How Backstreet Boys' Howie D Became a Space Coast Local
Howie Dorough, the Backstreet Boy known to millions of fans as Howie D, didn’t grow up on the Space Coast. He grew up in Orlando, where the Backstreet Boys …
Read the articleJournal series
Space Coast Lives
Mini-biographies of notable people whose beginnings, childhoods, or careers are connected to Brevard County and Florida’s Space Coast.
Browse the complete journal
Winston Scott: The Space Coast Astronaut Who Took His Trumpet to Orbit
Winston Scott is a retired NASA astronaut and U.S. Navy captain who flew two Space Shuttle missions, walked in space three times, and has spent the last two decades …
Read the article
Famous People You Didn't Know Were From Florida's Space Coast
Florida’s Space Coast has produced a surprising number of famous people, including rock legend Jim Morrison (born in Melbourne), surfing’s greatest …
Read the article
Was Jim Morrison Born in Melbourne, Florida? His Space Coast Beginning
Published July 11, 2026 · Updated July 11, 2026 Yes, Jim Morrison was born in Melbourne, Florida, on December 8, 1943. The legendary frontman of The Doors began his …
Read the article
How Cocoa Beach Shaped Kelly Slater's Life and Surfing Legacy
Published July 10, 2026 · Updated July 10, 2026 Kelly Slater, widely called the greatest surfer of all time, grew up in Cocoa Beach, Florida, and started surfing its …
Read the article
Who Was the Only Woman in the Apollo 11 Firing Room?
Published July 9, 2026 · Updated July 9, 2026 The only woman in the Apollo 11 firing room at liftoff was JoAnn Morgan, an instrumentation controller for NASA who …
Read the article
From Melbourne Horse Shows to Sports Illustrated: Kate Upton's Early Story
Published July 8, 2026 · Updated July 8, 2026 Before she was a Sports Illustrated cover model, Kate Upton was a champion horseback rider growing up in Melbourne, …
Read the article
From Rockledge to Las Vegas: How Carrot Top Built an Unusual Career
Published July 7, 2026 · Updated July 7, 2026 Carrot Top, the red-haired prop comedian, was born in Rockledge, Florida, in 1965 and grew up in nearby Cocoa as the …
Read the article
How Growing Up in Titusville Shaped Daniel Tosh's Comedy
Published July 6, 2026 · Updated July 6, 2026 Comedian Daniel Tosh, best known for the show Tosh.0, grew up in Titusville, Florida, on the Space Coast. Born to …
Read the article
The Space Coast Childhood Behind Doug Flutie's Famous Hail Mary
Published July 5, 2026 · Updated July 5, 2026 Before the legendary 1984 Hail Mary and the Heisman Trophy, Doug Flutie spent much of his boyhood in Melbourne Beach, …
Read the article
From Melbourne to Saturday Night Live: Darrell Hammond's Story
Published July 4, 2026 · Updated July 4, 2026 Darrell Hammond, one of the longest-serving cast members in Saturday Night Live history, was born and raised in …
Read the article