Discover More About The Best Tour Of Cape Canaveral

The area known as Space Coast contains the Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Cape Canaveral Florida is also part of this district, situated in Brevard County.

NASA has launched all of its manned missions from here, with its rocket and space shuttle missions.  This location was chosen because Cape Canaveral Florida is the best position for spacecraft, with regard to the rotation of the Earth. The first rocket was launched in 1950. The Air Force Station was the first to successfully fire a Titan Intercontinental Ballistic Missile in 1959, beginning the Titan program, and that strip of coast became known as Missile Row. Curiously, the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse is sited within the station's perimeter and is the only working lighthouse to be owned by the US Air Force.

The naming of the area is rather complicated.  After President John Kennedy's assassination, his widow Jackie suggested that the Space Center change its name in his honor. In fact, the whole cape altered its name to Cape Kennedy from 1963-1973. The population of the area were unhappy with the removal of the old name, so it was changed back to Cape Canaveral Florida. However, the Space Center kept the name of Kennedy. The Kennedy Space Center visitor complex is a popular tourist attraction with museums, a bus tour and two IMAX theatres. There is also a viewing area for the two launch pads.

Port Canaveral is the second busiest cruise port in the world, and is the gateway to the West Indies for a lot of passengers.  The deep water port is also a major center for cargo ships and casino ships are also based there. The city of Cape Canaveral Florida is just south of the actual Cape. The population count from 2005 reported over 10,000 citizens. It has twinned with four other cities, all situated in Europe; in Switzerland, Italy, Greece and Portugal.

This eventful part of the country has contributed greatly to the history of the US and the world. Native Americans first settled Cape Canaveral Florida thousands of years ago. Later, sailors from different lands would use the Cape as a navigational mark. The French and the Spanish battled for domination in the 16th century and it was under British control for a brief period. These early conquerors would be astonished at the space flight missions of today. It was President Kennedy's dream that space be conquered first by America. The Cape was the chosen site that gave birth to the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs. The Astronaut Memorial in the Kennedy Space Center ensures that those who gave their lives will never be forgotten.