Tags: NASA, SpaceX, Orbital Sciences, United Launch Alliance
Publication: FloridaToday.com
Publication Date: 01/02/2013

Shuttle Landing Facility in Florida. Image credit: NASA

The state of Florida has been conducting new studies evaluating the feasibility of its proposed commercial launch complex at the north end of Kennedy Space Center. The space, formerly used by NASA to support its Apollo missions, is known as the “Shiloh” complex.

Last September, the state requested title to the land from NASA on the grounds of market demand for a launch complex located near existing Cape facilities but that operates independently from them. Reports indicate that companies such as SpaceX are known to be looking for a launch facility like the one the state describes, and to be evaluating different sites across the country.

Space Florida is surveying interested companies about the type of launch and recovery operations they could perform in the area. With this information, the state is preparing environmental impact studies around how the operations would affect the approximate 150 acres that fall within the Merritt Island Wildlife National Refuge. Environmental critics have been the state’s biggest obstacles.

While Florida waits for a decision from NASA about making the property available, which could take 12 to 18 months, the state has already outline its plans to potentially house two commercial launch pads allocated to two different and independent companies. The complex would only serve liquid-fueled rockets, such as SpaceX’s Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy; United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V, Delta IV and Delta IV Heavy; and Orbital Sciences Corp.’s Antares.

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