|
|
|
Presidential and Vice Presidential visits to NASA's Kennedy Space Center
Since being founded as the nation's missile testing ground and civilian spaceport, the Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida have hosted 7 sitting U.S. Presidents and 5 Vice Presidents for tours and visits. To date, only two sitting Presidents have witnessed manned launches from the Cape.
Dwight D. Eisenhower, President
| 2/10/60 |
|
Visited Cape Canaveral. |
Dr. Wernher von Braun explains the Saturn launch system to
President Kennedy at Cape Canaveral, Nov. 16, 1963 (NASA)
John F. Kennedy, President
| 2/23/62 |
|
Project Mercury ceremony - presented astronaut John Glenn and Robert Gilruth, director of the Manned Spacecraft Center, with NASA Distinguished Service Medals. |
| 9/11/62 |
|
Toured launch complexes for Mercury-Atlas, Titan and Saturn C-1 rockets. |
| 11/16/63 |
|
Visited Cape Canaveral. Watched launch of a Polaris missile from submarine.
President was in helicopter flying over the MILA tracking station (under construction). |
Lyndon B. Johnson, President
| 9/15/64 |
|
Impromptu visit to KSC, inspected SA-7 booster being prepared for launch and space probes. Briefed by astronaut Wally Schirra on Gemini spacecraft. |
| 9/27/66 |
|
With West German Chancellor Ludwig Erhard for tour; delivered a speech in the Vehicle Assembly Building. |
Vice President Agnew and former President Johnson view the
launch of Apollo 11 from Kennedy Space Center, 1969 (NASA)
| |
Lyndon B. Johnson, Vice President |
| |
10/3/61 |
|
tour of space installations. |
| |
2/23/62 |
|
Project Mercury ceremony |
| |
9/11/62 |
|
tour of LOC with President Kennedy. |
| |
Lyndon B. Johnson, civilian |
| |
7/15-16/69 |
|
Viewed Apollo 11 launch |
Hubert H. Humphrey, Vice President
| 02/22/65 |
|
Tour of KSC and Air Force facilities and briefings of various space programs. |
Richard M. Nixon, President
| 11/14/69 |
|
Viewed Apollo 12 launch — first sitting President to view NASA launch. |
President Nixon watches Apollo 12 prelaunch activities from the Kennedy Space Center's viewing area on Nov. 14, 1969. (NASA)
Spiro T. Agnew, Vice President
| |
3/3/69 |
|
Viewed Apollo 9 launch. |
| |
7/16/69 |
|
Viewed Apollo 11 launch. |
| |
1/31/71 |
|
Viewed Apollo 14 launch. |
Jimmy Carter, President
| 10/1/78 |
|
Celebration for NASA's 20th Anniversary - awards to astronauts in Vehicle Assembly Building. |
| |
Jimmy Carter, civilian |
| |
1/3/02 |
|
Toured KSC accompanied by wife, Rosalyn |
George H.W. Bush, Vice President
| 3/17/81 |
|
Tour of shuttle operations and met with STS-1 crew. |
| 2/5/82 |
|
Spacelab dedication in O&C Building. |
| 9/5/83 |
|
KSC's Labor Day picnic - held at press site. |
| 1/28/86 |
|
Loss of space shuttle Challenger and the STS-51L crew - visit with astronaut families and NASA officials. |
Dan Quayle, Vice President
| 2/20/91 |
|
Tour of LCC, LC-39A and visit with STS-39 crew — watched countdown test. |
| 5/9/91 |
|
Spaceport USA to dedicate Space Mirror. |
| 9/12/92 |
|
Viewed STS-47 launch |
President and Mrs. Clinton watch the launch of space shuttle
Discovery from the roof of the Launch Control Center (NASA)
Bill Clinton, President
| 10/29/98 |
|
Viewed STS-95 launch (John Glenn onboard). |
Dick Cheney, Vice President
| 07/01/06 |
|
Viewed STS-121 launch attempt. |
Barack Obama, President
| 04/15/10 |
|
Delivered speech on space vision in O&C. Toured Complex 40 SpaceX launch pad. |
Source: NASA (via Spaceflight Now)
|
© 1999-2013 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved.
Questions? E-mail contact@collectspace.com
|
|
|
|
