KSC Continues Transition From A Government-Only Launch
Complex
NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida is entering into an
agreement with Sierra Nevada Space Systems (SNSS) of Sparks, NV, to
offer technical capabilities from the center's uniquely skilled
work force.
The umbrella space act agreement is Kennedy's latest step in its
transition from a historically government-only launch complex to a
multi-user spaceport. Sierra Nevada also has space act agreements
with NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston; NASA's Langley
Research Center in Hampton, VA; NASA's Dryden Flight Research
Center at Edwards, CA; and NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett
Field, CA.
"We're pleased that our partner Sierra Nevada is going to make
use of the deep resources existing at the Kennedy Space Center to
enhance its ongoing work," said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden
(pictured). "Sierra Nevada's agreements with Kennedy and other NASA
centers demonstrate its commitment to using the full resources of
NASA as the agency facilitates commercial cargo and crew
capabilities to the International Space Station."
Kennedy will help Sierra Nevada with the ground operations
support of its lifting body reusable spacecraft called "Dream
Chaser," which resembles a smaller version of the space shuttle
orbiter. The spacecraft would carry as many as seven astronauts to
the space station. Through the new agreement, Kennedy's work force
will use its experience of processing the shuttle fleet for 30
years to help Sierra Nevada define and execute Dream Chaser's
launch preparations and post-landing activities. "The partnership
is an effort to bring new commercial space activities to the center
and help transition Kennedy from a government, program-focused,
single user launch complex to a diverse, multi-use spaceport,
enabling both government and commercial space providers," said
Kennedy Center Director Bob Cabana.
In 2010 and 2011, Sierra Nevada was awarded grants as part of
the initiative to stimulate the private sector in developing and
demonstrating human spaceflight capabilities for NASA's Commercial
Crew Program. The goal of the program, which is based at Kennedy,
is to facilitate the development of a U.S. commercial crew space
transportation capability by achieving safe, reliable and
cost-effective access to and from the space station and future low
Earth orbit destinations. "Our Dream Chaser vehicle was born at
NASA, and NASA has continued to be an important partner in the
vehicle's development," said Mark Sirangelo, head of SNSS. "By
adding the Kennedy Space Center, with its highly experienced
technical staff and world-class facilities, to the Sierra Nevada
Dream Chaser Program we blend the best of both the NASA shuttle
heritage alongside the best of industry practices."
Artist's Concept Of Sierra Nevada Dream Chaser
Spacecraft
NASA also has space act agreements with other commercial
partners under the agency's Commercial Crew Program. Pratt &
Whitney Rocketdyne has agreements with NASA's Marshall Space Flight
Center in Huntsville, Ala., for development of the J-2X upper-stage
engine; NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi for hardware
assurance testing; and NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland,
for propulsion related technology development. Space Exploration
Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) in Hawthorne, Calif., has agreements
with Marshall for engineering development work, and Orbital
Sciences Corp. in Dulles, Va., has agreements with Marshall and
Stennis for AJ-26 engine engineering support.