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 SpaceCenter, 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 document in August 2012 to identify
new and innovative ways to use the SLF for current and future
commercial and government mission activities. Space Florida's
proposal is aligned closely with Kennedy's vision for creating a
multi-user spaceport.
The
SLF opened for flights in 1976. The concrete runway is 15,000 feet
long and 300 feet wide.
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