Funds Will Be Used To Upgrade Communications
The Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast was
awarded a $500,000 Defense Infrastructure Grant from the State of
Florida on September 24. The moneys are earmarked for critical
communications upgrades at Space Florida's Space Launch Complex 46
(SLC-46) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS).
The announcement was part of $5.85 million in total defense
grant awards for "projects to improve Florida's defense economy for
military installations and activities," according to the Governor's
press release.
SLC-46 is a key launch pad for supporting future DoD, NASA and
commercial missions. A functional communications infrastructure at
the pad will ensure more responsible launch capability, more
competitive pricing of facilities at the Cape, and increased
attractiveness of Florida's launch capabilities in the global space
marketplace. Currently, existing communications infrastructure at
the site is dated and does not meet industry standards for
interaction with the Eastern Range.
"EDC staff and volunteers coordinated with Space Florida and
45th Space Wing officials to identify and prioritize this project,"
said Lynda Weatherman, president and CEO of the EDC of Florida's
Space Coast. "We were one of 11 communities statewide to receive a
Defense Infrastructure Grant. Its implementation will further
strengthen our competitiveness in the aerospace industry."
FL Governor Crist
The Defense Infrastructure Program addresses the infrastructure
needs of Florida's military installations. SLC-46 is critical to
Florida, as it is one of few sites located on CCAFS that support
small-to-medium class payload launchers. As such, infrastructure
enhancements at SLC-46 can support military launch programs for the
USAF Space Development and Test Wing (SDTW) and Operationally
Responsive Space (ORS) programs - which require mechanisms to
replace on-orbit assets quickly in response to war fighter
requirements, and as threats to space-based assets continue to
increase.
"This grant will help ensure that SLC-46 is fully operational in
the near term, allowing the site to accommodate four launches per
year in the near-term and up to eight launches per year in
two-to-three years," noted Space Florida President Frank DiBello.
"This throughput would significantly increase the annual launch
rate from CCAFS and result in sizable, positive economic impact for
our area."
Existing vehicles that could be accommodated at the site include
Orbital Sciences' Minotaur and Taurus rockets, the Lockheed
Martin/ATK Athena rocket, or other commercial, NASA, or military
launch vehicles. It is also the only East Coast launch site
for flight testing of the Navy's Trident II ballistic missiles.
Refurbishment of the communications infrastructure at SLC-46 is
anticipated to take less than one year, and a Request for Proposal
for design and construction of the infrastructure project will be
posted to Space Florida's website in early October.