NASA News: NASA Signs Agreement with Space Florida to Reuse Kennedy Facilities
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In an innovative agreement that will createnew jobs, NASA today announced a partnership with Space Florida to
exclusively occupy, use and modify Kennedy Space Center's Orbiter
Processing Facility-3, the Space Shuttle Main Engine Processing
Facility and Processing Control Center.
"The next era of space exploration won't wait, and so we can't wait
for Congress to do its job and give our space program the funding it
needs. That's why my Administration will be pressing forward, in
partnership with Space Florida and the private sector, to create jobs
and make sure America continues to lead the world in exploration and
discovery," President Barack Obama said.
Space Florida, the aerospace economic development agency of the state
of Florida, is leasing the Orbiter Processing Facility-3 to the
Boeing Company to manufacture and test the company's Crew Space
Transportation (CST-100) spacecraft, creating up to 550 jobs along
the Space Coast. The 15-year use permit deal is the latest step
Kennedy is making as the center transitions from a historically
government-only launch complex to a multi-user spaceport.
"Neither NASA nor the Space Coast can afford to stand still. We must
be aggressive in pursuing this next generation of space exploration
-- and the jobs and innovation that will accompany it," NASA
Administrator Charles Bolden said.
"Kennedy continues working to bring new commercial space activities to
the center," said Kennedy Center Director Bob Cabana. "Partnering
with Space Florida to enable commercial space operations at Kennedy
will help NASA maintain facilities and assets while supporting our
nation's space objectives and expanding opportunities for the U.S. economy."
In addition to the agreement Boeing is signing with Space Florida to
reuse existing KSC facilities, the aerospace company announced it is
locating it Commercial Crew Program headquarters at the center.
"We are extremely pleased that Boeing will locate its commercial crew
headquarters here in Florida," said Frank DiBello, president of Space
Florida. "This positions our state well for future growth and a
leadership role in NASA's next-generation human space exploration
initiatives. It is also a key factor in ensuring Florida's
space-related economy continues to thrive."
The goal of NASA's Commercial Crew Program is to facilitate the
development of a U.S. commercial crew space transportation capability
by achieving safe, reliable and cost-effective access to and from the
International Space Station and future low Earth orbit destinations.
"We selected Florida for the commercial crew headquarters because of
its close proximity to not only our NASA customer at Kennedy Space
Center, but also because of outstanding facilities and an experienced
space workforce," said John Elbon, vice president and program manager
of Boeing's Commercial Crew Programs.
Boeing is developing the CST-100, a reusable capsule-shaped spacecraft
that will consist of a crew module and service module for
transporting up to seven people, or a combination of people and cargo to space.
For information about Space Florida, visit:
http://www.spaceflorida.gov
For information about NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/kennedy
For more information about NASA's commercial transportation programs, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/
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NASA Statement on Success of Russian Progress Launch
WASHINGTON -- The following is a statement from Bill Gerstenmaier,associate administrator for Human Exploration and Operations at NASA
Headquarters in Washington, on Sunday's launch of the Progress 45
spacecraft to the International Space Station. The rocket lifted off
from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 6:11 a.m. EDT (4:11
p.m. Baikonur local time).
"We congratulate our Russian colleagues on Sunday's successful launch
of ISS Progress 45, and the spacecraft is on its way to the
International Space Station. Pending the outcome of a series of
flight readiness meetings in the coming weeks, this successful flight
sets the stage for the next Soyuz launch, planned for mid-November.
The December Soyuz mission will restore the space station crew size
to six and continue normal crew rotations."
For more information about the space station, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/station
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NASA Seeks Hosts for Space Station Interactive Education Events
WASHINGTON -- NASA is seeking proposals from educators who are lookingfor a unique way to inspire the next generation of explorers. Formal
and informal education organizations can apply to host live
interactive education downlinks with astronauts onboard the
International Space Station.
Proposals are being accepted for downlink opportunities during space
station missions scheduled for March to September 2012. The deadline
to submit comprehensive proposals that target a large number of
participants is Dec. 21.
During Expeditions 31 and 32, NASA crew members Don Pettit, Joseph
Acaba and Sunita Williams will participate in the 20-minute downlink
opportunities. Participants on Earth see and hear the crew members
live from space, while the crew hears the questions but does not see
the audience.
U.S. educational organizations such as school districts, museums,
science centers, national and regional education organizations and
local, state and federal government agencies are eligible to
participate. NASA provides this opportunity at no charge to the host
institution. NASA personnel will work with the organization to help
plan the event.
"Educational downlinks provide unique opportunities for students
around the country to learn more about living in space and exploring
beyond Earth's boundaries," said Cindy McArthur, Teaching From Space
project manager at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The downlink opportunities are broadcast live on NASA Television and
are streamed on the NASA website. Due to the nature of human
spaceflight operations, organizations must demonstrate the
flexibility to accommodate changes in downlink dates and times.
Participating organizations also must have two dedicated phone lines
and be able to receive NASA TV via NASA's Live Interactive Media
Outlet, or LIMO, channel in order to communicate with and view the crew.
These educational opportunities are made available through Teaching
From Space, a NASA education initiative. Interested organizations
should contact Teaching From Space to obtain information related to
expectations, content, format, audience, proposal guidelines and
forms by sending an e-mail to JSC-Teaching-From-Space@mail.
or by calling 281-244-7608. Teaching From Space will hold several
online information sessions designed to provide more information
about downlinks and the proposal process.
For more information on the initiative, visit:
http://go.usa.gov/Xqt
For more information about NASA's education programs, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/education
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