State Group To Take Over Shuttle Landing Site
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) - Space Florida has agreed to take over the former Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center.
On Monday, the group's Board of Directors agreed to take over the three-mile concrete runway from NASA.
Space Florida, a quasi-government agency created to expand the space industry, will manage the runway as a testing ground for new companies and technologies for the next 30 years, according to a release from Gov. Rick Scott's office.
"It will serve a wide variety of customers and a new generation of space launch vehicles," the release said.
Space Florida, which intends to charge fees to private companies to use the grounds, is expected to pump about $5 million into upgrading the facility. The deal is expected to create more than 200 jobs in Brevard County over the next six years, according to the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast.
Built in 1974 for the space shuttle program, the facility was last used July 21, 2011 by the space shuttle Atlantis. NASA is expected to formally hand over the facility to Space Florida next Monday.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
