Explore the NASA Kennedy Space Center in 1984 (Photo Essay)

The Vehicle Assembly Building was the place were rockets were assembled for the trip beyond low orbit and to the Moon. — Photo by Paul Heaton

Looking beyond Walt Disney World, I have great memories of our visits to Kennedy Space Center when I was a kid. I haven’t been there since 2003, and a return is definitely on the top of my list. The attractions have changed a lot since my last visit with cool additions like the Shuttle Launch Experience and Journey to Mars: Explorers Wanted. Designed by BRC Imagination Arts, those attractions make this place so much more than a dry history lesson. We recently uncovered slides from our trip to Kennedy Space Center in the summer of 1984. This photo essay includes a selection of those shots from 27 years ago.

Let’s begin with the picture above, which depicts the massive Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). This 525-foot tall structure is the only facility where rockets were built that took humans to the Moon. This picture can’t really convey the size of the VAB, which is one of the world’s largest buildings by area. You can also see the buses used in 1984 for public tours of restricted areas of Kennedy Space Center.

A replica of Mission Control to help depict the Apollo spaceflights at Kennedy Space Center in 1984. — Photo by Paul Heaton

Our next stop is what I believe was a replica of Mission Control for the Apollo missions, but I can’t confirm for sure. While NASA actually supported those spaceflights from Houston, it helps convey that experience. Kennedy Space Center currently offers the Apollo 8 and the Firing Room attraction in a theater that looks similar to this room.

A model of the Eagle spacecraft for Apollo 11 at Kennedy Space Center in 1984. — Photo by Paul Heaton

This model of the Eagle capsule from Apollo 11 helps to present what it was like for the astronauts that visited the moon. I’m still amazed at how small and fragile this ship was given the harsh conditions of space. There was no margin for error if Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were going to reach the Moon and return safely to Earth (along with Mike Collins).

A stunning overhead view of the launchpads at Kennedy Space Center in 1984. — Photo by Paul Heaton

This is my favorite shot of this collection because it shows the incredible scale of this facility. I believe the bus tour included a visit to a tower with overhead views of Kennedy Space Center. However, I haven’t been able to make sure that my memories are correct. Regardless, this is a striking view of the launch pads from 1984 with the Atlantic coast alongside them.

The Space Shuttle program was such a big part of NASA's operations in 1984. — Photo by Paul Heaton

We visited during the height of the Space Shuttle era and before the Challenger explosion in January 1986. I remember seeing the shuttle everywhere as a kid and even had a toy version at home. This model reminds me of a time long before the tragedies and ultimate ending of an exciting stage of NASA’s space program.

Here's a glimpse at a launchpad with boosters preparing for a test or future launch. — Photo by Paul Heaton

This picture offers a glimpse of at least the boosters on the launchpad from the bus tour of Kennedy Space Center. It’s possible this is for the Space Shuttle Discovery, which ultimately launched on August 30, 1984. This was the only mission that departed that summer, so that’s the most likely scenario. It could also just be for an unrelated test. Regardless, it’s cool to think about the possibilities in this shot.

I hope that you’ve enjoyed this visit to Kennedy Space Center back in the summer of 1984! Let’s close with a photo of the Rocket Garden, which looked very different than today’s version. I love this image of these powerful devices in front of the cloudy sky. These visits played a big role in my interest in Apollo and the space program in general today. I can’t wait to make it back to this remarkable destination with my girls. There’s so much history of what we accomplished in space and what’s possible in the future.