Kennedy Space Center

John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is the launch facility for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The Center is named in honor of President John F. Kennedy, who inspired the nation to put a man on the moon and return him safely to earth. All the historic space missions have launched from KSC, including the Mercury, Apollo/Saturn, Skylab, Mars rovers, and space shuttle programs. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/history/index.html A new phase of space exploration took place in October 2009, with the successful test launch of the Ares I-X rocket which is designed to extend the range of human space flight to Mars.

In addition to its role as a launch facility, KSC is also a popular vacation destination. When in Florida visiting the Orlando attractions, many vacationers take the hour's drive east to tour the Space Center. Passengers on the cruises that embark from Port Canaveral also visit KSC. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is the starting point for all visitors. From there, guests can take tours of varying lengths and locations within KSC, meet an astronaut, view actual rockets, and shop for space program memorabilia. http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/index.asp

Star Trek Live is a "new interactive stage show based on the popular science-fiction franchise" which is being shown at KSC three times daily at the Astronaut Encounter Theater. http://hospitality-1st.com/PressNews/DNC-KSC-061510.html A KSC press release bills the program as the worldwide premiere of "an exhilarating 30-minute journey offering an unforgettable live theatrical experience for fans of all ages." http://hospitality-1st.com/PressNews/DNC-KSC-061510.html

The idea behind Star Trek Live is to involve the audience while they are having fun and learning about space flight. The audience acts as Starfleet cadets on their first day at Starfleet Academy. A renegade Romulan executes a surprise attack on Earth and the cadets must learn on the job as they fight for the "fate of the future." Both Captain Kirk and Spock make on-screen appearances. Star Trek Live is included in the regular admission price for a tour of the Space Center.http://www.examiner.com/x-4732-Celebrity-Travel-Examiner~y2010m6d14-Star-Trek-Live-theatrical-show-opens-at-Kennedy-Space-Center

Star Trek Live is produced by Mad Science Productions, under a license from CBS Consumer Products. The common themes of the history-making events at KSC and the Star Trek adventures make Star Trek Live a fitting addition to the KSC activities.

On Feb. 1, 2010, President Obama announced a major alteration of the planned course of U.S. space flight by cancelling the Constellation program, including both the Orion lander and the Ares rockets. Because the Constellation program was over budget and behind schedule, it might not be avaliable to carry our astronauts to the ISS before it terminates. The administration policy is to rely on NASA to develop cutting edge technologies which will allow commercial companies to carryout the actual missions. http://www.floridatoday.com/content/blogs/space/2010/02/obama-goes-commercial-with-us-human.shtml NASA was also directed to abandon plans to return to the moon and to develop new technology that will carry U.S. space flight further out into the solar system than the moon. http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/awx/2010/02/03/awx_02_03_2010_p0-201789.xml&headline=NASA%20Starts%20Reorganizing%20To%20Meet%20Demands Reactions to the announcement are mixed. <rerf>http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100203/NEWS02/2030350/1006/NEWS01/No+easy+answers+on+space</ref> Left without any concrete goal, NASA adrministrators are scrambling to develop plans for the future. http://www.universetoday.com/2010/02/06/tough-times-could-be-ahead-for-kennedy-space-center/

The future outlook for KSC and its workers is grim. When the shuttle program ends in 2010 or 2011, as many as 7,000 workers at the Kennedy Space Center will lose their jobs. In addition, 21,000 indirect jobs may be lost. Officials believe the unemployment rate in Brevard County, where KSC is located, may reach 13%. http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20091201/NEWS01/912010315/1006/news01 NASA employees and employees of NASA contractors are devastated by the President's recent decisions because the cancellation of Constellation will cause even more lay-offs than was already expected with the end of the shuttle program. http://www.universetoday.com/2010/02/06/tough-times-could-be-ahead-for-kennedy-space-center/

The wisdom of abandoning the shuttle space program with its replacement in development has been a subject of debate. Some believe that the U.S. has to maintain a way to get our astronauts to and from the International Space Station and to preserve our space leadership. http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn13098-politician-urges-nasa-to-postpone-shuttles-retirement.html Others believe that it is past time to retire the shuttles with their aging technology and that the Russians can ferry our astronauts and equipment to the ISS. Whether the shuttles should be allowed to go beyond their current 25 years of service is also a controversial subject. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/columbia/richardson.html

• STS-133 Discovery September 16, 2010

• STS-134 Endeavor Mid-November, 2010

• NOTE: Launch dates subject to change due to technical problems and weather conditions.

• Update: NASA is proposing to change the launch date for Discovery until October 29, 2010. Endeavor's last mission would launch no earlier than Feb. 28, 2011. Atlantis may make one more trip to the ISS in mid-2011. http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/06/22/4544758-shuttle-swan-song-delayed-to-2011

The recent flight of the space shuttle Atlantis was supposed to be its last mission. Now, however, the future of Atlantis is in some respects uncertain. After all the shuttle missions are over, Atlantis and the other two space shuttles will be located in museums throughout the country that have not been determined yet. What is uncertain is what Atlantis will do in the meantime.

First, the shuttle will be used as a potential rescue vehicle for the final scheduled shuttle mission in November. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7022741.html There is a possibility that Atlantis will be called on one more time for a final supply mission to the ISS. Congress would have to supply funding for the additional mission, and part of the shuttle program workforce would have to be retained to get Atlantic ready for the additional mission. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-05-26/shuttle-atlantis-returns-from-final-scheduled-mission-update2-.html NASA is considering using Atlantis with a minimal crew to run one more supply trip to the ISS and believes that Congress would approve the mission.

After a flawless launch from the Kennedy Space Center space shuttle Atlantis was in earth's orbit heading for the International Space Station (ISS).. Carrying a crew of six, the space shuttle Atlantis (STS-129) took off from Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center at 2:28 EST on Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, for an 11-day mission. The destination was the International Space Station. The crew is composed of Commander Charlie Hobaugh, Pilot Barry Wilmore, and Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Mike Foreman, Robert Satcher, and Randy Bresnik. Only Melvin and Foreman had flown on a shuttle mission previously. Atlantis delivered several items to the space station, including gyroscopes, pump nodules, and an ammonia tank assembly. Three space walks took place while Atlantic was docked with the ISS. MIssion Specialist/ISS Flight Engineer Nicole Stott, who has been serving on the space station, is returning home with the Atlantis crew. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html After spending Thanksgiving in orbit, the astronauts landed safely at KSC at 9:44 a.m, EST, on Friday, Nov. 26, 2009. http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/11/flawless-atlantis-home-kennedy-space-center/ The next and final scheduled mission of space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to depart for the space station on May 14, 2010. http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/11/flawless-atlantis-home-kennedy-space-center/

The space shuttle Endeavour lifted off from Kennedy Space Center Launch Pad 39A at 4:39 A.M. EST on Feb. 8, 2010. Endeavour's lift-off was the final planned night launch of a shuttle. Endeavor's 11-day mission (STS-130) was to deliver and install Tranquility Node 3, the final connecting node, to the International Space Station. http://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/schedule.htmla A Cupola unit was also attached. Three space walks were executed. The mission was Endeavour's 24th flight and the 130th flight for the Space Shuttle Program. http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/05/nasa-updates-endeavours-2010-opening-sts-130-mission-carrying-node-3/ The shuttle Endeavour landed at Kennedy Space Center in the early morning hours of Feb. 22, 2010, after accomplishing its mission to the ISS. http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=9905928 Television viewers were treated to a view from the shuttle's cockpit as it approached the runway.

George Zamka commanded Endeavour and Terry Virts was the pilot. Rounding out the 6-person crew were Nicholas Patrick, Robert Behenken, Stephen Robinson, and Kathryn Hire. http://news.softpedia.com/news/An-Overview-of-the-Upcoming-STS-130-Mission-128740.shtml

[STS-131], the 15-day space shuttle mission to the ISS, began at launch on April 5, 2010. While the Feb. 8 [Endeavor] flight was advertised as the final night launch, the lift-off time for [Discovery] was set back to 6:21 EDT, which is prior to dawn on Florida's east coast. Spectators were treated to another spectacular launch where the shuttle's powerful solid rocket boosters lit up the surrounding area with an eerie glow. http://news.discovery.com/space/space-shuttle-discovery-launch.html

After docking with the ISS, Discovery delivered equipment and supplies for the station. Its cargo included a research and exercise system, an observational research facility wtih scanners, camcorders, and sensors, a rack system to store experiments, stowage racks, four crew sleeping quarters, and a new water production service. http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/436872main_STS131%20mission%20summary.pdf

The crew of Discovery included Commander [Alan Poindexter], Pilot [James P. Dutton Jr.], and Mission Specialists [Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger], [Rick Mastracchio], [Naoko Yamazaki], [Clayton Anderson] and [Stephanie Wilson]. Mission Specialist Metcalf-Lindenburger is a former high school teacher who operated the shuttle's robotic arm. Mission Specialists Mastracchio and Anderson performed three spacewalks on which they replaced an ammonia tank assembly, retrieved a Japanese experiment from the outside of the ISS, and replaced a rate gyro assemble on the truss. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts131/main/index.html

STS-131 was a historic mission for female astronauts. The three female Discovery crew members joined Tracy Caldwell Dyson, who had recently arrived at the ISS aboard the Russian Soyuz, making the first time four female astronauts had been in orbit at the same time. http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/most-women-in-space-100405.html

It took space shuttle Atlantis less than nine minutes to reach its orbit around the earth after a picture-perfect launch from the Kennedy Space Center at 2:20 p.m. on May 14, 2010. It was a spectacular sight as Atlantis flew through a few light clouds against a bright blue sky on a beautiful Florida spring day. Roads leading to the space center were clogged as 40,000 spectators viewed the launch. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37145333/ns/technology_and_science-space/

The mission is officially known as STS-132. The shuttle carried a payload for the International Space Station. Its cargo bay held an Integrated Cargo Carrier and Russian-built Mini-Research Module 1. Three spacewalks were carried out while Atlantis was at the ISS. http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/446577main_sts132-summary.pdf

The crew of Atlantis consisted of Commander Ken Ham, pilot Tony Antonelli, and mission specialists Garrett Reisman, Michael Good, Steve Bowen, and Piers Sellers.

Atlantis concluded its successful mission by landing at the Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility on the morning of May 26, 2010. http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/05/26/shuttle-atlantis-touches-kennedy-space-center/?test=latestnews The landing of the Atlantis was bitttersweet because this was the last scheduled mission before the retirement of the space shuttle fleet. Atlantis logged over 120 million miles in its 25 years of service. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g8gpZRl3t8mV2RxsVjIuPU75dJeAD9FTCBR00

Atlantis History: Atlantis is named for a two-masted sailing ship associated with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute from 1930 to 1966. The maiden voyage of the space shuttle Atlantis was on Oct. 3, 1985. On two missions in 1989, Atlantis launched the Magellan probe to Venus and the Galileo interplanetary probe to Jupiter. Atlantis was the first shuttle to dock with the MIR Space Station in June 1995 and the last shuttle to service the Hubble telescope in May 2009. The current mission is the 32nd and final flight for Atlantis. http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/446577main_sts132-summary.pdf