Location

Jim Henderson Welcome Center, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach

Start Date

5-11-2014 2:00 PM

Abstract

NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida is four years into a fundamental transition from a limited-use, specialized launch site to a unique, full-service spaceport capable of meeting the varied needs of a number of different spacecraft, rockets, research and supply payloads, and ground support systems. Arguably no field center of a federal agency aside from a base of the Department of Defense has been tasked with such a fundamental transformation as Kennedy has undertaken during the previous four years. The work ranged changing the center's mission to adapting to a dramatically altered work force to the repurposing or decommissioning of scores of facilities to further development of launch and landing capabilities.

This transition is taking place with an eye on immediate, near-future and farther-future needs. After all, some of the structures NASA doesn’t need now might be needed again in 15 to 20 years to meet a capability or design.

This paper will detail the transition steps that have been taken at facilities across all of Kennedy's 144,000 acres, unique approaches involved and what methods are being considered for future steps.

Area of Interest

Current Initiatives

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Nov 5th, 2:00 PM

Kennedy Space Center Transformed and Transforming

Jim Henderson Welcome Center, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach

NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida is four years into a fundamental transition from a limited-use, specialized launch site to a unique, full-service spaceport capable of meeting the varied needs of a number of different spacecraft, rockets, research and supply payloads, and ground support systems. Arguably no field center of a federal agency aside from a base of the Department of Defense has been tasked with such a fundamental transformation as Kennedy has undertaken during the previous four years. The work ranged changing the center's mission to adapting to a dramatically altered work force to the repurposing or decommissioning of scores of facilities to further development of launch and landing capabilities.

This transition is taking place with an eye on immediate, near-future and farther-future needs. After all, some of the structures NASA doesn’t need now might be needed again in 15 to 20 years to meet a capability or design.

This paper will detail the transition steps that have been taken at facilities across all of Kennedy's 144,000 acres, unique approaches involved and what methods are being considered for future steps.