Space Shuttle Launch

“CAPE CANAVERAL — NASA is prepared to aggressively execute President Obama’s plan to develop commercial space taxis and turn Kennedy Space Center into a 21st-century spaceport, officials said Wednesday.

Contracts to develop private-sector spaceships could be issued as early as next summer, and U.S. astronauts could be flying them on round trips to the International Space Station by 2014 or 2015.

After 50 years, NASA would relinquish to commercial companies the responsibility for designing, developing and operating the spacecraft flown by U.S. astronauts.

But Cabana, a former shuttle pilot and mission commander, said the KSC work force is up to the job.

“I know this transition is going to be hard. It’s going to be extremely difficult, and it’s going to be sad. But we will get through it, and we will have a good future once we get there,” Cabana said.

Instead, NASA would invest $5 billion during the next five years in the development of commercial space taxi services.

Cabana and top deputies nonetheless have prepared to move swiftly if the administration wins congressional approval.

Plans have been put in place to open up a project office at KSC that would oversee development of commercial space taxis and ultimately procure commercial launch services.

A separate office would oversee sweeping modifications aimed at attracting commercial companies to the shuttle runway, processing hangars, the Vehicle Assembly Building and launch pads 39A and 39B.

“Commercial is the future,” Cabana said.”

-Courtesy of Todd Halvorson and Florida Today