Over the past several years, NASA Kennedy Space Center has transformed into a 21st-century multiuser spaceport with modernized infrastructure for more cost-effective operations that is now capable of serving multiple government and commercial users. We are on the cusp of launching astronauts into orbit from the Space Coast for the first time since 2011.
Today, I join our partners from Space Florida and Boeing for the grand opening of the newest part of this transformation — an all-new Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility. Boeing is one of two companies under contract with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program to restore America’s ability to launch crews to the International Space Station, and their innovation and dedication are paying off. The former space shuttle Orbiter Processing Facility-3 is now home to Boeing’s CST-100 spacecraft that soon will take our astronauts to low-Earth orbit.
Last year, we signed a 20-year property agreement with SpaceX for use and operation of Launch Pad 39A. From there, SpaceX will launch the Falcon 9 Heavy rocket and Falcon 9 with the Dragon spacecraft with astronauts to the space station.
Earlier this summer, we christened a new launch pad — 39C — for small-class launch vehicles, a growing market in the commercial world. Already, we have more than two dozen commercial customers interested in launching from 39C.
Meanwhile, we continue to help develop NASA’s Orion crew vehicle, the heavy-lift Space Launch System rocket and exploration ground systems that will send astronauts on trips beyond low-Earth orbit. SLS will be capable of sending humans aboard Orion to an asteroid on our journey to Mars.
After nearly four years, Kennedy Space Center has transitioned more than 50 facilities for commercial use. We have upgraded well-known Kennedy workhorses such as the Vehicle Assembly Building, mobile launcher, crawler–transporter and Launch Pad 39B in support of Orion, the SLS and Advanced Exploration Systems.
I am proud of our success in transforming Kennedy Space Center to a 21st-century, multiuser spaceport that is now capable of supporting the launch of all sizes and classes of vehicles, including horizontal launches from the Shuttle Landing Facility, and spacecraft processing and landing. Our future is unfolding, as we continue the work for which this center was founded — to get people and cargo to space. Whether that’s for the government or commercial companies, we’re ready.
Bob Cabana is director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
