This aerial photo of the runway at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility looks northeast.

This aerial photo of the runway at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility looks northeast. Longer and wider than most commercial runways, it is 15,000 feet long, with 1,000-foot paved overruns on each end, and 300 feet wide, with 50-foot asphalt shoulders. The runway is used by military and civilian cargo carriers, astronauts’ T-38 trainers, Shuttle Training Aircraft and helicopters, as well as the Space Shuttle. At center right is the parking apron with the orbiter mate/demate tower. The tow-way stretches from the runway to the right, passing the hangar and storage facilities. A grassy area next to the mid-point of the runway is where the new control tower is located.