Rocco A. Petrone Launch Control Center Following a ceremony at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center earlier this year, the Florida spaceport’s launch control center was officially renamed the Rocco A. Petrone Launch Control Center. Petrone, who was instrumental in America’s first voyages to the Moon and headed the Apollo program, died in 2006 at the age of 80. NASA/Cory Huston

In July 1962, NASA established an independent launch operations center near Cape Canaveral to meet the challenge of landing a human on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth. Ever since, the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida has supported America’s space program and helped launch the dreams of the nation.

To aid media in telling the story of Kennedy’s diamond anniversary, a media day will be held the morning of Tuesday, June 14. A limited number of journalists will have the opportunity to speak with past and present employees at the newly renovated Rocco A. Petrone Launch Control Center lobby, Swamp Works, where Apollo astronauts trained and where researchers are developing technologies to help live and work on and around the Moon as part of the Artemis program, and the Astronaut Crew Quarters that has housed astronauts through the decades.

 All media wishing to participate must apply by June 8 for credentials at:

 https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

 More information about the anniversary and links to historical footage can be found at:

https://www.nasa.gov/content/ksc-60th

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Press Contacts

Amanda Griffin
Kennedy Space Center, Florida
321-593-6244
amanda.griffin@nasa.gov

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