KSC-2012-4879

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Roy D. Bridges Jr. Bridge connecting NASA Kennedy Space Center's Industrial Area to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Industrial Area is seen during a field-guided boat tour. As part of the Kennedy's first-ever Innovation Expo, the tour, called "Living Outdoor Laboratory for Environmental Sustainability," is giving employees the opportunity to see the unique estuarine ecosystems that are protected from development by the presence of the center and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The diverse and healthy area encompassing about 140,000 acres of central Florida's east coast has been closed to the public for 50 years, allowing the coastal dunes, saltwater estuaries and marshes, freshwater impoundments, scrub, pine flatwoods, and hardwood hammocks to provide habitats for more than 1,000 species of plants and animals. Innovation Expo is showcasing the innovative work taking place throughout the center's facilities and labs to encourage employees to work together to solve future challenges. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/kennedy. Photo credit: NASA