Kennedy Space Center’s iconic Vehicle Assembly Building, standing 525 feet tall over the Space Coast, has been home to some of NASA’s most storied programs. Now, it’s going commercial.
The building, which was built for the Apollo era and housed the assembly of space shuttles, is getting its first private-sector partner. Northrop Grumman announced Friday that it will assemble and test its new rocket, OmegA, at the VAB’s High Bay 2.
Northrop is also modifying the mobile launcher platform-3, which will be used as the rocket’s assembly and launch platform.
Last year, the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center awarded Northrop a $792 million contract for OmegA’s development. The rocket is expected to launch from KSC’s launch complex 39B by 2021.
Kennedy Space Center is home to more than 90 active agreements with commercial partners, NASA said, a move that is indicative of the agency’s larger push to involve the growing private sector in its long-term plans.
“With OmegA, we truly are standing on the shoulders of the giants of space history,” said Kent Rominger, Northrop Grumman’s vice president and capture lead for the OmegA launch system in a press release. “This event marks that partnership with [Kennedy] at this phenomenal spaceport.”
Want more space news? Follow Go For Launch on Facebook. Contact the reporter at cherrera@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5660; Twitter @ChabeliH
