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Wow - never thought the USAF would ever surrender operational control of the Cape and Eastern Range.
The first outfit that comes to mind as a potential operator is Space Florida, a commercial space development authority set up by the State of Florida that is already in talks to set up shop in the northern part of the range near Shiloh.
The first outfit that comes to mind as a potential operator is Space Florida, a commercial space development authority set up by the State of Florida that is already in talks to set up shop in the northern part of the range near Shiloh.
Air Force considers privatizing Cape Canaveral operations
Since the first rocket shot from the Cape in 1950, the Air Force has coordinated local launch activity and provided tracking and safety oversight for outbound vehicles — including pushing the destruct button if one veers off course.
Meetings this week will explore a major change to that historic role, studying the possibility of privatizing some or all operations at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and the Eastern Range, “the nation’s premier gateway to space.â€
Under a preliminary concept to be discussed in a public forum Thursday and Friday in Colorado Springs, responsibilities now handled by the 45th Space Wing would be turned over to a spaceport operator approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.
“The Air Force wants to understand issues associated with transitioning current government range operations at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to a commercial spaceport,†reads an invitation sent to local officials.
Air Force Space Command’s meeting announcement and a five-page concept summary stamped “PREDECISONAL†make clear that the study might not result in any action. If the concept were adopted — a process likely to take years — it’s not yet clear if it could dramatically reshape Cape launch operations or simply provide existing services more efficiently.
Space Command did not immediately respond to questions about the study, which is part of a broader assessment of range capabilities. The FAA deferred questions to the Air Force.
Several experts said budget pressures and increasing commercialization of launch activity are driving the Department of Defense to consider the concept seriously, though ideas have been discussed for years. “Military space has been very expensive and they’ve got to cut costs,†said Charles Vick, senior technical and space policyanalyst at GlobalSecurity.org. “It would allow the Air Force to concentrate less money on running a range and concentrate on the payloads, launch vehicles and propulsion systems, where they really want to make major changes and major progress.â€
Since the first rocket shot from the Cape in 1950, the Air Force has coordinated local launch activity and provided tracking and safety oversight for outbound vehicles — including pushing the destruct button if one veers off course.
Meetings this week will explore a major change to that historic role, studying the possibility of privatizing some or all operations at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and the Eastern Range, “the nation’s premier gateway to space.â€
Under a preliminary concept to be discussed in a public forum Thursday and Friday in Colorado Springs, responsibilities now handled by the 45th Space Wing would be turned over to a spaceport operator approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.
“The Air Force wants to understand issues associated with transitioning current government range operations at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to a commercial spaceport,†reads an invitation sent to local officials.
Air Force Space Command’s meeting announcement and a five-page concept summary stamped “PREDECISONAL†make clear that the study might not result in any action. If the concept were adopted — a process likely to take years — it’s not yet clear if it could dramatically reshape Cape launch operations or simply provide existing services more efficiently.
Space Command did not immediately respond to questions about the study, which is part of a broader assessment of range capabilities. The FAA deferred questions to the Air Force.
Several experts said budget pressures and increasing commercialization of launch activity are driving the Department of Defense to consider the concept seriously, though ideas have been discussed for years. “Military space has been very expensive and they’ve got to cut costs,†said Charles Vick, senior technical and space policyanalyst at GlobalSecurity.org. “It would allow the Air Force to concentrate less money on running a range and concentrate on the payloads, launch vehicles and propulsion systems, where they really want to make major changes and major progress.â€