ky
Director of Manned Spaceflight
NASA launches idea to modernize space center
CAPE CANAVERAL — NASA is taking its first steps this week toward converting 50-year-old Kennedy Space Center into a vibrant modern spaceport where both the agency and commercial companies can operate.
With a new era of human space exploration and orbital enterprise opening, NASA started architectural design work Tuesday aimed at building a new $200 million to $300 million Central Campus Complex in the KSC Industrial Area.
The landmark NASA Headquarters Building, the Central Instrumentation Facility, several administrative offices and scientific laboratories — all of which played key roles in early U.S. space exploration — ultimately will be torn down while a new pedestrian-friendly hub of green buildings is raised in six phases.
“You’re talking about facilities that are 50 years old and getting older,” said KSC spokesman Allard Beutel. “This is looking ahead to the next 50 years.”
The idea is to consolidate work in a central hub of modern, energy-efficient buildings that provide safer environments for engineers, managers and administrative personnel. The footprint of NASA facilities in the area will be reduced to 450,000 square feet from 900,000 square feet, returning 35 percent of the land to green open space.
NASA engineering studies show the cost of building anew would be less expensive than renovating existing structures, many of which were not designed to meet modern building codes.
Among the buildings slated for demolition during the 10-year project: the Auditorium & Training Building and the Occupational Health Facility.
NASA’s Space Station Processing Facility and the Orion high bay in the Operations & Checkout Facility will remain.
Beutel said the new buildings will be less expensive to operate and maintain. NASA expects to save $400 million over 40 years, he said.
The Orlando firm Hunton Brady Architects, P.A., started work Tuesday on a five-year contract to perform design, engineering and other professional services required to develop the new Central Campus Complex. Five additional one-year options could bring the total value of the pact to $25 million.
NASA also plans to refurbish or replace a number of bridges around the 140,000-acre center, which includes the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore.
Among the bridges to be refurbished or replaced: the Indian River and Banana River bridges; the Haulover Canal Bridge, the Jay Jay Railroad Bridge and the State Road 405 bridge than crossed over SR3.
The bridge work contract, which went to FIGG Bridge Engineers of Tallahassee, also began Tuesday. Five additional one-year options could bring the total value of the pact to $30 million.
The two contracts are part of an effort to convert KSC from a government-owned-and-operated launch operations site to a 21st-century spaceport where both NASA and commercial companies operate.
NASA’s post-shuttle era plan calls for the agency to invest in development of commercial spacecraft to ferry people to and from the International Space Station and other destinations in low-Earth orbit.
The space agency itself plans to develop a supersized rocket and the multipurpose Orion crew exploration vehicle for missions beyond Earth orbit.
Source: http://www.floridatoday.com/article...nedy-Space-Center-sees-plan-landmark-overhaul
CAPE CANAVERAL — NASA is taking its first steps this week toward converting 50-year-old Kennedy Space Center into a vibrant modern spaceport where both the agency and commercial companies can operate.
With a new era of human space exploration and orbital enterprise opening, NASA started architectural design work Tuesday aimed at building a new $200 million to $300 million Central Campus Complex in the KSC Industrial Area.
The landmark NASA Headquarters Building, the Central Instrumentation Facility, several administrative offices and scientific laboratories — all of which played key roles in early U.S. space exploration — ultimately will be torn down while a new pedestrian-friendly hub of green buildings is raised in six phases.
“You’re talking about facilities that are 50 years old and getting older,” said KSC spokesman Allard Beutel. “This is looking ahead to the next 50 years.”
The idea is to consolidate work in a central hub of modern, energy-efficient buildings that provide safer environments for engineers, managers and administrative personnel. The footprint of NASA facilities in the area will be reduced to 450,000 square feet from 900,000 square feet, returning 35 percent of the land to green open space.
NASA engineering studies show the cost of building anew would be less expensive than renovating existing structures, many of which were not designed to meet modern building codes.
Among the buildings slated for demolition during the 10-year project: the Auditorium & Training Building and the Occupational Health Facility.
NASA’s Space Station Processing Facility and the Orion high bay in the Operations & Checkout Facility will remain.
Beutel said the new buildings will be less expensive to operate and maintain. NASA expects to save $400 million over 40 years, he said.
The Orlando firm Hunton Brady Architects, P.A., started work Tuesday on a five-year contract to perform design, engineering and other professional services required to develop the new Central Campus Complex. Five additional one-year options could bring the total value of the pact to $25 million.
NASA also plans to refurbish or replace a number of bridges around the 140,000-acre center, which includes the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore.
Among the bridges to be refurbished or replaced: the Indian River and Banana River bridges; the Haulover Canal Bridge, the Jay Jay Railroad Bridge and the State Road 405 bridge than crossed over SR3.
The bridge work contract, which went to FIGG Bridge Engineers of Tallahassee, also began Tuesday. Five additional one-year options could bring the total value of the pact to $30 million.
The two contracts are part of an effort to convert KSC from a government-owned-and-operated launch operations site to a 21st-century spaceport where both NASA and commercial companies operate.
NASA’s post-shuttle era plan calls for the agency to invest in development of commercial spacecraft to ferry people to and from the International Space Station and other destinations in low-Earth orbit.
The space agency itself plans to develop a supersized rocket and the multipurpose Orion crew exploration vehicle for missions beyond Earth orbit.
Source: http://www.floridatoday.com/article...nedy-Space-Center-sees-plan-landmark-overhaul
