NASA
Last month, the Space Force conducted a traffic jam for operations in the Eastern Range to operate it in Florida. Among the many issues of weak weather and ground support devices were three rockets in search of an opportunity to liftoff.
The largest rocket, the Delta IV Heavy Booster, has the most valuable payload, according to a satellite classified for the National Reconnaissance Office fee, valued at 1 billion north. SpaceX also had two rockets ready to go, one with a GPS satellite for the space force and the other with a full commercial mission to launch the company’s Starlink satellites.
The first two missions were located next to the fence’s air force, which was based in the U.S. Operated by the 45th Space Wing of the Space Force. Another SpaceX rocket, carrying 60 Starlink satellites, landed at NASA on the launch complex-39A at the Kennedy Space Center.
Placed three rockets on the launch pad for some difficult decisions. Who should be the priority to launch? And how many opportunities should a military mission have before a commercial launching opportunity? And is there a better way to manage launch ranges in the 21st century now that more and more commercial rockets are coming to US spaceports?
The U.S. Space Force is considering all of these questions as it takes control of the Air Force’s assets related to space. “Range of the Future” is an initiative led by John William “Jay” Raymond, chief of space rations operations for the Space Force. One of the ideas the Space Force is considering to increase space access is radical – merging its historic historic Cape Canaveral facility with NASA’s Kennedy Space Center under a Spaceport Authority.
Working cooperatively
During a meeting of the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee last month, Major General Diana Burt, director of operations and communications for the Space Force, said the U.S. The military plans to issue a letter soon, which will establish an intergenerational process for some sort of surveillance. National Spaceport Authority.
“How do we get to a uniform airport structure where we have a military base airport and a commercial runway and airport as well as a runway seating?” Bert said addressing some of the challenges facing organizers. “How can we get the same thing in spaceport? I think together we have to work cooperatively.”
Some forces seem to be in play here. First, the space force believes it spends a lot of money dealing with roads and other infrastructure at Candy Canaveral and its other large spaceport, Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. It also operates leases for several launch companies, including the United Launch Alliance, SpaceX, Blue Origin, Firefly Aerospace, and Relativity Space. This is not seen as the main function of the army.
At the same time, the space force is becoming increasingly enthusiastic about the innovation and agility of the commercial opening sector. About SpaceX’s reusable rockets, Bert said, “It’s an amazing feat, and it’s always amazing to see the rocket back on the pads and see them being reused. It’s been a great cost-cutting and saving technique.” The space force will seek to support the commercial space sector by facilitating their eas access to the range.
One of the issues being discussed is the transfer of National and Dulles Airports from the Federal Aviation Administration to the new Metropolitan and Washington Washington Airport Authority in 1984. The agency in turn received private investments to modernize the airport to meet growing commercial demand by renaming President Ronald Reagan. Many questions remain about who operates the joint spaceport in Florida, what is the priority of the mission and who will thus decide. All this will be subject to negotiation, and it will all fail.
At two, NASA?
But clearly, change is possible. The primary goal of the space force is to carry out its mission, which involves entering space quickly and reliably. If that means, as in the past, the military has to own and operate every aspect of the launching site, it will. But what Space Force and Bert have signaled to the broader space community is that if there is a better and more efficient way to do this, which is to cut the red tape for budding commercial players, they are willing to listen.
Will NASA be willing to listen too? Jim Bridensta, director of the space agency, said yes.
“I’m happy to suggest big ideas like a possible merger,” he told Ars. “This and other ambitious concepts for the future should be properly considered by all. However, such a proposed merger would require a great deal of work and effort. Currently, NASA will focus on enhancing efficiency and capabilities. Our current launch facility. Our team has done an excellent job of building an evolving spaceport to serve both NASA and business needs. “
Another player on the Florida spaceport is the state’s economic development agency, Space Florida. Dale Ketchum, vice president of that group of government and external relations, is also interested in streamlining operations for companies looking to launch from Florida.
“We know that it will be difficult and complex negotiations for all parties to develop properly to facilitate governance,” Katchem said. “The sooner the dialogue starts, the better.”
