Question: Why was Houston chosen as the site for NASA’s Manned Spacecraft Center in 1961?
Answer: The criteria NASA established for the new center made Houston a natural choice: barge transportation in ice-free waters; a mild climate; all-weather commercial jet service; a nearby Department of Defense air base; a nearby university; at least 1,000 acres of land; and property that could be acquired at a reasonable cost. Tampa emerged as the leading candidate among twenty-three potential sites, but Texas politicians persuaded NASA to go with Houston.
