared for STS-115. NASA managers were initially concerned that the lightning strike caused damage to Atlantis, but none was found.

In September 2004, areas of KSC were damaged by Hurricane Frances. The Vehicle Assembly Building lost 1,000 exterior panels. This exposed 39,800 sq ft (3,700 m²) of the building to the elements. Damage occurred to the south and east sides of the VAB. The shuttle's Thermal Protection System Facility suffered extensive damage. The roof was partially torn off and the interior suffered water damage. Further damage to KSC was caused by Hurricane Wilma in October 2005.

(Qn. 6: How do locals benefit from the tourism in this place?)

The local benefit quite a lot from the existence of Kennedy Space Center in Florida. For example, The Clarion Inn Kennedy Space Center Hotel. With its location, which is the closest hotel to the Kennedy Space Center, they promote the hotel by using their location to the Kennedy Space Center, where visitors can have a memorable experience. They can have clear and spectacular views of Shuttle Launches and the Indian River Lagoon, and many more interesting things to do near that space coast hotel.