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Space-related alliances generate revenue through technology, education and tourism.

By Kathy Hagood
Brevard Technical Journal

The Florida Space Authority was created by the State Legislature in 1989 to boost economic and academic development and serve as a transportation agency. Glenn Vera, deputy Director of the Florida Space Authority is shown in the control room of the Cape Canaveral Office. Photo by Craig Rubadoux, © 2004.

While the Florida Space Authority often works behind the scenes to facilitate the state's aerospace industry, the fruits of the agency's labors are often highly visible capital improvement projects at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport.

Created to boost economic and academic development and serve as a transportation agency, the authority has fostered a variety of critical projects for NASA and the U.S. Air Force from Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle launch facilities to the Space Life Sciences Lab.

The authority has also supported a variety of initiatives by small to large aerospace companies across the state.

All told, the authority estimates it has "generated more than $1 billion for Florida's space-related businesses through technology, research, education, finance, tourism and launch.

" While the FSA was created by the State Legislature in 1989, in the mid-1980s it was Governor Jeb Bush, then Florida Secretary of Commerce, who championed the need for a state space authority.

"It was a revolutionary idea at the time, but Jeb Bush understood the important of the space program to Florida," said Glenn Vera, the authority's deputy director.

In 1999, the Legislature decreed that space transportation be incorporated into the state's "multi-modal transportation plan along with highways, rail, aviation and seaports." That move allowed for the allocation of state and federal transportation funds for space-related transportation projects.

As NASA's plans for space shift to align with President George Bush's directives to return to the Moon and then to push on to Mars, the authority will continue to provide support, Vera said.

"We were thrilled to hear the President's announcement because we believe it's good news for the State of Florida and the spaceport," he said.

The authority is led by former astronaut and retired U.S. Navy Capt. Winston Scott, who came onboard as executive director last summer.

Scott has been working closely with Kennedy Space Center's new director, James Kennedy, since assuming his new post. The new alliance has further strengthened bonds between the agency and the authority, Vera said.

"The two are in constant communication, which has had a positive impact on our work. The more closely we work together the more we can benefit both Florida and the space program," he said.

Scott has said he has no plans to reinvent the authority, which he believes has been highly successful, but that he intends to "take the authority to the next level."

Obtaining financing and jumping bureaucratic hurdles for capital improvement projects associated with the President's directive will be major challenges the authority will help NASA and its contractors face, Vera said.

The authority will also seek incentives for those companies that will be chosen by NASA to manufacture new space vehicles to locate their manufacturing facilities in Florida, Vera said. Lockheed Martin and The Boeing Co. are the big contenders.

"It just makes economic sense to manufacture here when you're launching here," Vera said.

Financing for associated capital improvement projects will likely be facilitated through the authority's affiliated nonprofit agency, the Commercial Space Financing Corp. The agency has gathered venture capital for numerous authority-supported projects.

Recent authority successes include supporting:

• the $30 million state-financed Space Life Sciences Lab and Space Commerce Way road project. The laboratory provides facilities for KSC life sciences payload processing and research.
• the $292 million launch pad for the Lockheed Martin Atlas V EELV,
• the $24 million Horizontal Integration Facility for the Boeing Delta IV EELV,
• the Cape Canaveral Comprehensive Spaceport Master Plan, which sets out a 50-year road map for the spaceport's becoming the premier center for space commerce and research.

FSA also facilitated the U.S. Space Camp and Astronaut Hall of Fame, the Apollo/Saturn V Center, payload assembly and processing facilities, a reusable launch vehicle hangar and other launch pads.

FSA currently is providing support for the creation of an 400-acre International Space Research Park, envisioned in association with the Space Life Sciences Lab as a world-class life sciences and biotechnology research center.

"Florida Space Authority has been a wonderful partner for us at Kennedy Space Center and all of NASA providing us with strategic support to help us meet our goals," said Jim Ball, NASA project manager for the park.

Among the authority's educational outreach initiatives is its Launch Complex 47 program that offers students the opportunity to process small payloads and launch Super Loki rockets.

"The hands-on experience is a real benefit to students," Vera said.

Other FSA projects in the works include trying to draw the 2005 X Cup here. Florida and New Mexico have been named as finalists in the bid to host the event. The exhibition is a much-anticipated event that could bring a Super Bowl-size crowd to the Space Coast and give the tourism industry here a boost.

The authority will soon have a aerospace industry database available on its Web site. The Vortex database, which may be up and running as soon as February, will allow for easy access to basic information on aerospace and aerospace-related companies.

"And there's more to come," Vera said. For more information on the Florida Space Authority, visit www.floridaspaceauthority. com