CST-100 Spacecraft Will Be Built In Former NASA Shuttle Hangar

Boeing has finalized an agreement with Space Florida to use a processing facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to build the Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 spacecraft, an important step toward restoring the United States’ ability to launch humans into space.

“The resources and expertise on the Space Coast are essential to our plans and this agreement solidifies our partnership with the state of Florida,” said John Mulholland, Boeing vice president and program manager, Commercial Programs. The former space shuttle hangar known as Orbiter Processing Facility-3 has been renamed the Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility (C3PF), and is being modernized by Space Florida to meet requirements for building the CST-100 capsule.

“Boeing and Space Florida continue our partnership in repurposing excess NASA facilities for future use by Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program,” said Frank Dibello, president and CEO, Space Florida.” Space Florida is the state’s independent agency for aerospace development.

Boeing expects to move into C3PF in spring 2014 and Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program is on track for an expected 2016 test launch time frame. Boeing’s CST-100 spacecraft will shuttle astronauts to low-Earth-orbit locations such as the International Space Station and expandable space habitats being developed by Bigelow Aerospace. The CST-100 is designed to accommodate up to six crew members or a mix of crew and cargo.

(Images provided by Boeing)

FMI: www.boeing.com