Video: Kennedy Space Center 50th Anniversary

By Nancy Atkinson - June 29, 2012 05:27 PM UTC | Space Exploration

On July 1, 1962, the Launch Operations Center in Florida officially became operational. The name was later changed to John F. Kennedy Space Center in honor of the president and his vision of Americans visiting the Moon. This video looks back at the many launches and space exploration highlights that occurred at KSC, so enjoy this look back from where many journeys to space began. If you are going to be near KSC during the US's 4th of July holiday, NASA is hosting some special events in commemoration of the 50th anniversary. The KSC Visitor Complex is offering rare behind-the-scenes tours for its 50th anniversary year, including one taking visitors inside the massive, 525-foot-tall Vehicle Assembly Building, where the Apollo rockets and space shuttles were assembled.

You can find out more info about the events at the

KSC Visitor's Center website

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Nancy Atkinson

Nancy Atkinson is a space journalist and author with a passion for telling the stories of people involved in space exploration and astronomy. She is currently retired from daily writing, but worked at Universe Today for 20 years as a writer and editor. She also contributed articles to The Planetary Society, Ad Astra (National Space Society), New Scientist and many other online outlets.

Her 2019 book, "Eight Years to the Moon: The History of the Apollo Missions,” shares the untold stories of engineers and scientists who worked behind the scenes to make the Apollo program so successful, despite the daunting odds against it. Her first book “Incredible Stories From Space: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Missions Changing Our View of the Cosmos” (2016) tells the stories of 37 scientists and engineers that work on several current NASA robotic missions to explore the solar system and beyond.

Nancy is also a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador, and through this program, she has the opportunity to share her passion of space and astronomy with children and adults through presentations and programs. Nancy's personal website is nancyatkinson.com