Escape to Space

“…the Kennedy Space Center was the place where the public came to experience history being made. Kennedy Space Center, the most industrial part of the space program, represented the romance of space to citizens” (179).

The Book

A History of the Kennedy Space Center, by Kenneth Lipartito and Orville R. Butler, is not just a book about the development of NASA’s launch site in Florida. It is also a history of the entire space program, particularly manned flight. The authors provide a behind the scenes look at the work in the space program, the workers, the interest in space, and the future of the Kennedy Space Center. The book is packed with information that goes into scientific and personnel detail.

Lipartito and Butler say, “The Apollo program was more audacious than the Panama Canal, more difficult than the Hoover Dam, and more expensive than the Manhattan Project” (113). As a student of American history, I had already known that the Apollo program was a ground-breaking and difficult program. However, after reading this book, I have a newfound respect for the process of putting a man on the moon. The book spends a great deal of time on the Apollo missions, but the authors’ also discuss the early rocket programs and the later shuttle programs.

In the 1950s, Cape Canaveral was used to launch and test rockets and missiles. In 1961, NASA chose the Cape as the permanent launch site and in 1965 a visitor center was authorized. The visitor center began as a few trailers housing scientific exhibits. The opening of Walt Disney World revealed a need to update the exhibits to entice visitors to Walt Disney World. In fact, many travel agencies recommended visiting both.

The Place

The Kennedy Space Center does a fantastic job of engaging all ages in learning about NASA and each launch program. A visitor is able to learn about the early flights (Mercury and Gemini) and get the latest news on planned launches. In addition to the Visitor Complex, you are able to drive out to view the launch areas, control center, and Vehicle Assembly Building (where the rockets are assembled prior to launch).

The two highlights from when I visited where the Rocket Garden and the Apollo/Saturn 5 Center. The Rocket Garden is home to rockets from the early programs and capsules you are able to climb aboard. The Apollo/Saturn 5 Center is a large rectangular building that is home to artifacts that were used in the Apollo missions. The Saturn 5 rocket hangs from the ceiling and you can’t help but walk the length of it in awe.