SpaceX Receives USAF Operational License for Cape Canaveral Launch Site
Company Remains on Schedule to Initiate Falcon 9 Commercial Operations in Q4 2008
Cape Canaveral FL – Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) has been granted an Operational License by the US Air Force for the use of Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on the Florida coast. Receipt of the license, in conjunction with the approved Site Plan, paves the way for SpaceX to initiate Falcon 9 launch operations later this year.
“We are developing Falcon 9 to be a valuable asset to the American space launch fleet,” said Elon Musk, CEO and CTO of SpaceX. “The support we received from General Helms and the US Air Force has been immensely helpful in developing the pathfinder processes necessary for SpaceX to realize commercial space flights from the Cape.”
“Our developments at Complex 40 continue with great speed,” added Brian Mosdell, Director of Florida Launch Operations for SpaceX. “We have moved our massive oxygen storage tank into place, and expect to complete construction of our hangar later this year.”
Mosdell cited other supporters instrumental to SpaceX’s efforts including the members of the Florida congressional delegation, the USAF Space Command, Col. Scott Henderson, Commander, 45th Launch Group, Col. (ret.) Mark Bontrager, formerly Commander of the 45th Mission Support Group, the public-private partnership Space Florida, and the Space Coast Economic Development Commission. In operation since 1965, and located south of NASA’s launch sites for the Apollo moon missions and Space Shuttle flights, SLC-40 has hosted numerous historic launches, including the departure of two interplanetary missions: the Mars Observer satellite, and the Cassini spacecraft now exploring the rings and moons of the planet Saturn.
About SpaceX
SpaceX is developing a family of launch vehicles, Falcon 1, Falcon 9 and Falcon 9 Heavy, to increase the reliability and cost effectiveness of both manned and unmanned space transportation, ultimately by a factor of ten. Falcon 9 is a two-stage, liquid oxygen and rocket grade kerosene powered launch vehicle, offering breakthrough reliability derived from the nine-engine, single tank first stage configuration. Falcon 9 is the first American launch vehicle since the Saturn V to offer true engine out redundancy and reliability.
Falcon 9 can deliver up to 12,500 kg to low Earth orbit (LEO) and 4,640 kg to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO), while the Falcon 9 Heavy can loft 29,610 kg to LEO and 15,010 kg to GTO. Both rockets will operate from SLC-40, and payloads to Earth and Geostationary orbits and beyond will include commercial satellites, cargo and crew supply missions to the International Space Station (ISS), and future orbiting destinations.
As a winner of the NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services competition (COTS), SpaceX is in a position to help fill the gap in U.S. spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS) when the Space Shuttle retires in 2010. Under the existing Agreement, SpaceX will conduct three flights of its Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon, spacecraft for NASA, culminating in Dragon berthing with the ISS. As the only COTS contender with the capability to return cargo and crew to Earth, NASA also has an option for SpaceX to demonstrate crew transport services to the ISS.
Founded in 2002, the SpaceX team now numbers more than 500, located primarily in Hawthorne, California, with four additional locations: SpaceX’s Texas Test Facility in McGregor near Waco; offices in Washington DC; and launch facilities at Cape Canaveral, Florida; and the Marshall Islands in the Central Pacific. The SpaceX manifest currently lists 11 missions, plus indefinite delivery / indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts with NASA and the US Air Force.
Photo: Extra Wide Load – A flatbed truck delivers a 125,000 gallon Liquid Oxygen Tank to the new SpaceX launch complex at SLC-40, Cape Canaveral, Florida. The tank will support fueling of the new Falcon 9 rocket, scheduled for first delivery by the end of 2008. Image: SpaceX.
Illustration and animation: Computer simulation of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft lifting off from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral, FL. Courtesy NASA. View SpaceX SLC-40 Falcon 9 Dragon Liftoff.
