2017 ASCAN Tour of KSC

The 2017 class of astronaut candidates listen to NASA Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana, far right, during their tour and familiarization with the center. Sitting behind the candidates, at right is Kelvin Manning, Kennedy associate director. The candidates toured center facilities, including the Vehicle Assembly Building, Launch Control Center, Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building, Launch Pad 39B, and the Space Station Processing Facility. They also toured Boeing's Commercial Crew and Cargo Facility, United Launch Alliance's Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and SpaceX's Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy. The candidates will spend about two years getting to know the space station systems and learning how to spacewalk, speak Russian, control the International Space Station's robotic arm and fly T-38s, before they're eligible to be assigned to a mission.