The Federal Aviation Administration has approved a Launch Site Operator’s License for Space Florida to host commercial launches from Space Launch Complex 46 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.The state agency can now pursue commercial customers for launches at SLC-46. The complex can be readied for a launch within 12 months of a commitment, said an agency statement.
"This announcement just reinforces the fact that our state is rapidly facing the emerging space market and is ready for business," Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp said in a statement.
Space Florida is scrambling to create jobs to employ up to 8,000 shuttle program workers, who will lose their jobs when the program ends next year.
"Having a positive working partnership with the FAA – as well as the U.S. Air Force and Navy – made this possible," said Space Florida Vice President of Spaceport Operations Mark Bontrager.
Earlier this year, Lockheed Martin and ATK announced a plan to return the Athena launch vehicle to the marketplace, listing Florida as one of four potential launch sites.
The last active use of SLC-46 was in 1999, when RocSat 1 was launched on an Athena I rocket.
5 comments:
A Festivus miracle.
Be clear: this is the US Navy's launch pad, built originally for the TRIDENT II D-5 pad launches. The original dual-use agreement was forged between Navy and Spaceport Florida, Space Florida's predecessor. FAA and Air Force approve all commercial launch programs at the Cape but it is Navy's continued cooperation that makes this possible.
I think they built a pad for Constellation too .Ever going to use it again?
This seems to make it more clear that there will be two, maybe three, more launches from KSC - for ever? Now we see that Atlas, Delta, Falcon, probably this means Taurus will fly from the AF side. Of course it is great to see a commercial space industry (especially since they might hire me!) but it is sad to see the history of KSC coming to an end - with little or no notice.
Charles Houston
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