Space Shuttle Kennedy Space Center

shuttle discovery launching pad 39a on sts-60, february 3, 1994

as space shuttle being designed, nasa received proposals building alternative launch-and-landing sites @ locations other ksc, demanded study. ksc had important advantages, including: existing facilities; location on intracoastal waterway; , southern latitude, gives velocity advantage missions launched in easterly near-equatorial orbits. disadvantages included: inability safely launch military missions polar orbit, since spent boosters fall on carolinas or cuba; corrosion salt air; , frequent cloudy or stormy weather. although building new site @ white sands missile range in new mexico considered, nasa announced decision in april 1972 use ksc shuttle. since shuttle not landed automatically or remote control, launch of columbia on april 12, 1981 first orbital mission sts-1, nasa s first manned launch of vehicle had not been tested in prior unmanned launches.

shuttle atlantis moved pad 39a 1990 launch of sts-36.

in 1976, vab s south parking area site of third century america, science , technology display commemorating u.s. bicentennial. concurrent event, u.s. flag painted on south side of vab. during late 1970s, lc-39 reconfigured support space shuttle. 2 orbiter processing facilities built near vab hangars third added in 1980s.

ksc s 2.9-mile (4.7 km) shuttle landing facility (slf) orbiters primary end-of-mission landing site, although first ksc landing did not take place until tenth flight, when challenger completed sts-41-b on february 11, 1984; primary landing site until edwards air force base in california, subsequently used backup landing site. slf provided return-to-launch-site (rtls) abort option, not utilized. slf among longest runways in world.

after 24 successful shuttle flights, challenger torn apart 73 seconds after launch of sts-51-l on january 28, 1986; first shuttle launch pad 39b , first u.s. manned launch failure, killing 7 crew members. o-ring seal in right booster rocket failed @ liftoff, leading subsequent structural failures. flights resumed on september 29, 1988 sts-26 after modifications many aspects of shuttle program.

on february 1, 2003, columbia , crew of 7 lost during re-entry on texas during sts-107 mission (the 113th shuttle flight); vehicle breakup triggered damage sustained during launch pad 39a on january 16, when piece of foam insulation orbiter s external fuel tank struck orbiter s left wing. during reentry, damage created hole allowing hot gases melt wing structure. challenger disaster, resulting investigation , modifications interrupted shuttle flight operations @ ksc more 2 years until sts-114 launch on july 26, 2005.

the shuttle program experienced 5 main engine shutdowns @ lc-39, within 4 seconds before launch; , 1 abort orbit, sts-51-f on july 29, 1985. shuttle missions during 30 years of operations included deploying satellites , interplanetary probes, conducting space science , technology experiments, visits russian mir space station, construction , servicing of international space station, deployment , servicing of hubble space telescope , serving space laboratory. shuttle retired service in july 2011 after 135 launches.