NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

On July 29, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed Public Law 85-568 , creating the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, also known as NASA. In July 1962, the agency established its Launch Operations Center on Florida's east coast, and renamed it in late 1963 to honor the president who put America on the path to the moon.

Image at right: Dr. Werner Von Braun explains the Saturn rocket system to President John F. Kennedy at Launch Complex 37 in November 1963. Image credit: NASA"

NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center has helped set the stage for America's adventure in space for more than four decades. The spaceport has served as the departure gate for every American manned mission and hundreds of advanced scientific spacecraft. From the early days of Project Mercury to the space shuttle and International Space Station, from the Hubble Space Telescope to the Mars Exploration Rovers, the center enjoys a rich heritage in its vital role as NASA's processing and launch center . As the nation embarks on a new chapter in space exploration, Kennedy will continue to make history.