Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

1963

Visits began in 1963 with a small trailer of displays on card tables

In 1963 NASA Administrator James Webb established self-guided tours where the public could drive a set route through the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. A small trailer held simple displays on card tables. An estimated 100,000 visitors came that first year.

Spaceport USA

Spaceport USA hosted 500,000 visitors in 1967 and one million by 1969

In 1965 KSC Director Kurt H. Debus was authorized to build a full-scale visitor center covering 42 acres. Ten-thousand visitors toured the center on December 24, 1968, following the Apollo 8 orbit of the Moon.

500,000visitors in 1967, the first year of Spaceport USA

The buses

Bus tours began on July 22, 1966 and 1,500 people came the first day

Public tours began on 40-passenger buses, operated by TWA. A 1.5-hour tour included the Vehicle Assembly Building, and a 3-hour tour included the launch facilities. More than 1,500 people toured that first day, and more buses were added from former Greyhound fleets.

1,500people or more who toured on the first day

Atlantis

Atlantis is displayed tilted with its payload bay doors open

NASA announced on April 12, 2011 that Atlantis would be provided for display. The exhibit opened on June 29, 2013, offering a nearly 360° view of the shuttle. Atlantis is positioned at a 43.21° angle with the payload bay doors open, a view only previously seen in space.

Remembered

A black granite mirror carries the names of astronauts lost in the line of duty

The Space Mirror Memorial, also called the Astronaut Memorial, is a huge black granite mirror engraved with the names of astronauts who died in the line of duty. The Forever Remembered exhibit commemorates the 14 astronauts lost in the Challenger and Columbia disasters.