Titusville in Brevard County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39 - 1965
Historic Titusville
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, October 20, 2019
1. Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39 - 1965 Marker
"Look across the Indian River… it is from the tract of land east of Titusville that the United States will fire its hopes toward the moon… From now on, Titusville will be known as space exploration headquarters."
- Titusville Star Advocate report of NASA’s August 24, 1961 announcement.
This shoreline view changed forever after the U.S. Government acquired north Merritt Island for the construction of a launch complex to send Americans to the moon. By 1965, the massive Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) towered 52 stories above the surrounding landscape. Along the ocean, NASA erected two launch pads to serve as the departure points for the mighty Saturn V rockets, and eventually the Space Shuttle.
Launch Complex 39 (LC-39) has dominated the shoreline opposite Titusville ever since, and hundreds of thousands of people have enjoyed this choice spot for viewing NASA's launches.
Today, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from LC-39. In the coming years, NASA's new Space Launch System (SLS) will light up the sky from there as well. Other exhibits and monuments along the Space Walk of Fame describe America's pioneering efforts in space, and honor the contributions of the community.
Erected by City of Titusville.
Topics. This historical
this page online
Location. 28° 36.83′ N, 80° 48.23′ W. Marker is in Titusville, Florida, in Brevard County. Marker can be reached from Broad Street, 0.1 miles east of Indian River Avenue, on the left when traveling east. Marker is located at the east end of Space View Park, overlooking the Indian River, with Kennedy Space Center in the distant background. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10 Broad Street, Titusville FL 32796, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Old Glory (within shouting distance of this marker); Striving For Peace Throughout The World (within shouting distance of this marker); The Tuskegee Airmen Of World War II (within shouting distance of this marker); S.S. Leopoldville (within shouting distance of this marker); Project Mercury Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Robert H. Goddard’s First Liquid Fueled Rocket (within shouting distance of this marker); Jules Verne vs. NASA’s Apollo 11 (within shouting distance of this marker); Liberty Tree (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Titusville.
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, October 20, 2019
2. Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39 - 1965 Marker
(wide view)
(wide view)
The Launch Complex 39 tower is barely visible in the distant background. It is located east of the Indian River and 11 miles east of this marker, near the Atlantic shore. The pier behind this marker has yet to be repaired after severe hurricane damage.
3. Marker detail: Mercury Astronaut Gordon Cooper
Pad team assists Mercury Astronaut Gordon Cooper into his spacecraft, named Faith 7, before his launch in 1963.
4. Marker detail: Vehicle Assembly Building
under construction in 1965
under construction in 1965
Credits. This page was last revised on July 12, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 19, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 324 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 20, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
