14 DAY TRIAL // Taking another step in converting the facility from a historically government-only launch complex to a multi-user spaceport, officials at the NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) have just signed a new cooperation agreement with the Sparks, Nevada-based Sierra Nevada Space Systems (SNSS).
One of the things that make the KSC stand out as an investment target is the fact that it employs a uniquely skilled work force that has no rival anywhere in the world. NASA has been running its Space Shuttle Program (SSP) from this installation for three decades.
Engineers at SNSS will have a lot to benefit from their cooperation with these specialized crews, that have been working with the installations available at the spaceport for most of their lives.
Sierra Nevada is not signing its first contract with NASA. Several other labs and research centers the American space agency operates around the country already have cooperation agreements with the company, NASA officials announce in a press release.
These include the Johnson Space Center (Houston, Texas), the Langley Research Center (Hampton, Virginia), the Dryden Flight Research Center (Edwards, California) and the Ames Research Center (Moffett Field, California).
“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,” NASA Administrator Charles Bolden says.
“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,” the top NASA official adds.
The corporation is currently developing the Dream Chaser space vehicle, a reusable lifting-body spacecraft that is billed as a smaller version of the space shuttles NASA itself is about to retire from active duty this month.
Under the new contract, the KSC will provide ground operations support for the Dream Chaser, along with related services. Florida engineers will also aid with launch preparations and post-landing activities, the document indicates.
“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," KSC Center Director Bob Cabana explains.