NASA and Space Florida Begin Partnership Discussions

June 28, 2013

David Weaver/Allard Beutel
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
david.s.weaver@nasa.gov
allard.beutel@nasa.gov

Tracy Young
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-9284
tracy.g.young@nasa.gov

RELEASE: 13-199

NASA AND SPACE FLORIDA BEGIN PARTNERSHIP DISCUSSIONS

Space Florida Proposes to Operate Shuttle Landing Facility

WASHINGTON -- NASA has selected Space Florida, the aerospace economic
development agency for the state of Florida, for negotiations toward
a partnership agreement to maintain and operate the historic Shuttle
Landing Facility (SLF).

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and the director of NASA's Kennedy
Space Center (KSC), Robert Cabana, announced the selection during a
news conference Friday at Kennedy's Visitor Complex in Florida.

"This agreement will continue to expand Kennedy's viability as a
multi-user spaceport and strengthen the economic opportunities for
Florida and the nation," Bolden said. "It also continues to
demonstrate NASA's commitment and progress in building a strong
commercial space industry so that American companies are providing
safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the
International Space Station and other low Earth orbit destinations."

NASA issued a request for information to industry in 2012 to identify
new and innovative ways to use the facility for current and future
commercial and government mission activities. Space Florida's
proposal is aligned closely with Kennedy's vision for creating a
multiuser spaceport.

"The SLF is a significant asset for the center that ties our
historical past to the vision of the future," said Cabana. "I had the
privilege of landing two space shuttle orbiters at the facility and
look forward to beginning discussions with Space Florida on a future
partnership that will fully utilize this unique resource."

"The SLF provides a unique capability for new and expanding suborbital
launch providers, unmanned aerial vehicle operators and other
aerospace-related businesses to thrive in a location that maximizes
the resources of the space center and Eastern Range operations," said
Space Florida President Frank DiBello. "We look forward to working
with NASA and KSC leadership in the coming months to finalize the
details of this transaction in a way that will provide the greatest
benefit to incoming commercial aerospace businesses."

The SLF, specially designed for space shuttles returning to Kennedy,
opened for flights in 1976. The concrete runway is 15,000 feet long
and 300 feet wide. The SLF is capable of handling all types and sizes
of aircraft and horizontal launch and landing vehicles.

For more information on Space Florida, visit:

http://www.spaceflorida.gov

For more information about NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/kennedy


-end-



To subscribe to the list, send a message to:
hqnews-subscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov
To remove your address from the list, send a message to:
hqnews-unsubscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov