Freight Company's Aircraft To Operate At Kennedy Space Center

Space Florida has named FedEx as its preferred provider of logistics, transportation and cargo related services. Space Florida maintains and operates the historic launch and landing strip—15,000 feet long and 300 feet wide—at the Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center (KSC).

“The Space industry, comprised of highly-specialized and time-sensitive shipments, is poised for rapid growth and innovation. It is an exciting time to be part of the global Space marketplace,” said Brie Carere, senior vice president, Global Portfolio Marketing, FedEx Services. “From aerospace to Exomedicine, the FedEx portfolio is well-positioned to support the privatization of Space.”

FedEx helped launch a relationship with Space Florida in May 2015 when a FedEx Express Boeing 757 was the first commercial aircraft to land on the Shuttle Landing Facility runway. With the commercial Space industry growing at such a rapid rate, FedEx developed FedEx Space Solutions, providing customers with round-the-clock access to a team of knowledgeable experts dedicated solely to serving the needs of the global space marketplace.

The ability to land at KSC uniquely positions FedEx to support the growth of biomedical experimentation and clinical trials on the International Space Station (ISS). As the preferred provider for the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, FedEx is able to provide the latest cut-off times to get Exomedicine materials to the launch site on time and expedite the return shipment, maintaining the integrity of the research every step of the way.

“Identifying FedEx as the preferred logistics provider at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport supports Space Florida’s transition and development of the historic Shuttle Landing Facility to a commercially operated horizontal launch and landing facility,” said Frank DiBello, president and CEO of Space Florida. “We are confident that having FedEx onsite will enhance the logistical support to launch operators, payload providers, satellite and rocket manufacturers and their supply chains as launch activity increases and Florida’s Space industry continues to grow and diversify.”

Additionally, FedEx offers cold-chain packaging for high-value temperature-sensitive shipments, and has the capability to monitor temperature and other environmental factors through SenseAware tracking technology to help ensure vital materials are not compromised during transit. FedEx Space Solutions is a single source to manage the complex logistics of delivering experiments to the International Space Station launch site and then back after their return.

(Image provide with FedEx Express news release)

FMI: http://about.fedex.com, www.spaceflorida.gov