DeSantis: Satellite company to invest $300 million, bring 2,000 jobs to Floridaโs Space Coast
Terran Orbital, a micro-satellite company, plans to invest $300 million in a massive commercial spacecraft and constellation facility to Space Florida on Merritt Island, Gov. DeSantis and the company announced Monday.
Alabama lands Space Force HQ over Florida
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ U.S. Space Forceโs permanent command headquarters will touch down in Alabamaโs Huntsville Redstone Arsenal area rather than Floridaโs Space Coast. U.S. Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrettโs decision to locate the headquarters in Alabama was made official Wednesday, after Patrick Space Force Base near Cape Canaveral was one of six finalists. Despite losing out to Alabama, Space Florida praised the process. โSpace Floridaโs unique toolkit, granted by the governor and Floridaโs Legislature, has paved the way in transforming the Cape Canaveral Spaceport --- one that will support the next era of national security missions.โAlong with Patrick Space Force Base and Huntsville, other finalists were Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado and Port San Antonio in Texas. In December, DiBello argued Florida was in good position for the command headquarters before Vice President Mike Pence flew in to rename what are now known as Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Patrick Space Force Base.
Florida launches โstrong caseโ for Space Force command
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ Space Florida leaders on Tuesday praised aerospace facilities and commercial operations in the state, as site selectors inspected Patrick Air Force Base as a finalist to be the permanent command headquarters of Space Force. Space Florida President and CEO Frank DiBello told the Enterprise Florida Board of Directors that Florida has made a โvery strong caseโ for the Brevard County military base south of Cape Canaveral, which is one of six finalists for U.S. Space Command headquarters. Jeanette Nunez, who serves as chairwoman of the Space Florida board of directors, told the Enterprise Florida board in a video. Patrick Air Force Base was the only Florida location to make the shortlist. Other remaining candidates to host the new combatant command, which will house about 1,400 military and civilian personnel, are Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado, Port San Antonio in Texas, and Redstone Arsenal in Alabama.
Federal grant will help build bridge to Cape
Mark Wilson/Getty ImagesTALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Space Florida, the states aerospace arm, received a $90 million federal transportation grant Monday to replace a State Road 405 bridge over the Indian River Lagoon that links Cape Canaveral to the mainland. The existing bridge is a NASA bridge that needs replacement, so the state applied its capabilities to assure the continued success of the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, Space Florida said in a tweet. The Space Florida Board of Directors in March backed an application for the federal transportation grant, which is expected to help fund a Florida Department of Transportation project to replace the 55-year-old drawbridge and to widen Space Commerce Way. The road is the main access to Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex and Exploration Park, a business park operated by Space Florida. NASA and Space Florida are expected to split 40 percent of the cost.