NASA Demonstrates New Prescribed Burn Capability for Spaceport 

A prescribed fire set on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, led to smoke billowing up into the sky throughout the area, including near the center’s Vehicle Assembly Building and Launch Control Center.

NASA/Leejay Lockhart

Anyone who has seen a launch at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida knows the agency’s pursuit of the stars involves some smoke and fire. Sometimes, however, the smoke doesn’t come from the rockets that propel astronauts beyond Earth’s bounds.