STS or Space shuttle Launch Complex 39 Pads A & B: shuttles are each a partially reusable launch system composed of three main assemblies: the reusable orbiter vehicle, the expendable external tank (ET), and the two partially-reusable solid rocket boosters (SRBs). The tank and boosters are jettisoned during ascent; only the orbiter goes into orbit. The vehicle is launched vertically like a conventional rocket, and the orbiter glides to a horizontal landing, after which it is refurbished for reuse.

Atlas V Space Launch Complex 41: The Atlas is a venerable line of space launch vehicles originally built by the Convair Division of General Dynamics, and now Lockheed Martin. Originally designed as an ICBM in the late 1950s, the Atlas is today used as a launch platform for commercial and military satellites, and other space vehicles.

Delta II Space Launch Complex 17 Pads A & B: Delta rockets have been built and launched since 1960. Known as the “workhorse” of the launch industry, the Delta II comprises a group of expendable rockets that can be configured as two- or three-stage vehicles and with three, four or nine strap-on graphite epoxy motors (GEMs) depending on mission needs.

Delta IV Space Launch Complex 37: Delta IV blends advanced and proven technology to launch virtually any size medium-to-heavy class payload to space. These are probably the most beautiful of the ELV or Expendable Launch Vehicles to watch. They use a liquid fuel that produces almost no exhaust as you can see in the picture.

A wealth of information is available from both NASA as well as the public. Below is some additional reference materials that may be useful for those interested in the manned and unmanned space programs.

• 1-800-KSC-INFO - General launch information and dates
• (321) 449-4400 - Purchase launch tickets
• (321) 867-3900 - Daily KSC project status updates

• NASA TV - Channel 177 on Bright House Networks - offers commercial free launch and mission coverage.
• NASA TV Programming
• Central Florida News 13 is a 24-hour local news station on Bright House Networks cable service that provides coverage of most launches.
• Most Central Florida network affiliates (channels 2, 4, 6, and 9) interrupt programming to cover a shuttle launch.

• Ham radio on UHF at 442.6 MHz
• WMMB provides launch coverage on AM 1240 and AM 1350

These frequencies are UHF and can be heard using AM type scanner.

• 146.94 MHz - Launch Information Service and Amateur Television System (LISATS)
• 296.800 MHz - Air-to-ground, or orbiter-to-suit
• 259.700 MHz - Air-to-ground, or suit-to-orbiter
• 279.000 MHz - Suit-to-orbiter, or suit-to-suit
• 243.000 MHz - Standard military aircraft emergency frequency

• Launch viewing ticket purchase page


• Space shuttle status and mission information


• Space shuttle weather launch commit criteria


• Space shuttle launch preparation status reports


• Space shuttle manifests


• Space shuttle launch press kits


• NASA launch schedule


• United Launch Alliance, information on ELV or Expendable Launch Vehicles


• Kennedy Space Center organizations


• Space launch amateur photography site


• JSC Digital Image Collection


• Florida Today's Kennedy Space Center Map


• Amateur launch photography


• Spaceflight Now Online space news