From the early days of America's space program, the Kennedy Space Center has played a pivotal role. Through the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space shuttle programs, the NASA mission control and launch facility has captured the world's attention. Home of the legendary Launch Control Center, where NASA engineers have guided launches since the Apollo program of the early 1960s, Kennedy Space Center boasts the Vehicle Assembly Building, which is one of the largest buildings in the world, plus the space shuttle launch pad.