Fwd: John Kelly: Shiloh good idea with or without SpaceX

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From: "Gary Johnson" <gjohnson144@comcast.net>
Date: June 2, 2013 8:47:23 PM GMT-06:00
To: "Gary Johnson" <gjohnson144@comcast.net>
Subject: FW: John Kelly: Shiloh good idea with or without SpaceX

 

 

      Jun. 1, 2013 10:47 PM   |  

John Kelly: Shiloh good idea with or without SpaceX

Conceptual drawing showing a launch complex at the Shiloh site near Kennedy Space Center. / Courtesy of Space Florida/BRPH

The development of a new commercial launch pad at the north end of Kennedy Space Center is important to the future of our spaceport.

It's important for two reasons, one of them related to the presumed prime operator of a new complex at Shiloh and the other more general.

First, SpaceX grew up here and SpaceX belongs here. Yes, the growing space exploration company designs and manufactures its Falcon 9 rockets and Dragon spacecraft in the Los Angeles area. But, SpaceX launched itself into its present-day success and grew into a big-league player in the future of space exploration from its complex at Cape Canaveral.

For a space company, SpaceX's growth trajectory is exceptional. The company needs another launch complex. And, to be competitive and really meet its mission of lower-cost flights, SpaceX needs easy access and other benefits it can get by being outside the federal government installation's gates.

Space Florida, NASA and other entities appear to be moving to try to make something happen before SpaceX gets too serious about its other site under consideration in coastal Texas. SpaceX has a short but proven track record as a winner in the commercial space market. If Florida and the Space Coast are serious are keeping a firm grasp on that market, they need to make sure they keep SpaceX growing here.

The second reason for developing the Shiloh launch complex goes beyond SpaceX. The state insists that the site is worth developing even if SpaceX sites elsewhere because there are other viable candidates for using such a complex off the federal government's installations. The powers that be are not saying who those other candidates are, but certainly there is enough commercial launch activity in development that they're not stretching the truth.

Any moves that can be made that would make the spaceport here more attractive to a variety of launch endeavors is worthwhile. As launch business expands to include a more diverse set of operators, it's important that Florida has a diverse set of sites to offer. For some operators seeking new sites, the government sites at the Cape or KSC might be just what they need. For others, the off-site uniqueness of someplace like Shiloh will be what's best.

Being competitive to be the home base for new operators, in this fast-evolving launch market, will require a team of economic development recruiters and government innovators willing to be nimble to meet companies' needs. If not SpaceX, whatever develops out at Shiloh could become the home to some company that is the next SpaceX.

Contact Kelly at 321-242-3660.

 

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