<P> Cape Canaveral was chosen for rocket launches to take advantage of the Earth's rotation . The linear velocity of the Earth's surface is greatest towards the equator; the relatively southerly location of the cape allows rockets to take advantage of this by launching eastward, in the same direction as the Earth's rotation . It is also highly desirable to have the downrange area sparsely populated, in case of accidents; an ocean is ideal for this . The east coast of Florida has logistical advantages over potential competing sites . The Spaceport Florida Launch Complex 46 of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is the easternmost near the tip of the cape . </P> <P> A post office in the area was built and listed in the U.S. Post Office application as "Artesia" and retained this name from 1893 to 1954 . It was "Port Canaveral" from 1954 to 1962, and lastly the City of Cape Canaveral from 1962 to 1963, when a larger post office was built . </P> <P> From 1963 to 1973, the area had a different name when President Lyndon Johnson by executive order renamed the area "Cape Kennedy" after President John F. Kennedy, who had set the goal of landing on the moon . After Kennedy's assassination in November 1963, his widow, Jacqueline Kennedy, suggested to President Johnson that renaming the Cape Canaveral facility would be an appropriate memorial . Johnson recommended the renaming of the entire cape, announced in a televised address six days after the assassination, on Thanksgiving evening . Accordingly, Cape Canaveral was officially renamed Cape Kennedy . Kennedy's last visit to the space facility was on November 16, six days before his death; the final Mercury mission had concluded six months earlier . </P> <P> Although the name change was approved by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names of the Department of the Interior in December 1963, it was not popular in Florida from the outset, especially in the bordering city of Cape Canaveral . In 1973, the Florida Legislature passed a law in May restoring the former 400 - year - old name, and the Board went along . The name restoration to Cape Canaveral became official on October 9, 1973 . Senator Ted Kennedy had stated in 1970 that it was a matter to be decided by the citizens of Florida . The Kennedy family issued a letter stating they "understood the decision," and NASA's Kennedy Space Center retains the "Kennedy" name . </P>

Why did they change the name of cape kennedy