Space Florida Development at the Launch and Landing Facility

[TGMetsFan98]

Cape Canaveral Spaceport, Fla. (July 1, 2021) – Space Florida is pleased to announce the start of the first phase of development at the Launch and Landing Facility (LLF), marking the next big step in attracting industry to Florida’s Cape Canaveral Spaceport, which includes elements of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The more than one-mile-long utility corridor project will provide power, water and communications service to large portions of property adjacent to the LLF, opening up development opportunities for companies wishing to join the Cape’s growing commercial space ecosystem. The LLF joins the Cecil Spaceport and Space Coast Regional Air and Spaceport as part of Florida’s Spaceport System to serve increasing commercial and government aerospace missions.

With the utility corridor in works, Space Florida’s LLF is a prime location for future development for commercial aerospace customers. With over 400 acres of both air and land-side developable property in the first phase, potential uses include aircraft or spacecraft operational hangars, office space, passenger training and operations facilities; aerospace manufacturing, processing and assembly facilities; and propellant and fueling facilities. 

At 15,000 feet long and 300 feet wide, the LLF is one of the longest and most capable runways in the world. Strategically located in the heart of Florida’s aerospace ecosystem at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, the LLF is located away from populated areas and provides access to restricted airspace. Other features of the LLF include the air traffic control tower; navigational and landing aids; and fire and emergency response services.   

“Construction of the utility corridor is the next step in attracting commercial aerospace to the Cape Canaveral Spaceport,” said Space Florida President and CEO Frank DiBello. “With the land within Space Florida’s Exploration Park nearing capacity and market demand accelerating, development at the Launch and Landing Facility ensures Florida’s leadership in space commerce and exploration will continue, bringing new capabilities and customers to the busiest spaceport in the world. We look forward to the future activity at the Launch and Landing Facility.”

“The Florida Department of Transportation congratulates Space Florida and its partners as they begin the construction of the spaceport Launch and Landing Facility utility corridor,” said FDOT Secretary Kevin J. Thibault, P.E. “This is another critical investment as Florida leads the way in commercial space development creating statewide economic opportunities for generations to come.”

Florida designates space as an official mode of transportation, and Space Florida works closely with Florida Department of Transportation on the Spaceport Improvement Program to make critical investments in Florida infrastructure to accelerate the growth of the aerospace industry in Florida. Space Florida is in active dialog with multiple companies exploring near term capacity development at the LLF.   

In 2015, NASA formally transferred the operations and maintenance of the former Shuttle Landing Facility to Space Florida, opening up new commercial capacity for the LLF. In 2018, Space Florida secured a Launch Site Operators license for the facility from the Federal Aviation Administration. In recent months, Space Florida received the Reentry Site Operators License from the Federal Aviation Administration. 

[KSC Sage]

The three large hangers in the north east corner look a lot like hangers for Stratolaunch.

[Rocket Rancher]

So how will the general public access this property, from Titusville?
And will it be treated like Exploration Park, no KSC controls? Can't see it working any other way, no commercial business would want to be burdened by the KSC bureaucracy. 

[Jim]

So how will the general public access this property, from Titusville?

Through the main gate like every other commercial contractor does.

Can't see it working any other way, no commercial business would want to be burdened by the KSC bureaucracy. 

Wrong.  How do you think ULA, SNC, SpaceX, Boeing, LM, Starfighter, etc access their commercial work sites?  KSC does not control the activities at OPF 1&2, C3PF, O&C high bay, LC-41, LC-39A, LASF, HangarX, RLV Hangar, etc., yet they are all onsite at KSC.  Why would it be more of a "burden" around the LLF?

[harrystranger]

Looking at Sentinel-2 imagery it seems that clearing has begun.
Included false colour imagery that helps show the clearings better.

[harrystranger]

"Terran Orbital will Invest $300 Million in Florida to Construct the World’s Largest, State-of-the-Art, Commercial Spacecraft Facility. The 660,000 square foot facility will create approximately 2,100 new jobs."

"Terran Orbital, a global leader in end-to-end satellite solutions, in partnership with Space Florida, Florida’s aerospace and spaceport development authority, were pleased to join today with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as he announced Terran Orbital’s planned development of the world’s largest and most advanced “Industry 4.0” space vehicle manufacturing facility. The facility will be constructed at the Launch and Landing Facility (LLF) on Merritt Island, Florida and will consist of ten automated and augmented hangers capable of producing thousands of different types of space vehicles per year."

More info here: https://www.terranorbital.com/news-media/terran-orbital-announces-advanced-48-satellite-sar-constellation-aa3pt-kd42j-2mk3h-r6ywt-p9yf7-n2g4g-bmf5f-phfrs-y26pa-x8ze5

Wasn't sure if I should start a new thread or not, so just putting here

[harrystranger]

Imagery from Sentinel-2 taken @ 2021-09-30 16:15:24 UTC shows the land clearing making progress, compared to a few weeks ago.

[Rocket Rancher]

So how will the general public access this property, from Titusville?

Through the main gate like every other commercial contractor does.

The general public must go through the lengthy process of get a badge for routine access. Administrative burden 1.
Not all people will be cleared to come on the center based on government criteria but are completely acceptable in the private sector. Administrative burden 2.
This is just a start of the bureaucracy and control by being on the Center. Other companies need to be there because of the location or unique services offered. But for a company building a satellite, that can done anywhere. Nothing special needed from mother NASA to do that. Now maybe if you buy them a huge factory and all the equipment inside of it, then it may be worth the burden.

Life outside the gate is just so much easier. I have first hand experiences.

I predict Space Florida will isolate this area from KSC property similar to what they did with Exploration Park to allow the free flow of non-KSC badge workers to the new businesses. And KSC will still have access to the landing facilities, they will just need to unlock their gate to come out 

[harrystranger]

Finally a clearer look at the site from Sentinel-2. Good to see them making more progress here. Imagery taken at 2021-10-12 16:05:35 UTC.

[harrystranger]

A partially cloudy, but updated view from Sentinel-2 in true colour and IR. Taken at 2021-10-27 16:05:31 UTC.

[harrystranger]

Sentinel-2 imagery taken at 2021-12-04 16:15:24 UTC.
It looks like they've finished clearing the southern end of the 'Block 1' expansion.

[harrystranger]

Space Florida has submitted plans for the development of sites A, B, N and O, of Block 3 (first two images below) at the Launch and Landing Facility, Kennedy Space Center.
 
The layout of this facility matches up perfectly with the render of the Terran Orbital campus announced last year, see here: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=54215.msg2294619#msg2294619

The documents also included conceptual drawings showing possible layouts for other parts of the industrial expansion area. These add to the renders we saw last year, see here: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=54215.msg2258909#msg2258909

Link to the filed permit: https://permitting.sjrwmd.com/apps/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&coreContentOnly=1&RevisionSelectionMethod=Latest&allowInterrupt=1&dDocName=EREG_7440029

Quick links to specific documents-
Plans: https://permitting.sjrwmd.com/apps/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&coreContentOnly=1&RevisionSelectionMethod=Latest&allowInterrupt=1&dDocName=EREG_7440030
Drawings: https://permitting.sjrwmd.com/apps/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&coreContentOnly=1&RevisionSelectionMethod=Latest&allowInterrupt=1&dDocName=EREG_7440029

The last image below is from Sentinel-2 taken at 2022-01-13 16:15:26 UTC showing the area where this development of Block 3 will happen.

[harrystranger]

Some great footage showing progress in the latest NSF video. Link is timestamped to the correct part of the video:

[su27k]

https://twitter.com/EmreKelly/status/1585727073620033538

Construction applications show Space Florida and a mystery company continue to collaborate on Project Oz, an effort that's expected to bring $250 million and ~500 jobs to Kennedy Space Center. Agency confirms it will be at the Launch and Landing Facility.

[harrystranger]

Space Florida has submitted plans for 'Project Comet', a 104,000sqft Payload Processing Facility at the Launch and Landing Facility.
https://twitter.com/Harry__Stranger/status/1593225971624480770

[su27k]

Space Florida shrugs off loss of Terran Orbital factory

Terran Orbital’s decision not to build a large satellite factory in Florida is only a minor setback for the state’s efforts to grow the space industry’s presence in the state and to expand beyond launch, according to one official.

In a recent call with reporters, Frank DiBello, president and chief executive of Space Florida, the state space development agency, said he was seeing a growing backlog of potential aerospace investment opportunities for his organization.

[harrystranger]

Project Comet (Payload Processing Facility) has started to go vertical at the LLF, as seen in the latest NSF flyover

[harrystranger]

An update on Amazon's payload processing facility from the latest NSF flyover: