Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Director Bob Cabana has stated his world famous spaceport must continue to adapt and respond to Agency changes, although he remains buoyant about the center\u2019s strategic role over the coming years, as part of NASA\u2019s evolution and long term exploration plan. The former Shuttle Commander made his rallying call at this month\u2019s All Hands meeting in Florida.<\/p>\n
KSC Forward Status:<\/p>\n
A year on from the emotional conclusion of the final Shuttle mission, Mr Cabana continues to be at the helm of a spaceport that remains under a cloud of uncertainty.<\/p>\n
Soon after taking over from his predecessor, Bill Parsons, Mr Cabana\u2019s first full year in charge was marked by the Augustine Commission\u2019s review into NASA\u2019s Human Space Flight future.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/A1213.jpg\" "\\"A1213\\"")
Its findings all-but ended the troublesome Constellation Program (CxP), in turn extinguishing the hopes of a large section of the Shuttle workforce, who by then knew the orbiters were flying their final missions, but had hoped to continue working at KSC with the follow-on program.<\/p>\n
President Obama\u2019s \u201cFY2011\u201d budget proposal confirmed Constellation\u2019s end, but also any immediate transition into a realigned exploration program, by calling for the proposed Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle (HLV) effort to be shelved into a \u201cgame changing\u201d engine study for at least five years.<\/p>\n
A temporary reprieve for Orion was negotiated, returning it for an initial \u2013 and somewhat defunct \u2013 role as a lifeboat on the International Space Station (ISS). However, this move failed to quell the disquiet within the heart of NASA\u2019s workforce and at the political level, even resulting in NASA administrator Charlie Bolden publicly apologizing for the way the plan was rolled out.<\/p>\n
The plan was soon aborted, when a revamped plan under the Senate\u2019s 2010 Authorization Act won through a Congressional vote by 304 vs. 118 \u2013 and was then signed into law by the President.<\/p>\n
The Act provided clearer guidance for commercial companies to take over Low Earth Orbit access to the International Space Station (ISS), freeing NASA to focus on Beyond Earth Orbit exploration via their centrepiece launch vehicle, to be known as the Space Launch System (SLS), while returning Orion (Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle \u2013 MPCV) to the focus of crew transportation to deep space destinations.<\/p>\n
While the confirmation of the SLS\u2019 configuration did not arrive until September, 2011 \u2013 mainly due to several long trade studies and an independent cost review \u2013 KSC now have a new launch vehicle to look forward to, one that projected to launch from the famous Launch Complex 39 for several decades to come.<\/p>\n
However, SLS will not launch on its debut flight until 2017 \u2013 on a mission known as Exploration Mission -1 (EM-1) \u2013 and is currently associated with a vague and undefined exploration plan, along with a launch rate that will not reach its full potential until the notional missions to Mars in the 2030s.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Z610.jpg\" "\\"Z6\\"")
As such, KSC is attempting to attract commercial partners to the spaceport, with a goal of transitioning to a multi-vehicle, multi-use facility. This drive was the focus of the All Hands meeting that took place on July 13.<\/p>\n
Via an expansive presentation from the All Hands \u2013 available via L2 \u2013 LINK \u2013 the opening points related to charting a path to KSC\u2019s future.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe Need to Build the Right Capabilities for Human Space Exploration. We Have Faced a Tough Situation and Transition. We are a Strategic Part of NASA\u2019s Evolution. We Have a Plan to Move Forward,\u201d noted the opening bullet points.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Z75.jpg\" "\\"Z7\\"")
Highlighting KSC\u2019s heritage and its potential future \u2013 coverage nearly a century of space flight \u2013 the presentation portrayed the need to master cis-lunar space between 2017-2027, while expanding human exploration beyond cis-lunar space and the inner solar system between 2025 and 2038.<\/p>\n
Notably, despite it still not being part of an official NASA direction, lunar surface missions are again cited in an official NASA document.<\/p>\n
The obvious problem for NASA and indeed KSC, is the long term political guidance and funding, where government can only create plans, prior to hoping several subsequent Presidents agree to continue funding towards the long-term goals.<\/p>\n
This is acknowledged by the All Hands overview, under the banner of \u201cKSC Continues to Respond to Agency Changes\u201d, by noting \u201cour environment has and will continue to change and we must adapt.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Z416.jpg\" "\\"Z4\\"")
A major part of adapting to the future is already in work, as efforts continue to transition KSC into a multi-user facility.<\/p>\n
With one of the Orbiter Processing Facilities (OPFs) already being converted for use by Boeing and their CST-100 spacecraft, KSC expect to hand over the remaining two OPFs to similar companies.<\/p>\n
The Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) is also being transitioned from hosting Space Shuttle hardware to the multi-use of its High Bays, where notional graphics show a Space Launch System being processed alongside an Atlas V with a crew transport \u2013 as much as there are no firm plans for Atlas Vs to be hosted at KSC.<\/p>\n
In fact, only one of the Commercial Crew competitors have shown any real commitment to the use of multiple KSC\u2019s facilities. That vehicle is ATK\u2019s \u201cLiberty\u201d, a rocket that would be integrated inside the VAB, and rolled out to the clean pad at 39B.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/A610.jpg\" "\\"A610\\"")
With ATK claiming they are committed to Liberty, regardless of the outcome of NASA funding to transport astronauts to the ISS, 39B should enjoy hosting at least two vehicles, with SLS also launching from the same pad in 2017. At present, no plans have been mentioned for 39A, which continues to be a mothballed Shuttle pad since hosting its final orbiter, Atlantis, for her STS-135 mission.<\/p>\n
Another KSC facility that is already enjoying commercial use is the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF). The landing strip will also host Dream Chaser landings, should NASA fund SNC\u2019s vehicle under the Commercial Crew program. Future program work will soon take place near the SLF too, via the Morpheus program.<\/p>\n
While the majority of the Commercial Crew activity will actually take place at KSC\u2019s neighbor, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), Kennedy\u2019s lesser known role will be an important element for the future of the space program, as it morphs from,a primary role of being a launch site, to that of being an organization that procures crew and spacecraft launch services.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Z3121.jpg\" "\\"Z312\\"")
One obvious sign of KSC\u2019s admin side, as opposed to engineering teams processing launch vehicles, can be seen via the plans for a new Headquarters building, part of the overall revamp of the Florida spaceport.<\/p>\n
The work on the Central Campus will enable demolition of approximately 900,000 square feet of physical plant in the Industrial Area while rebuilding only about 450,000 square feet.<\/p>\n
Between the 50 percent reduction in foot print and the considerably lower costs associated with the operation and maintenance of the new energy efficient facilities, KSC will save in the order of $400 million over the next 40 years.<\/p>\n
Located between the current HQ building and the Operations & Checkout (O&C) building on D Avenue, Central Campus Phase 1 will be a 200,000 square foot facility that consolidates shared services, data centers, and office space in the Industrial Area.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Z581.jpg\" "\\"Z58\\"")
The building \u2013 even after just Phase 1 \u2013 is impressive, based around a glass and concrete building envelope, rising seven stories \u2013 110 feet \u2013 tall. It sports a curved airfoil shape and is purpose-built to allow the Phase 2 building to be built on the opposite side of the lobby structure.<\/p>\n
With floors 3 through 6 mainly used for office space, 22,000 square feet will be available for office accommodation on each floor of the building. The seventh floor will host the Center Director offices.<\/p>\n
The phase 1 building is scheduled to begin construction in September, 2013, which would allow for a completion date of March, 2015.<\/p>\n
With work already conducted \u2013 and continuing \u2013 on KSC\u2019s infrastructure, the spaceport is at least moving forward with its transition past its 30 year career with the Space Shuttle Program (SSP). However, as stated at the All Hands, it will need to continue to communicate its core strengths to future customers if it is to fully achieve its 21st Century aspirations.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Z314.jpg\" "\\"Z3\\"")
\u201cKSC Vision: KSC is the world\u2019s preeminent launch complex for Government and commercial space access, enabling the world to explore and work in space,\u201d the presentation added.<\/p>\n
\u201cKSC Mission: KSC safely manages, develops, integrates, and sustains space systems through partnerships that enable innovative, diverse access to space and inspires the Nation\u2019s future explorers.<\/p>\n
\u201cKSC Core Competencies: Acquisition and management of launch services and commercial crew development. Launch vehicle and spacecraft processing, launching, landing and recovery, operations, and sustaining. Payload and flight science experiment processing, integration, and testing. Designing, developing, operating, and sustaining flight and ground systems, and supporting infrastructure.<\/p>\n
\u201cDevelopment, test and demonstration of advanced flight systems and transformational technologies. Developing technology to advance exploration and space systems.\u201d<\/p>\n
(Images: Via L2 content from L2\u2019s SLS specific L2 section, which includes, presentations, videos, graphics and internal \u2013 interactive with actual SLS engineers \u2013 updates on the SLS and HLV, available on no other site. Other images via NASA)<\/p>\n
(L2 is \u2013 as it has been for the past several years \u2013 providing full exclusive SLS and Exploration Planning coverage. To join L2, click here: http:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/l2\/)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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