Source 1: NASA and the Space Program Change Florida
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Read the “The Space Coast” passage set. The Space Coast Source 1: NASA and the Space Program Change Florida 1 President Eisenhower established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on October 1, 1958. When John F. Kennedy took office as President in 1961, he committed the United States to the goal of landing a human on the moon. 2 Cape Canaveral, Florida, was geographically very well suited to become America's spaceport. It was a sparsely populated strip of flat land facing the ocean. Railroads and ships could bring in the materials to build the launch pad and space station. The Caribbean islands were near enough for monitoring and communication stations. 3 NASA established a new space launch center on Brevard County's Cape Canaveral in 1962, which had been used as a missile testing center. The next year, President Lyndon B. Johnson renamed the center in honor of President Kennedy, calling it the Kennedy Space Center. 4 Apollo 8 was the first human spaceflight mission to travel to, but not land on, Earth's moon. The crew of Apollo 10 also orbited the moon but did not land. The Apollo 11 mission finally achieved a moon landing. On July 20, 1969, Commander Neil Armstrong and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin "BuZZ" Aldrin, Jr. became the first humans to walk on the moon. 5 One of the greatest achievements witnessed at the Kennedy Space Center was the successful development and repeated launching of the space shuttles. More than a hundred space shuttle flights have sent astronauts into orbit to study space and map the earth, construct the International Space Center, and perform repairs to the Hubble Space Telescope. 6 The Space Age changed Florida forever. Thousands of new workers moved to the state and transformed Cape Canaveral into a hub of aeronautics, electronics design, and manufacturing. 7 Cities near the Cape, such as Titusville, Cocoa, Melbourne and Orlando, grew rapidly in population. Factories manufacturing important products for the space programs began all over the state. Space exploration and related industries pumped billions of dollars of federal funding into Florida's economy. 8 Space became a central part of Florida’s culture. Communities near Cape Canaveral promoted Florida’s “Space Coast” as a new and exciting destination for tourists. Motels, restaurants and even housing developments adopted space-related themes to capture the interest of visitors and potential new residents. Developers and local governments emphasiZed Florida’s role in the space industry to attract new people and new businesses to their communities. 9 An entire generation of space-industry workers retired in the Space Coast area. Other plans, such as environmental services, including the development of solar energy technology, attracted even more skilled workers to the Space Coast. After five decades of space age development, Florida remains one of the nation’s centers for technology and manufacturing industries and still serves as the home of one of the world's most significant spaceports. Glossary: Aeronautics: the science of traveling through the air Source 2: Florida’s Space Coast 10 When NASA was opened, Brevard County, Florida soon became the fastest growing county in the country. Its population increased from 23,653 to 111,435 in just five years. Industry in Brevard County grew alongside the booming population. Before the activity of the Space Coast, Brevard County had only a handful of manufacturing companies. However, during the 1950s alone eighteen new manufacturing companies were formed. These new companies produced a variety of products from boats to tools. The space program and beaches of Brevard County offered an attractive destination to tourists. Hotels and restaurants opened to offer a relaxing spot for tourists. 11 Florida’s Space Coast saw another large addition in the early 1960s after President Kennedy made his famous address to Congress proposing that the U.S. should work to put a man on the moon. With this new challenge at hand, NASA had to expand their facilities to accommodate the launch of manned lunar flights. In 1962, NASA was given over 200 square miles to make room for more buildings and launch pads. The facilities built on this land are what are now known as the Kennedy Space Center. 12 The Kennedy Space Center visitor complex was built in the 1960s. It was only a small trailer with some minor displays. Since then it has greatly expanded and become one of the largest tourist attractions in Central Florida. The current visitor complex has two IMAX theaters, displays showing space missions, a space shuttle launch simulator, and bus tours. The guided bus tours showcase the Apollo/Saturn V center, views of launch pads, and the vehicle assembly building. Source 3: The Hidden Gems of the Space Coast 13 Florida’s Space Coast is full of exciting activities for the whole family, but it’s the locals who know the true hidden gems. From the top beaches for surfing, the best views for a rocket launch and the most scenic nature walks- the best kept secrets of Florida’s Space Coast are now revealed. The Exploration Tower 14 The Exploration Tower is not so hidden due to its large siZe, but the views and the experience inside is something you don’t want to miss! Never before seen panoramic views of not only Port Canaveral and the cruise ships, but of Kennedy Space Center await you. This seven-story structure features an observation deck perfect for viewing rocket launches, interactive exhibits, auditorium, gift shop and cafe. View the rich maritime history of Port Canaveral, and learn about stories of the region, including military battles, space, eco-tourism (tourists who visit nature), and beach culture. 2nd Light Beach 15 If you love to surf you need to stop by this beach located at the second traffic light as you travel south out of Cocoa Beach. This surf hotspot is a favorite among the locals. Source 4: Animals Draw People to the Space Coast 16 Florida’s Space Coast is a top destination for tourism. Many people visit the Space Coast just to see unusual animals in their habitat. The Space Coast is home to some of the world’s most unique animals including manatees, alligators, bottleneck dolphins, leatherback sea turtles and bald eagles. In fact, this area is home to more rare and endangered species than any other county in Florida! 17 Many people visit the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. This 140,000 acre site is located next to the Kennedy Space Center and is home to more than 1,500 species of plants and animals. The visitor center is headquarters for exploring the refuge. There, you can view displays, enjoy educational movies, and pick up maps, books, and other items at the gift shop. The refuge provides a variety of walking trails to explore and several observation points including the Manatee Observation Deck. Many people visit to fish for sea trout, red drum, snook, and tarpon. 18 Just north of the refuge is the Canaveral National Seashore. This seashore contains 24 miles of untouched beach and is home for many threatened and endangered species. It provides nesting beaches for several thousand protected marine turtles. The Canaveral Seashore has many events tourists can participate in including guided canoe tours through Mosquito Lagoon, a Night Turtle Watch for a chance to view nesting loggerhead sea turtles, and “Birder” Tours where a visitor can observe over 350 species of birds that live in the area. 19 One of the most popular animals for residents and tourists alike along the Space Coast is the Florida manatee. Due to their siZe and gentle nature, humans love to watch these sea cows float and swim around. Manatees can live in fresh, brackish, or salt waters that are 3-7 feet deep. Despite their large siZe, manatees have a thin layer of fat to insulate them. This is why during the colder months, when ocean water temperatures drop, they go to lagoons and springs to keep warm. This makes November through March the best time to spot them along the Space Coast. Florida’s Space Coast is important to Florida. Write an informative essay explaining the importance of the Space Coast. Use information from the passages in your essay. Manage your time carefully so that you can: • read the passages; • plan your response; • write your response; and • revise and edit your response. Be sure to include • an introduction; • support for your central idea using information from the passages; and • a conclusion that is related to your central idea. Your response should be in the form of a multiparagraph essay. 3879 .