It was all so simple back in 1992, in a world where the Kennedy Space Center and the Space Shuttle were nearly the only show in town. You could have any car in any color, so long as it was black. Sure, there were expendable, uncrewed launch vehicles, too. But these were merely a consolation prize for your family and friends who came to see the Shuttle launch only to experience an all too common launch scrub or delay. It was the bad weather or some sensor. Those sensors. So many sensors. And the clouds somewhere, violating a “launch commit criteria,” even if the area right around the base was a picture-perfect day.
A lot has changed. This map of the Kennedy Space Center from 1992 was mainly given to employees or the occasional bunch in a pile at Family Day. Most of my copies have seen the scourge of time, dog-eared, marked with highlighters and sharpies, crossing out one launch pad rocket for another. Adding notes. So many scribbles. Yet a few days ago, while unpacking, I found a pristine copy.
I must share it.
To appreciate how much has changed at Kennedy Space Center, I published an updated map of the KSC launch pads in March of 2023. The sleepy air of in-between Shuttle launches or perhaps an Atlas II or Delta II is long gone. Simplicity gives way to change in a complex tapestry of continuous innovation. Kennedy’s multi-user spaceport vision is here. Or at least – it’s off to a good start.
Zapata Talks NASA 