KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., MAY 17, 2013 (Space Florida PR) – Space Florida, the state’s aerospace development organization and spaceport authority, today announced that The Bionetics Corporation, a diversified engineering and applied sciences company, is the newest tenant of the Space Life Sciences Laboratory (SLSL) at the Kennedy Space Center.
Bionetics, headquartered in Yorktown, Va., enhances spaceflight systems through the development of unique LED lighting and enables microgravity-based life sciences research. The newest SLSL location is the sixth of its Florida sites.
Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana gave a spirited defense of NASA’s turn toward commercial space operations earlier this week, saying the space agency would not block a proposed commercial launch complex on land it controls at the Shiloh site:
“If it works out that that’s the right thing to do, we’ll make sure that the land is available for them to do that,” he said.
Asked if NASA was an advocate for the proposed Shiloh launch complex, Cabana said it was a state initiative.
May 6, 2013 (FSDC PR) - Amid increasing competition from other states and nations for space-related economic development, the Florida Legislature stepped up yet again to expand and diversify the state’s aerospace industry. In total, the Legislature approved over $43 million in space-related investments for the 2013-2014 fiscal year.
“The Florida Space Development Council appreciates the Legislature’s dedication to positioning our state for an exciting future of space exploration and enterprise,” said FSDC President Laura Seward. “We especially want to thank those legislators who led the charge on specific initiatives, like Rep. Steve Crisafulli, Sen. Andy Gardiner, Sen. Dorothy Hukill, Sen. Thad Altman, Rep. Will Weatherford, Sen. Don Gaetz, and Rep. Debbie Mayfield.”
The Honorable Rick Scott
Governor of Florida
The Capitol Building, PL-05
300 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Dear Governor Scott:
The Florida Space Development Council (FSDC), a statewide membership organization affiliated with the National Space Society, was recently formed to provide grassroots advocacy for policies we believe will support the continued development and diversification of Florida’s aerospace industry.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., May 6, 2013 (Space Florida PR) – State lawmakers have shown strong support for Florida’s aerospace industry in the 2013 Legislative Session by renewing Space Florida’s $10 million operating and business development budget (including the second year of $4 million in recurring funds). This demonstrates that the ongoing, proactive development of the dynamic aerospace industry in our state is a top priority.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., APRIL 22, 2013 (Space Florida) – Today, Space Florida announced a public workshop to determine projects that will be named in the organization’s Spaceport Master Plan. The plan, compiled every two to three years, provides information to guide Space Florida in its efforts to modernize and expand infrastructure at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. The workshop will take place on Friday, April 26 at the Cape Canaveral Port Authority Chambers and will allow stakeholders to help identify aerospace-related projects that may be considered for funding from the Florida Department of Transportation.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL., April 11, 2013 (Space Florida PR) – Space Florida has completed Phase 1 of its efforts to transform the former Orbiter Processing Facility 3 (OPF-3) at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) into a modern and commercially friendly aerospace facility, now referred to as the Commercial Crew & Cargo Processing Facility (C3PF). This project is the result of a first-of-its-kind partnership between NASA-KSC and Space Florida whereby Space Florida has secured full long-term rights to operate, maintain, and improve the C3PF under purely commercial standards and make it available to commercial tenants.
In an effort apparently aimed at supporting the development of a commercial space facility in Florida, the Senate has approved a budget amendment introduced by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) that urges NASA to dispose of underutilized property and facilities in order to save money and promote commercial space activities.
“NASA currently has underused facilities and property which are beyond their design life or outdated and costing billions of dollars to keep and maintain,” Rubio said in a press release.
Space Florida officials are continuing to vigorously pursue the development of a commercial spaceport at the north end of the Kennedy Space Center despite resistance from the federal government and strong competition from a site in Texas.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., March 12, 2013 (Space Florida PR) – On Thursday, March 7, the UK Trade & Investment Group (UKTI) granted Space Florida President and CEO Frank DiBello the “Consul General’s Special Recognition Award” at its Innovation Awards and Gala Dinner in Miami.
UKTI helps companies establish and grow their high-value investments in the UK and assists UK-based companies succeed in the global economy. UKTI recognized DiBello for his role in driving prosperity, and commercial and research opportunities between the UK and Florida, including signing a Memorandum of Understanding that has led to trade missions and job creation in both the UK and Florida.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., MAY 17, 2013 (Space Florida PR) – Space Florida, the state’s aerospace development organization and spaceport authority, today announced that The Bionetics Corporation, a diversified engineering and applied sciences company, is the newest tenant of the Space Life Sciences Laboratory (SLSL) at the Kennedy Space Center.
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