FAA Approves Cape Canaveral Spaceport Shuttle Landing Facility For Horizontal Launch Operations

The FAA Office of Commercial Space (AST) issued Space Florida a Launch Site Operator License (LSOL) for operations at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF). This landmark license, which is required by any site with multiple users, expands the capabilities of the Cape to multiple horizontal launch and landing customers.

The license allows the Cape Canaveral Spaceport to support operations of aircraft that carry an air-launched vehicle such as the Northrop Grumman Pegasus, Vulcan Systems’ Stratolaunch, Virgin Orbit Launcher One, Virgin Galactic Spaceship 2, potential new national security programs and others.

The issuance of LSOL culminates a multi-year effort as Space Florida and the FAA completed significant policy, safety, and environmental planning and assessment. Submitted in February 2018, the 120+ page Space Florida application was reviewed, assessed and ultimately approved by the FAA for compliance with Federal statute. For the Environmental Assessment, Space Florida and the FAA reviewed over 400 comments from various agencies including NASA, the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service.

The Landing Facility license is a key part in transforming the Cape Canaveral Spaceport into the world's premier spaceport. With “space” as a mode of transportation in Florida, a vital partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation and its Spaceport Improvement Program, enabled this important capacity improvement to the Florida Spaceport System.

“We want to thank our partners for their thoroughness and perseverance in working through the hundreds of land-use and environmental concerns raised through this process,” said Space Florida President and CEO Frank DiBello. “This accomplishment would not have been possible without genuine collaboration to a shared goal.”

“One of the most famous runways in the world is now one step closer to becoming Florida’s next generation commercial spaceport,” said Space Florida Senior Vice President and General Manager Jim Kuzma. “We look forward to the new capabilities and customers that this Launch Site Operator License will draw to the State.”

Space Florida will shortly begin a process to identify a new name for the facility. This branding effort will encompass the future of commercial space, while holding on to traditions and honoring its proud legacy of supporting America’s Shuttle program.

This license gives Florida two horizontal launch and landing facilities as the Cape Canaveral Spaceport joins the Cecil Spaceport in Jacksonville, which was licensed by the FAA in 2010 and is now planning its first launch for Spring 2019. The Space Coast Regional Airport in Titusville is also in the LSOL application process with the FAA for a similar designation in the future.

(Source: Space Florida news release. Image from file)

FMI: www.spaceflorida.gov