Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of SpaceX, hosted Obama on a 15-minute tour of the complex.Obama did not visit other launch pads at the Cape during a visit that lasted more than two hours, according to NASA officials.
"The president spent 15 minutes walking around the pad and rocket asking me questions about it," Musk said. "For a non-engineer, he displayed an impressive understanding."
Musk told Spaceflight Now that Obama specifically asked what modifications are required for the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule to be ready for human occupants.
President Obama mentioned the tour at the opening of his remarks to a crowd of NASA and space industry brass later Thursday afternoon.