As of 2026, the geographic feature on Florida's Atlantic coast is still officially called Cape Canaveral. There is often confusion regarding its name due to a period in history between 1963 and 1973 when it was renamed Cape Kennedy in honor of the late President John F. Kennedy. However, after local residents petitioned to restore the original Spanish name (which means "place of canes"), it officially reverted to Cape Canaveral in 1973. It is important to distinguish the place from the facilities: the major NASA installation located there is the John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC), and the neighboring military launch site is the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (formerly Cape Canaveral Air Force Station). So, while you visit the Kennedy Space Center to see a launch, you are physically standing on Cape Canaveral. In 2026, the area remains the primary gateway for American space exploration, including the high-profile Artemis missions and frequent commercial launches by companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin.