Air Force Considers Moving Landing To Florida From California

The U.S. Air Force is reportedly considering consolidating its operations for the highly-secret X-37B mini-shuttle orbiter to Florida's Space Coast, which could help a local economy still shaken by the retirement last year of the space shuttle.

Air Force Officials are also considering landing the third X-37B mission at the former shuttle runway at KSC.

Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office Spokeswoman Maj. Tracy Bunko said Thursday that the Air Force is “looking at space shuttle infrastructure for possible cost-saving measures, including the potential for consolidating landing, refurbishment and launch operations at Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral Air Force Station," according to a report appearing in Florida Today. The number of jobs that might land on the Space Coast with the X-37B program was not specified, but estimates range anywhere from dozens to hundreds of civil service and contractor positions.

The program would include consolidating launch, recovery, and refurbishment of the Orbital Test Vehicle at Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

The Air Force says the top-secret X-37B missions are being used to evaluate systems like guidance and navigation, while also testing control systems and thermal protection. The third flight is scheduled for launch in late October at Cape Canaveral. Both previous flights have been recovered in California.

FMI: www.af.mil