Comments on: As KSC maps out its future plans, Rubio worries about commercial competitiveness

By: Dick Eagleson

Dick Eagleson — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 00:37:28 +0000

There aren’t actually that many jobs at KSC dependent upon SLS/Orion. Given SpaceX’s lease of LC-39A, it would be easier to make the case that throwing in with SpaceX is a better guarantee of future employment levels at KSC than sticking with SLS.

By: nom de plume

nom de plume — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 19:10:45 +0000

I’d be surprised if Rubio challenged Shelby on this, no incentive. Besides, Shelby would sit the youngster down and explain the facts of life to him; i.e., commercial is a direct threat to SLS and Orion and, therefore, a threat to all those jobs at KSC. The interest that SpaceX and others have in launch sites in other states besides Florida may cause the Florida congressional delegation to be a little tentative in promoting the commercial cause.

The lop-sided cost and schedule differences between commercial and SLS/Orion are only going to get worse. Therefore, AL will continue to be a drag on legislation to fund commercial. Not sure if Brownsville launch site will move TX to be neutral or if they will continue to support Shelby.

By: amightywind

amightywind — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 14:21:43 +0000

Stifle my dissent? Never. Who is anti-American?

By: Arnie T

Arnie T — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 06:58:21 +0000

If Senator Rubio really wants to protect KSC’s commercial future, he’d better garner Senate support to erase Shelby’s report language, and help his friends in the Lower House understand that to ‘down select to one provider’ is counterproductive.

By: Jim Nobles

Jim Nobles — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 16:48:53 +0000

“KSC is foremost a NASA facility. The idea that it will pay its way by giving away national assets to Obamaâ€™s cronies is a pipe dream. I am still appalled that SpaceX is squatting on Pad 39A.”

Would you rather have the facilities become disused and fall apart? Congress certainly isn’t going to give NASA the money to use them or maintain them.

Also you should probably also stifle your bullsh*t hatred of SpaceX. It’s unnatural and anti-American. All it does is put your psychology on view for the world to see and, frankly, it’s not something very flattering to you.

By: amightywind

amightywind — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 14:49:13 +0000

KSC is foremost a NASA facility. The idea that it will pay its way by giving away national assets to Obama’s cronies is a pipe dream. I am still appalled that SpaceX is squatting on Pad 39A. As for SpaceX in Brownsville. Who cares, except I cannot believe that Caribbean counties, or companies whose oil rigs are in the ‘blast cone’ of flaming rocket debris are enthusiastic.

By: Stephen C. Smith

Stephen C. Smith — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 09:57:42 +0000

KSC’s original 1963 plan had five launch pads. Two were built. I wouldn’t take this new master plan all that seriously; seems like a wish list to me.

The one to watch is the proposed extension of the rail line through KSC to Port Canaveral. Although it won’t run through neighborhoods, it will be close by and will also require a bridge over the Banana River. Port Canaveral is growing like crazy and badly wants a rail line to become a major player in cargo.

By: nom de plume

nom de plume — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 01:36:29 +0000

“or deter or hamper commercial space entities from making full use of the facility and other potential launch sites in Florida,â€

Those other potential launch sites in Florida include Space Florida-Shiloh(i.e., less KSC/Range requirements) and Jacksonville trying to initiate a spaceport. I suspect they’re lobbying for a seat at the table, as opposed to all Florida launches to occur at KSC. Bob Cabana is doing a pretty good job balancing the SLS-Orion work at KSC, which is fairly significant, and making KSC attractive to Commercial Launch. He probably gave equal emphasis to Senator Rubio. I’m not surprised at Rubio’s comment, which wasn’t about losing launches to Texas, but avoiding taking sides to the competing interests in Florida.

By: Fred Willett

Fred Willett — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 01:08:16 +0000

SpaceX thinks they will need “by the way we’ll need lots of launch sites”. Gwynne Shotwell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApvSHdZGnwU
around the 57 min mark.
This is predicated on a vastly expanding launch market driven by lowering launch costs leading to rising demand.
101 economics, really.
But, of course it all depends on reusability working out.
If it all works out the way SpaceX thinks it will then the Space coast will be all right.
Actually more than all right.

By: Coastal Ron

Coastal Ron — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 23:13:25 +0000

It’s about two years too late for Florida to change what’s happening with the current SpaceX commercial launch facility choice, but Florida needn’t be so greedy – they already have two of the four SpaceX launch sites.

And though it’s nice to see a Republican Senator make sense on space related issues, I’m not sure Rubio’s public pronouncements are doing much to move the needle. Good to see he is a commercial space supporter though…