What) The John F. Kennedy Space Center is the U.S. government installation that manages and operates America's astronaut launch facilities. Serving as the base for the country's three space shuttles, the NASA field center also conducts unmanned civilian launches from adjacent Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. KSC has been the launch site for every U.S. human space flight since December 1968. (1)

    KSC's iconic Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) is the fourth-largest structure in the world by volume and was the largest when completed in 1965. The VAB is 526 feet (160 m) tall, 716 feet (218 m) long and 518 feet (157 m) wide. It covers 8 acres (3 ha), and encloses 129,428,000 cubic feet (3,665,000 m3) of space. The building has 10,000 tons of air conditioning, the equipment includes 125 ventilators on the roof supported by four large air handlers (four cylindrical structures west of the building) to keep moisture under control. Air in the building can be completely replaced every hour. The interior volume of the building is so vast that it has its own weather, including "rain clouds forming below the ceiling on very humid days", which the moisture reduction systems are designed to minimize. (2)

    Where) The center is north of Cape Canaveral midway between Miami and Jacksonville.

    Why) Before I left on our trip, I was told that this was one of the places I had to visit.  I didn't have to be told that either as I have long been aware of the place and had a desire to watch a shuttle launch.  I guess I didn't insist on going because I suspected that the tour would be overpriced and not show me the most interesting sights.