NASA is looking into expanded use of
the space shuttle's huge runway at the John F. Kennedy Space
Center. Potential users
of the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) could include other government agencies
and their contractors, university research and technology programs, as well as
commercial groups.\
The NASA action is being spurred in
anticipation of the closure of space shuttle operations in 2010. Moreover, the
space agency is keen on opening its doors to help the blossoming commercial
space flight industry.
The SLF is a single, 15,000-foot
concrete runway located in Complex 39 at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). It is
oriented to the southeast and northwest with runways designated as 15 and 33 on
the approach compass. Air traffic control is managed by a Military Radar Unit
from a newly constructed control tower built to Federal Aviation Administration
standards.
NASA officials have indicated
willingness to consider improvements to the SLF, but at user's expense. Space
agency use of the landing facility would continue to take precedence over any
and all other prospective uses throughout the remaining operational life of the
space shuttle program and beyond.
Potential uses
According to a newly issued KSC
request for information, NASA is investigating the prospects of these and other
uses for the landing strip:
- Research and technology demonstration flights of
piloted and unpiloted aircraft and spaceflight vehicles conducted by other
NASA organizations, other government agencies, their contractors,
universities, and commercial manufacturers or operators.
- Parabolic research and
demonstration flights supporting microgravity experiments and microgravity
flights serving as a precursor to commercial human space flight.
- Commercial space flight research,
technology demonstration, and logistical support, including but not
limited to delivery of commercial spacecraft and flight hardware, captive
test flights, and aircraft-based deployment of piloted and unpiloted
suborbital and orbital launchers and spacecraft.
- Other research and technology
demonstrations or experiments that can benefit from the characteristics of
the Shuttle Landing Facility and KSC.
Long-range exploration program
"With the nation embarking on a
long-range exploration program to return to the Moon, and proceed to Mars and
beyond, it is not possible at this time to predict
the agency's requirements for support and mission aircraft and spacecraft that
may require use of the SLF," a NASA request for information notes.
"Accordingly, NASA does not expect
to relinquish control or ownership of the SLF at any time in the foreseeable
future. The agency may, however, explore the potential for out-leasing the SLF
to an airfield operator at some future point to increase the efficiency of its operation
for the benefit of an expanded set of users. NASA does not intend to pursue
that option for the immediate near term but wishes to alert potential users
that it may in the future," the NASA document adds.
Under consideration by NASA is
holding a workshop at the Kennedy
Space Center,
to further flesh out ideas for using the Shuttle Landing Facility.
Non-NASA uses
"This initiative to identify
potential non-NASA uses for the Shuttle Landing Facility responds to
the U.S. Space Transportation Policy issued early this year and the
President's Management Agenda," said James Ball, NASA Spaceport Development
Manager at the Kennedy
Space Center.
Also, the U.S. Congress has
expressed interest that NASA "be supportive of the emerging commercial space
flight industry and good managers of our institutional resources," Ball told SPACE.com.
"It's a good example of where we are
going...to look for opportunities to expand access to our property and facilities
beyond NASA's own program requirements in ways that are compatible with
our agency mission and roles," Ball said.
"While we must not compromise our
capacity to fully support the nation's vision for space exploration, there will
be opportunities, like we hope to develop with the SLF, for enabling
access to KSC capabilities by users from all sectors," Ball
concluded.
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